Grey-Bruce Boomers Winter2023
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y May Tettero<br />
TRAVEL<br />
see shelves of hiking boots and a collection of hiking<br />
poles, and then a friendly young man.<br />
“Desole, pas de place.”<br />
They are full but he suggests to go back in the<br />
direction I entered town and look for Anna’s. I get<br />
back on the bike and slowly retrace my route but am<br />
unable to find the elusive Anna. Suddenly I see the<br />
imposing building with the beautiful grounds again.<br />
“I don’t care if it costs 200 Euros, I need to get out<br />
of these wet clothes and get comfortable,” I think.<br />
I ride up the driveway slowly, admiring the rose<br />
gardens on both sides. I see an arched wooden door,<br />
not the usual grand entrance of a hotel. I knock on<br />
the door and an older woman with a mop of curly<br />
hair and bright green eyes opens the door slightly.<br />
I’m standing there like a muddy, drowned rat and<br />
haltingly manage to utter, “Avez vous… la place… pour<br />
une personne, ce soir?”<br />
“Would English be easier?” she smiles. “Yes, we have<br />
room for you.”<br />
Everything in me relaxes and I smile with gratitude.<br />
I step inside and Elizabeth gently guides me to strip<br />
down and hang up my dirty, wet clothes. She informs<br />
me that I’ve arrived at a convent, Couvent de Malet,<br />
that has been aiding pilgrims for centuries. She is a<br />
volunteer who simply loves being there and helping<br />
out. For 15 Euro, I get my own room, a milliondollar<br />
view and the loving attention of several elderly,<br />
Ursuline nuns.<br />
Pilgrimage is an age-old phenomenon that exists in<br />
all main religions. It is different from long distance<br />
hiking (or biking) in that a pilgrimage has as its goal<br />
‘Share your personal or family story with future generations’<br />
• We record you telling your stories and<br />
transcribe your words<br />
• We suggest writing prompts to help<br />
you recall important memories<br />
• We research your family history<br />
• We write and edit your stories<br />
• We publish a custom-made book or<br />
other creative memory project<br />
__________________________________________<br />
ARLEN WIEBE<br />
Personal Historian<br />
at Your Life Stories<br />
www.your-life-stories.ca<br />
arlen.wiebe.writer@gmail.com<br />
226-668-3352<br />
WINTER 2023/24 • 7
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