Roberta Mason
Posted Oct 16, 2020
at 08:24pm
There is a picture of my parents’ wedding that has a baby buggy sitting at the back of the church. That’s my cousin Sharon’s baby buggy. Her parents, Ernie and Ruth Gould were there with their little family just as my little family was beginning. And until Ruth passed away a few years ago and now with Ernie joining her, they were with my little family my whole life. Related by blood, but fused by friendship, Ernie and Ruth became my parents’ best friends, and my brother and I grew knowing them as you can only know family you really spend time with over so many years. So much laughter and fun. So much being there in the hard times. So much love.
One of my earliest memories of those times is of glamourous elder sister Kathy heading out on a date from their house on Royal York Road while Sharon and I made up skits to entertain our parents while they were playing a rousing game of cards - always the “boys” against the “girls”. How many games of cards did they play I wonder. Must have been thousands. They played cards during visits to Ernie and my mom’s hometown of Trenton. Cards while camping in Consecon. Cards at the cottage on Boulter Lake. Cards on camping trips to Florida, Nashville, and more. Cards in the winters spent in South Texas. And while my little family moved around, there would always be cards at the dining room table at Ernie and Ruth’s.
I remember Ernie so clearly, holding his cards and contemplating his next move. The twinkle he would get in his eyes when he had a good hand. The laughter that would erupt when there was a victory – especially when it was a surprise to the other team. The good-natured teasing that went on. The fun of just one more game.
I have so many memories of Ernie, but there are some traits that really do stand out when I think of him. Good-natured, quick to laugh, and generous. Thoughtful, careful, and meticulous in many ways. Interested in going places, doing things, and meeting people. Loyal. Quietly persistent. Caring and loving.
The world is a better place because Ernie Gould passed through – and I was so lucky to have him be such a big part of my life for so long. There must be one heck of a party going on in heaven as he joins Ruth and so many of his family and friends. I bet they even break out the cards before long.