Mphy

71. The Heart Does Not Forget

By 1984 Alphy and Margurita had two more grandchildren to brag about - BJ (Bobby Joe) and Cory Hill, sons of Joan and Bobby. Both children had been born healthy, and Joan remembered her mother’s words after the death of her first-born - that she would have more children to love and care for. It was true....her love was big enough to embrace all her children. She was a dedicated mother committed to her children, loving them protectively and _ still cherishing the memory of Robert Moses who had captured her heart years earlier.

In 1984, Alphy and Margurita had thirty-two grandchildren. Cory had been the final addition to their clan. Joan and Bobby had bought a house in Tignish Shore, located next door to her sister, Velda and Cyrus Bernard. Alphy and Margurita would often visit their children and grandchildren in Tignish Shore. Sometimes while they were in the area, they would go for walks along the beach.

Both Alphy and Margurita enjoyed good health, but physically Alphy’s strength was not like it use to be. The couple had given up the sport of boating, as the boat had become too heavy for Alphy to load and unload. During the winter, the couple still took time to go snowmobiling but they would stay in the open fields close to home, rather than venture into the wooded area. Alphy and Margurita were now cautious not to overdo things. The winter before when they had gone snowmobiling, the Arctic Cat had got stuck in the heavy snow and Alphy had almost passed out from the strain of trying to move it manually. So now, the couple stayed close to home whenever they were snowmobiling.

Alphy was also experiencing some discomfort in his right leg, which he described as his “bum leg”. Sometimes when he would walk up and down the stairs, his leg would give out under him. He described this condition as having pins and needles in his leg, ora lack of circulation. Some days, it was worse than others.

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