Since the passing of my grandparents, my grandmother’s Christmas cactus, now thriving and blooming under my care, is a reminder of my memories with them and their absence. When I was younger, I would spend every holiday in Port Elgin, New Brunswick, where my grandparents lived.
They owned a house surrounded by untouched forest which was close enough to the beach where you could smell the salt in the air when it was windy. Memories of spending time there are some of my fondest. We would go clamming, searching for sea glass and seashells on the beach as well as go berry picking on the property. Attached to the house was my grandmother’s greenhouse and sunroom where she had a plethora of plants growing. 
After both grandparents passing away, the grandchildren were tasked with choosing an item in the house to keep before the house was sold. I chose my grandmother’s plants as they are a reminder of all the memories I made in New Brunswick with my family. 
Although my family had settled in Canada quite a few generations ago, the only displacement the cactus had faced was the 1075 kilometers that we drove to bring it back home with me, to Montreal. It was very important to me that I brought it home with me, among other plants I took. 
I was entering a new chapter of my life, my grandparent's house in New Brunswick where we'd stay when visiting was sold, there would be few or no more visits for a while. I have such a strong connection to the province of New Brunswick as a lot of distant family members still live there. 

 
 

– Lindsay

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant