There is a small company housing settlement which was built for the employees of the Canadian Refractories Kilmar Magnesite Mines in the 1960's. This small French Canadian community, known as Grenville, is situated at the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains. These homes are adjacent to Grenville Lake and are now primarily used as summer cottages, but to one family I know, it was home to them year-round for thirty-five years.<br /> <br /> I am the youngest of five children. My mother had me when she was a little older, so all but one of my siblings were already grown and had lives of their own when I was a young child. One of my older sisters, Lydia, met and married a quiet man. A farmer's son. They had two beautiful daughters and moved to Grenville when Ronnie took a job with the mining company. It is an isolated area with nothing more than a corner store with a gas station and thousands of acres of forests. <br /> <br /> During this time, I lived in the suburbs of Montreal. I had a safe and stable home life, but like all kids who like to get away from home sometimes, I often spent time at Lydia and Ronnie's lake house. I was drawn to the contrast from city life; the serenity of raw nature that you don't find in subdivisions. But it was more than the natural environment that pulled me there. It was the calm, both inside and outside of their home. I could call my sister and her husband anytime that my life felt chaotic and they would welcome me to come spend some time at the lake house. I always felt the warmth of their unconditional love when I showed up on their doorstep. Their home felt like a second home to me. A safe and cozy haven.<br /> <br /> Lydia and Ronnie watched me grow up through all the stages of my young life. If I was broken-hearted from a failed romantic relationship, I would escape to the refuge of the lake house. Ronnie, a quiet man by nature, always seemed to know that I didn&acirc;��t need him say anything, I just needed him to be there. My sister, Lydia, was the one I could count on for hugs and laughter. She made everything feel like a fun sleep-over with cooking and crafts. Just the simple joy she expressed with her smile whenever I came to visit made me feel like I could tell her anything and never feel judged. She never criticized me or told me what to do. We laughed and cried watching sweet, silly movies that made Ronnie shake his head. I hope they felt how much I loved them, how much I still love them.<br /> <br /> I don't think I can fully express how their love and hospitality influenced my young life. The memories run very deep. From cozy Quebec-cold winter weekends to lake swimming with my best friends in the summertime. Sometimes I'd show up with a boyfriend. And even if they knew he wasn't the right man for me before I did, they would welcome him in with polite grace. Then finally one day, after moving away, I came back with my fianc&Atilde;&copy;. This time the man I showed up with fit like hand in glove. And on that very day, I asked if we could get married at their lake house. Without hesitation, they said yes. It was a beautiful and magical country outdoor wedding, and one of the happiest days of my life. In a way, it was also the farewell party of my youth as I moved on to becoming a woman, a wife, and eventually a mother. <br /> <br /> Recently, my sister and her husband left the lake house to take over the family farm where Ronnie was raised. It can be very sad to say goodbye to a place, but nothing compares to the people who made that place special. We become attached to things like houses because of the memories that we make there. But the memories are not made with the house, they are made with people. When I think about the lake house, I don't see a door or a room. I see Ronnie's smile, I taste his pancakes. I feel Lydia's hugs, I hear her laughter. So I bid farewell to Grenville Lake. I will tuck you into my heart like a favorite book. I will revisit you in my mind, because even though the cycles of life create change, happy memories are those magic nuggets that you can bring to the surface of your heart and mind at will. Thank you, Lydia and Ronnie, for filling my heart with so many happy and loving childhood memories. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />   Submitted By: Patty Kelly