Series I
Contacting cousins whom one seldom sees or even have met has been a great experience. On our travels to California Randal and I made a point of visiting only a few of my Bertrand Cousins.
In December we drove to east of the Los Angles area making our stay in Banning KOA RV Park. From there we contacted two of my many cousins to arrange a visit.
The first one we drove to see was Larry and Martha Bertrand in Carlsbad near Ocean Beach in between Los Angeles and San Diego.
It did not take long for Martha and Randal to discuss their love and knowledge of photography. She has taken some awesome photos and has many of family picture hanging on their walls. Camping experiences were shared with some funny adventures. Martha and Larry's main interests is photography and genealogy.
Larry showed me pictures of his family research and I showed him “ Where Cut Knife Creek Flows”, a history book. He was pleased with some of the information he found and xeroxed the pages.
Larry and Martha they speak highly of their children and grand children. Their daughter, Jacqui, who lives near by, stopped by with her young daughter, Ashlinn, to help with supper. However she was called back home as her 13 year-old daughter was sick and needed her.
We did not stop talking until close to 10:00 that night, a bit past their bedtime, and ours! We had been invited to spend the night. They pulled out the hide-a-bed in the living room for us.
Another daughter, Julie Humeston who is the Director of Loma Linda University Transplantation Institute, where the Kidney Transplant takes place. She organizes a Donate Life Rose Parade Float held in Pasadena on New Years Day.
Before we left Carlsbad the next morning, more visiting was done. Larry took us to his favorite walking area in Carlsbad Village and Carlsbad State Park and beach area. The Village was an older section of the city. We were fascinated by the houses, businesses and the eucalyptus trees. The “Coaster Train” runs along the beach, taking passengers from Ocean Beach to San Diego.
We stopped “Miquel's Carlsbad”, a Mexican restaurant for a quick lunch.
Our visit to the next cousin was, Theresa Tessier in Rancho Cucamonga near San Bernardino.
We arrived at just in the morning at her place on Cottonwood Way. It was nice to see her. The last time was in 2000 when she came to the Bertrand Family re-union at Atton's Lake, Sask. That was the first time I met her.
She lives in an awesome large home which she and her late husband, Norman, built 25 years ago. Her passion is gardening and it showed in her large yard. Fruit trees, flowers, sitting areas, patios and water fountains. Inside was equally beautiful. Large kitchen, bedrooms, living room and bathrooms that has a large windows in them with a fenced in garden on the outside. Her husband ran an cabinet building business and had made some of the furniture in her house. Her family now run the business.
She took us to see her daughter, Denise, who lives close by. Denise and her family live in a much larger house. At least 4000 square feet. The hall way going in was as large as our trailer!!!
Denise and her husband, David, and one of their daughters run Norm Tessier Custom Cabinets, Inc.
Here is a little history: Norman Tessier began his career in custom cabinetry in 1955 with his brothers. In 1978 he opened Norm Tessier Custom Cabinets Inc. in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Norm built his business one project at a time; his commitment to quality and craftsmanship was unequaled. When passed away in 1991 the business was sold to his son-in-law and daughter, David and Denise Beavers. Since then, the business has tripled in its size.
There are many more Bertrand Cousins we could have visited, but we will leave that for another time.
