The Wisdom of the Aged.

Two of my favourite things are the young and the old. Perhaps it is because I am betwixt the two and I miss being one and worry about becoming the other. 

I attended Thursdays Fusion Youth Centre Mega-Celebration and unfortunately I missed the kickoff meeting for the Master Aging Plan, Oxford County is studying at the Elm Hurst that was held at the same time.

I never really thought we needed a plan to age. It is a natural process. When you quit aging you are dead. However I will be interested to see what becomes of it. Old folks have some interesting stories to share.   

I was reading Roy Davies obit in the paper and was thinking about our last conversation. I was helping my daughter with her paper route and Roy was out on his front lawn pounding in stakes in the heat of the day. I asked him where his dandelions were in his lush front lawn. And then the conversation started.

Roy told me that he was born in the house Paul now lives in. Roy built his next home in it's backyard. Roy told me about how most of the subdivision was farm land when he was a kid and the ponds he swam and skated on. Roy remembered the pens of pigs on Wonham Street waiting to go to the slaughter house that was in the flats by the river. He even told me that Melita street use to be a lovers lane. I wonder now what other stories he would have told if my own impatient child was not standing at the road tapping her foot as if to say, Let's get going Dad! I have a life you know! Roy's obit likely only told a part of his life.

In Odd Fellows I have met many elders and listened to their stories. They live on in my memories and the memories of others I suppose.

Bob Carr- Once told me of soldiers in preparation for WWI marching through Ingersoll from Stratford to pitch camp in Victoria Park. He noticed that the soldiers had bindings on their legs from their knees to their boots. He wasn't sure why. Bob told me of the parking battles in Ingersoll when he was on council. Bob loved to drive and bought a Cadillac when he was 80 because he always wanted one. Trips with Bob were always interesting and not just because of his driving skills. He had a story for virtually every old home in Ingersoll and the county. Told me of a boarding house at the corner of Harris and King that was run by a lady pharmacist in the 30's. Seemed her boarders were all young women and the cars in the parking lot were local businessmen and a few politicians of the day. I'll leave it at that. Bob taught me a few things about business, and told me about a certain local young troublemaker that became a millionaire because someone in authority gave him a chance. Old and Young can partner together.

Max Barker - My cantankerous old friend would spit and sputter about anything and everything. But if you needed a stair built in a 150 year old building all you had to do was hold one end of the tape measure and 2 weeks later help to install it. Max could make something out of nothing and nothing was wasted. I learned a lot about saving money from Max.

Gren Douglas - Gren worked for Bell Canada managing building projects of all sizes and in all places - The Bell building in London wasone of his jobs. After the Fire in 1991, Gren was made our building chair. He deputized me as he made sure I was aware on the Whys and the How's of the project. Gren would always say - You never know when you might have to takeover. Gren was battling cancer at the time. Gren was as tactical at fighting his cancer as he was running the project and fighting another battle with the insurance company and to a certain degree Town Council of the days. Gren taught me that you never really lose a battle if you fought with persistence and integrity.

Morley Huntley - This small quiet man taught me how to listen. Morley worked at Morrow I think and he cleaned our Lodge Hall, I don't know what his hobbies were - I think he was satisfied just having a lovely wife. He was Vice Grand when I joined and I got to be his right supporter. Morley was very hard of hearing, so I would have to really listen to what was going on in Lodge and relay it to him. We made a good team.

Every one of these men were retired (from work) when I met them. But they seemed to live purposeful lives. Maybe that is what the Master Aging plan should be "What can be done to add purpose to the life of the newly retired." In the Shawshank Redemption" movie, the character Andy Dufresne said "Get busy living, or get busy dying". That quote would be a good starting point.

Cheers
Tim Lobzun

P.S. - Don't forget to vote - Ballots can be brought to the Town Hall during regular hours up until the polls close on Monday the 25th - 30% of ballots are in now - We need lots more.