Boomers Sept 2021

Boomers Sept 2021

EYOND B oomers

B and

Celebrating the 55+ Community of Elgin County September 2021 • Issue 24

The end of a Long Voyage Do you know the satisfaction you get when you set a goal and finally achieve it? Imagine setting your goal 20 years ago and now, finally seeing it come to fruition. Thanks to the hard work of so many, Elgin County is finally getting its own hospice. In July, Hospice Elgin, along with the City of St. Thomas, announced the new site, which is on the tranquil grounds between Monsignor Morrison Catholic School and Water Works Park. “For me, it’s a dream come true,” says Dr. Bob Jones, Campaign Chair for Hospice of Elgin. “Serenity House was an end-of-life resource center started by a couple of young nurses. They had the first vision of a hospice for Elgin, and that was 20 years ago. I was on the initial board of directors, so I’ve been hoping for this for a long time. For me, it’s the end of a long voyage.” “Dr. Jones was actually one of the first family physicians to get palliative care designations and training in Elgin County,” says Carrie Ford, Campaign Director for Hospice of Elgin. “So he’s been professionally involved with end- of-life care for a very long time.” What is hospice care? Hospice care provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they and their care-givers may live as fully and comfortably as possible. “At its very essence, hospice care is very holistic,” says Carrie. “It’s not just person-centered care, it’s family-centered care. We want to ensure that family members are able to come and go as they please. It is important to us that they also get support along the journey as well. “We are going to build a beautiful, welcoming hospice that will not only meet health care criteria, as it is a health care facility, but it will put the emphasis on hospice care by making sure that it’s a welcoming home-like environment. It’s not going to look like hospital rooms. The 10 private suites are going to be verywelcoming and accommodating. We will be able to accommodate a family member to sleep overnight on couches.” Carrie says that each room will have minimal medical equipment with a goal of keeping it

out as site as much as possible to keep the family and the guest as comfortable as may be. “As we’ve been going along through this process, our building committee has been to a number of different hospices throughout Ontario,” Carrie continues. “In the design, they’re going to bring ideas together from the other hospices and we are going to engage the community to help bring some of their ideas together. Hopefully, we can

Ways to Vote in the General Election  Vote on Election Day Vote at Advance Poll Vote by Mail Vote at a Local Elections Canada Office

Monday September 20, 2021 VOTE TO RE-ELECT

Karen Vecchio Conservative Party of Canada Candidate Elgin-Middlesex-London

Authorized by the Official Agent of Karen Vecchio

If you have any questions please contact my office

Phone: 519-633-3333 Email: [email protected] Website: karenvecchio.ca

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 2 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

of people have a preconceived notion of what a hospice is. They’ll say, ‘Yeah, that’s where I think my Uncle Charlie went to die in some place in Eastern Ontario’. It is much more than that; our hospice will be 15 to 18,000 square feet, and there are going to be 30 to 40 full time equivalent jobs, it is so much more than just 10 beds. My brother lived in Elmira, and for the last month of his life, his wife had to put him into hospice care in Guelph, 30 minutes away. I thought; why not just keep him at home? But when I went there to visit him, l understood; it was so beautiful, and so many people were able to come and see him. The real experience is about the whole family and the fact that they were able to receive counselling, and received visits at home.” “People say it’s a lot of money for a limited number of people,” Bill continues, “And as it is, there’s only a small percentage of the population that will benefit from it. Elgin has around 90,000 people and while almost half live in St. Thomas, it is a big county. There are an awful lot of communities that that are interested and need this kind of support so they do not have to send their loved ones to Woodstock or to the north end of London.” “I think a bigger impact of the hospice is beyond just the ten beds,” says Dr. Jones. “We are going to have an outreach program to reach to the community. We will probably impact 120 to 150 patients in hospice, but we’ll be supporting up to 500 people in the community, patients who are at the end of life and want to stay home. We will be supporting their families, making sure they have the services that they need, so it will actually impact more people than the relatively few that will end up in the building. It’s way more than just those 10 beds.” “After 20 years, hospice in Elgin is no longer just a dream,” Carrie declares. “It is one step closer to becoming a reality. But hospice is not just about helping those dying to do so in comfort and dignity. It is about celebrating their life’s moments. Spouses and children and extended families don’t have to worry; they can just spend time together.” The location has now been selected -- on to the next steps, and while the marathon has been long, Elgin can finally see the finish line. If you have questions, or would like to know how you can assist, go to www.elginhospice.com.

shape a hospice that is uniquely Elgin County. One thing I have noticed is that no two hospices are alike; they’re all very representative of their own communities, which is, I think, very exciting for us because we’re going to be able to do something that really reflects our community.” “Bob and I, as volunteers, have been involved in this community for a very long time,” says Bill Graham, Board Member for the Hospice of Elgin. “The majority Standing in front of the soon-to-be site of the Elgin Hospice are Dr. Bob Jones, Carrie Ford and Bill Graham

by Lorne Elliott The life of a landlord is not without its pitfalls ...

A comedy in seven phone calls!

SEPTEMBER 8 TO OCTOBER 9

2 0 2 1 PortStanleyFestivalTheatre Purchase Tickets by calling the Box Office 519-782-4353 OPEN Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm www.psft.ca It is time to get back to live theatre!

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021 Page 3

Volunteer of the Month Sponsored By Royal Oak Senior Living

For the Love of Volunteering When you move around a lot, it can be hard to make new friends and feel like part of a community. For Marie Nanacarrow, volunteering was her path to getting to know her new home. Marie’s husband was a career banker, who was transferred all across Southwestern Ontario. After his passing, back in 1998, Marie finally settled in St. Thomas to be closer to her daughter. Marie has been a volunteer with the Elgin County Museum for almost 20 years now, and says she misses the opportunity to be a part of the Museum since it has been closed due to COVID. “One of the fun things we did in 2018 and 2019,” says Marie, “Was having the public schools, grades four and five, into the museum. We had a medieval unit. We wanted to have hands-on activities. I was teaching them how to make chainmail; another volunteer would lead them into the lobby of the Heritage Center, the new museum building, where they made coins because it was very noisy. They had to hammer a nickel- sized piece of aluminum. It would put an imprint on the front, but it would also put an imprint from the hammer on the back so that our coin would be complete.” Marie was drawn to the Elgin County Museum due to her background as a teacher/librarian, which is a background she developed while volunteering for local schools. At first it was for her children’s school and then other schools as they moved around. “I ended up learning a lot about library science,” says Marie. “I volunteered there long enough they asked me if I would like a job as a teacher librarian.” Working with the kids was a role Marie really enjoyed. After another move, Marie missed books so much she volunteered for a new local bookstore in St. Mary’s! Marie’s experience as a librarian came in handy at the museum. “I became an archivist because I ended up doing a lot of that type of work with them. I helped catalogue, identify and properly put away the items that came in.”

Another of Marie’s passions is rug hooking. She acts as the communications liaison for the Memories in Wool Rug Hooking Club, a local club keeping the tradition of rug hooking alive by encouraging new members and often having demonstrations for local historical community events. Mike Baker, Curator of the Elgin County Museum says he is thankful for people like Marie. “Marie has over 20 years volunteering with us; she has done everything - served on advisory panels, been a key part of the education program and she keeps the rug hookers together!” “Volunteers do it because they like it,” Marie declares. “I like meeting new people; I like gaining new skills. My volunteering for the museum has been terrific.”

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 4 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • October 2020 Page 5

COMMUNITY BUILDERS – Bob Farley Oh no, It’s Farley on the Phone!

did. “The hospital was home base for me,” explains Bob. “I felt that it was a great support for the community and if we had a good functional organization there, we would attract good employees both medical and non- medical.”

When we first developed the idea of dedicating a regular piece in Boomers & Beyond to stories of local community builders, one of the first names we thought of was Dr. Robert (Bob) Farley. I had met Bob while I was working at a previous job, back when he and the team were developing the CASO Station fundraising plan. While the community saw him as a doctor and a prominent citizen who, along with his wife, Lois, gave a lot of time to helping the community, I saw Bob as a very busy man who still took the time to get to know people, and who had a bit of amischievous personality. I chatted with Bob briefly about interviewing him for this article, and while he was happy to chat with me, at 92 he was a little reluctant, as he feared his memory at times wasn’t the strongest and he didn’t want to forget any people, dates etc. So, for this article, I reached out to some of those who knew Bob best and they were more than happy to talk about Bob and what they feel he means to this community. Bob was born in St. Thomas in 1929. He attended Western University (then UWO) and earned a BA and his MD while being a star football player. Dr. Farley eventually became the Chief of Surgery at STEGH. Upon his eventual retirement, Dr. Farley wanted to know that the new, incoming surgeon held some of the same values as he

Says general surgeon at STEGH, Dr. Black, “Dr. Robert Farley was a team player in all aspects of his life. He was a natural leader, from quarterbacking Western’s Football team to leading the Department of Surgery at STEGH. I can remember, 26 yrs. ago, when I was first recruited to take Dr. Farley’s spot on his team of general surgeons in St. Thomas. At my interview, the non-retiring surgeons were lobbing softball questions at me. Then Dr. Farley gets up and starts zinging me with tough, hardball questions. I thought to myself, “Why does this guy care so much… he’s retiring?” It wasn’t until I moved my young family to St. Thomas and started practising as a general surgeon here at STEGH that I fully appreciated what Dr. Farley was doing. Despite his retirement, he had a vested interest in

Discovery Tour

A self guided

tour throughout Elgin- Oxford-Norfolk. This 3-4 hour drive will let you and your family discover your own backyard, all while supporting the Rotary Club.

Prizes Fun for the whole family

Helping to support local and international initiatives. Sunday October 3rd • 10am - 2pm $25 to register. To register go to www.rotarystthomas.org/event/rotary-discovery-tour Proudly Sponsored by

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 6 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

bringing a surgeon and his family to this community to be more than a ‘hired scalpel’; he wanted to ensure his replacement was competent, collegial, and community minded. Dr. Farley was truly a community builder on so many levels. My family and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity and the life that he has given us here in St. Thomas. I aspire to do the same with my replacement in the years to come.” Bob’s partner in life, his beloved wife, Lois, was very passionate about the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre (STEPAC) and became one of its leading founders. And if Lois was passionate about something, it was said that Bob would be right there beside her, lending his full support. John Farley tells a story of a STEPAC fundraising event where Bob did his part to earn every dollar possible. At the fundraiser, there were bowls with live goldfish in them, and Bob offered to eat one for every $10 donated, and he ended up eating them all. While Bob’s fishy tail raised a lot of money, apparently Lois was horrified and made him walk home, alone. “I just did my part,” Bob protests. “Many of our local residents produced artwork that could be displayed through the gallery. We were basically supporting the community if we supported the Art Centre.” One of Bob’s biggest projects was the CASO Station restoration. “The building was one of the most historically

significant railway buildings in our community,” says Paul Corriveau. “It was difficult to believe that the building was able to be saved. Once small events became successful and the community noticed the improvements, the next step was to develop a plan for fund raising and to improve the capacity of the organization. Bob joined our fund raising team. He was instrumental in bringing the project to life and reality; without his efforts and the efforts of countless volunteers, the Station would not have been saved or become the gem within our community that it is today. He was so instrumental in getting the CASO Station restored, the ladies waiting room was dedicated in his honour. “It was a heritage project, and fundraising was a lot of fun” says Bob. “When the phone rang, it wouldn’t be first time I heard people say, ‘Oh no; It’s Farley on the phone’.” These are just a few examples of the reach Dr. Robert O. Farley had within our community; there are too many to list! But I will end with words from Bob himself: “If you’re a prominent citizen and you support the community, you are not only helping the town but you’re also showing people that you are one of many people who live here because they believe that it’s a good community, with topnotch people and societies.”

OPEN 1/8

Open and Ready to Assist

KITCHEN • BATH • LAUNDRY • CLOSET • CUSTOM

We Offer

Kitchen Cabinetry • Bathroom Vanities Refacing Cabinetry • Refinishing Cabinetry Closet Organizers • Laundry Room Storage Countertops • Hardware & Accessories European & Traditional Design

We help create the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room of your dreams: From floor to ceiling with a small town friendly feeling.

519-317-8746 www.daveyanddaveycabinetry.ca

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021 Page 7

Pre-planning Your Will from a Grief Perspective By Barbara Gillett Saunders, Grief Counsellor/ Thanatologist Have you sat down and thought about what your wishes are for when you die? What about your

will? Did you just take a long pause to think? Perhaps, you have already put plans into place. If this is the case, I applaud you and your executor will too when the time comes. It is helpful to have a conversation about what you want done with your belongings -- who gets what and who is in charge. When all is said and done, your spoken words mean nothing. Put it on paper! Some of the following comments come from hearing about the experiences my clients and friends have had after someone close to them died. Ideally, a professionally prepared will is preferred by people who have estates to be taken care of. Falling short of that, a will stating your wishes in your own handwriting has to be signed and dated. If there is no will, the confusion that ensues for the person who needs to handle your estate can be overwhelming. COMPASSION • WORKMANSHIP • GUARANTEEDQUALITY ELGIN Monuments

A lawyer is qualified and may be necessary to handle the legal hurdles that will be then confronted. A family member or friend may have to dig for information needed to satisfy the government and courts in determining who has the authority to make decisions and perhaps act as an executor. From a grief and loss perspective, take a moment to picture how the person you care about may feel once you have died. Chances are they are sad, overwhelmed, wanting to grieve and having difficulty remembering what needs to be done. There may also be other people involved who want things sorted out ASAP and who do not realize that it may take some time before anything is ready to be divided, sold and debts paid. This adds to an already present stressful situation for the person who is trying to get everything sorted out. With all that needs to be completed, when does this person grieve? All the legal formalities take time and energy that the three bereavement days from work do not provide. On the outside, they may seem in control of everything, putting on a happy face and saying, “I’m fine”. They are not fine. Time has also been taken away from their family and friends who might be supportive. By doing your best to streamline the process for your executor, you are in fact providing them with the grace period to grieve in a timely manner. What happens after that is out of your control. This is IMPORTANT. The point is, do not leave a legal mess if it can be avoided.

• Engrave on natural stones • Offer pet memorial stones • Restore older monuments • Order vases and urns 519.633.1591 www.elginmonuments.com Visit our show room at 220 Edward St., St. Thomas

Hilary J. Vaughan B.Sc. (Hons.), LL.B. Barrister & Solicitor 83 Curtis Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1J3 Tel: 519-631-0909 Fax: 519-631-7682 Specializing In: ~ wills, estates, trusts ~ business law ~ real estate & mortgage transactions

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 8 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

A “CASE” for Pre-Planning by Bill Denning

A few years ago, an old friend called me up to have a chat. He was a good ole country boy who had farmed his whole life. Tough as nails, friendly and very direct; qualities that made me like the guy. He was the head of the family and had the final say on all farm business until the day he died, so it shouldn’t have surprised me that he wanted to plan his own funeral. He rattled off his instructions with an expedient force- fulness that suggested it had been on his mind for a while and that he was done having this worry occupy space in his head. I couldn’t write fast enough to keep up with his many thoughts and opinions, so I respectfully requested a time out and asked the following question, “You ok if I come out to your place to finish this up?” He replied, “Why yes, Bill, that’s a fine idea. We shall seal the deal with a drink.” The meeting space was not the kitchen table as I expected but rather, the barn. This way he could complete his chores while he told me how to complete his final wishes. As he shared his choice of pallbearers, burial place and other preferences, I found myself distracted by the smells that surrounded me and the incredible collection of signs, antique equipment, including a 1942 Case Tractor. He must have noticed my wandering eye, so he would occasionally pause the business of the day so he could tell me stories and point out the meaning behind every item in every corner. He proudly declared that the pitchfork he was using to clean the stalls was the very same one his grandfather used one hundred years ago and how they just don’t make things like they used to. I did my best to refocus and gather up the rest of the details I needed to put this to bed for him. I’m sure glad I asked if I could meet him at the farm that day. A few years later, the old boy died. As his well-meaning and headstrong kids descended on the funeral home to make the final arrangements, I could tell there was potential for conflict. After all, they were their father’s kids.

They all had different thoughts on what to do but lacked certainty on how their patriarch would want it. One figured he should be buried with his parents in the family plot, while another suggested that he should be cremated and spread around the farm. All of the ideas were good with a common intention of honouring this great man. The challenge is you can’t do everything and that’s where the problems can arise. As I opened my folder and shared with them my notes from that day in the barn, they all seemed relieved. The old man made the tough choices, left a clear instructional path to follow and the family was able to move forward in harmony. If my old buddy had not called me, that may not have been the outcome. I was asked to conduct the service and was given permission by the son to go back for another visit to the barn the day before the funeral. I took a photo of the old Case tractor to use on the memorial card and grabbed his treasured family pitchfork that I then leaned up against the casket for the funeral. As I wrapped up the service, I said to the crowd as I looked at the old farm essentials inside and outside of the casket, “They just don’t make ’em like that anymore, do they?”

