My Trip to Alvinston

This piece was published in Storytime Tapestry, gather.com and the Alvinston Ontario Newspaper

This was a trip I made last summer, the first vacation I had in over 20 years. Also this article was my first week's column in the Alvinston newspaper.

It is with great pleasure that I begin this weekly column in the Whigoah, especially since I had the opportunity to visit the wonderful people of Alvinston and surrounding areas last week. Our ten-day trip was an unforgettable experience for both of us.

Coming from Montreal, a city of three million people, you can well understand the differences. Matt and I were only too happy to get away from the hustle and bustle of big city life and enjoy some peaceful country style living. The warm hospitality of the Alvinston community was a welcome change.

In Montreal, like most big cities across the world, you are lucky if you know your next door neighbour. Many people live in huge apartment complexes of 1,000 people or more and can boast that they may know one or two people in the building; even if they have lived there for twenty years or more.

In contrast, I found that the Alvinston community was small enough for everyone to know each other. And if they didn't, they sure the heck didn't make it an obstacle. They did something virtually unheard of in Montreal; they smiled and waved. Our friends, Trish and Jim MacQueen, were our gracious hosts.

Matt's favourite spot was their front porch, or should I say, veranda. We would sit for hours enjoying the quiet life. I loved the cloud formations and the starry nights (not many stars in Montreal, too many lights to see them). But the biggest thrill for me was to see people drive or bike by and you guessed it; smile and wave. Imagine seeing the mayor of the city and his wife, ride by several times during the day in their truck, and wave! I don't know where my mayor lives let alone meet him or get close enough to wave at him!