I was welcomed into this big, crazy, amazing Larocque family with open arms from the very first time Matt brought me home to visit, and I knew I was accepted when Bert played his first practical joke on me. Through the years there have been several, so I'd like to take this chance to "out" him and get him back. :-)
That first time we had spent a few days up at Northfork. Jim and Nancy had headed home and Matt and Bert and I were cleaning up and closing up the cottage for the winter. Bert was under the house "shoring it up" for another winter (?) and I was taking some laundry down from the line, folding up sheets. Suddenly I heard Matt calling, "Dad's stuck under the house!! Em - come here! Dad's stuck under the house!" and I raced around the corner, truly alarmed, to find Bert with his torso emerging from the mud, trying to pretend he was in distress to no avail - neither of them could stop giggling.
When we went out a number of years later to Kevin & Coral's wedding, Jim, Nancy, Bert and Matt and I were all staying in a huge room - Matt and I in one bed, Jim and Nancy in a Murphy bed, and Bert on a mat on the floor (at his insistence). I can only imagine the fun he had planning his next great prank! In the middle of the night of course I found myself in need of the facilities, and got up, tiptoeing around carefully to make sure I didn't wake anyone. Just as I passed Bert's head he grabbed my ankle and I let out a shriek, which of course woke up everyone!
I feel so lucky to have Bert as my father-in-law. Though I've never lived in the same city, he is always close with us in our hearts. Happy birthday to the best prankster I know.
Emma xo
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