Introducing the "Old" and the "New"

Originally posted January 23, 2012


My mother is 91 and healthy as a horse, God love her. She lives in a condo in a building reserved for people over 55. I have no doubt she will still be there in 4 years when I will be old enough to move in. She and my dad retired to Whiterock, B.C. in 1987, he died in '98 and she has been on her own since. She reads to her pals who can no longer see, she gets sundries for the ones who can’t make it to the store, she plays bridge, has 30 library books delivered a week, is up on the news, politics, world events and still watches Coronation Street faithfully. Other than some hearing loss she is as fit of mind and body today as she has ever been. It’s all the lard and pudding and treacle those Brits are brought up on. It keeps them glued together.

Much to my sheer joy she has embarked on her memoirs and handwrites at least a dozen pages a day then turns it over the 94 year old upstairs who types it up. Once it is done my brother will have it printed and bound and we three kids will each get a copy that we will have forever and leave to our kids.

My mother had me at 40 and I didn't start breeding until I was 41. I barely knew my grandparents and my kids don’t get to see my mother nearly enough. Our family of four is all we have in Calgary. My husband's parents are both gone, his sister is in PEI, I have a brother in Montreal and one in Australia, the cousins are older and spread far and wide - like many families today we live without any real interaction with extended family and next to no time with the "elders" of the clan. For many of us the stories from the family tree are destined to wither on the branch. The idea that my kids will be able to read about their grandmother's long and adventurous life and give those stories to their kids is a gift.

At my children's school there is a program for the grade two's and three’s where they walk across the street to the retirement home a couple of times a month to read to the old folks who are interested, and capable, of coming down for tea. It’s a lovely idea but as I watch these shy, little kids with their tiny voices try to read aloud to folks who can barely hear a fire alarm I can't help but think that playing checkers, snakes and ladders, or anything that engages all parties might be an even better - and more fun - use of the time the two groups spend together. These lovely old people have stories that the kids might like to hear about - maybe they should talk while the kids listen to memories of childhoods that did not include computers and motorized scooters. 

Then I saw this article what a beautiful idea. Kindergarten AT the retirement home. Fabulous. A couple times a week the kids get to be with loving, little blue-hairs and the old folks get to be with fresh-faced, happy little sprites = good for everyone. 

This is an idea that should be implemented by law across the country, around the world, in every city town and village.