When your path leads to pre-planning, stop by to meet our caring and professional individuals!

with deepest sympathy, When you need to share a comforting thought, let our designers help express your love with a beautiful floral display. 991 Talbot Street St. Thomas 519-207-7747 My forestofflowers.com

Allan Hughson Owner, Licensed Funeral Director

Dave Gifford Licensed Funeral Director

Ali (Hughson) Harris Certified Pre-Planner

Matt Hughson Licensed Funeral Director

Owen Broughner Licensed Funeral Director

(519) 631-0850 5 Elgin Street, St. Thomas www.williamsfuneralhomeltd.com

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021 Page 9

Choosing a Celebration of Life Even before the pandemic stopped families and friends from being able to gather for funerals and memorials, celebration of life gatherings were becoming more popular. Now that so many families are waiting to get together to celebrate their loved ones, celebrations of life will likely become a somewhat regular part of your calendar. A celebration of life is less about mourning the passing and is more about sharing and celebrating a loved one’s story. Some are even taking it a step further and celebrating one’s life, while they are still around to attend the event and feel the all the love from their friends and family. By choosing the celebration of life option, you can still hold the event at a funeral home in place of a traditional wake/ viewing/memorial, or you can hold it at a later date in a small venue or a home. The wonderful thing about a celebration of life is that it is completely customizable. If your loved one loved BBQ’s, host a BBQ; if they loved seafood, host a low country boil. Did they take a trip to Paris that changed their life? Host a Parisian theme. Did they love golf? Hold a small tournament. The options are endless, and can be as big or as small as you would like them to be. Here are some tips if you are planning your own, or hosting a celebration of life: Send invitations There can be a formal invitation or an e-vite, but let it be known whom you would like to invite. An invitation is

also great to let the guests know if the event is casual or dressy, and if they can bring anything. Create a memory board Have a memory board available for the guests with some of your favourite memories. Invite the guests to bring some photos or mementos of their own to add to the board. Decide a theme and decorate While this may not be a birthday party, it doesn’t mean it is not a celebration. If the space looks merry, then it will lead to merrymaking and shared joy. Have a journal available Let it be known that there is a journal available if any of the guests would like to share some of their stories. This can make an excellent keepsake for the family and might elicit some stories they may not know about their loved ones! Create a playlist While keeping within the theme of the event, create a playlist of music that shares the celebrated person’s favourite music. Music is often a powerful memory trigger and can help your guests remember good times with their loved one. If you decide a celebration of life is the way to go for you or a loved one, the key is that it can be whatever you want it to be.

St. Thomas’ Most Beautiful Cemetery Talk to us about our Lots • Columbarium • Markers and Laser Engraving

190 Wilson Ave., St. Thomas 519-631-5530 [email protected]

Park Elmdale Memorial

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 10 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

A monument to a life well lived When a loved one passes, it can be difficult to see beyond those initial days, weeks, and months of grief and loss. And then there all the million little things that need to be taken care of when someone passes, from funeral arrangements to dealing with a person’s estate. Each decision to be made is emotionally charged during this time, making them infinitely more challenging, which is why preplanning is so important. Preplanning as much as you can relieves the stress and burden from your loved ones during a difficult time. This includes choosing your desired memorial . A memorial should be more than just dates and a name. With somany options available, it’s important to choose the right place for the job. Lee Memorials has been serving our community for three generations, helping each customer to memorialize a life well lived. They have the experience and knowledge necessary to create a custommemorial that is uniquely yours, featuring a custom design with your choice of engraving or CNC imaging. Are you a dyed-in- the-wool fan of a certain hockey team? Are you a part of an organization or profession you’d like to be remembered for? Why not have their logo on your memorial? These special touches can make your memorial extra- special, and when you pre-plan and take care of those details and wishes ahead of time you not only get what you want, but you give your loved ones a gift by easing the burden on them. It can be very challenging to make decisions when one is grieving, not only because we aren’t thinking clearly and are overcome with emotion, but also because we may worry that we aren’t making choices that our deceased loved one would have wanted. Pre-planning and purchasing your memorial takes those worries away . A memorial is a lasting tribute to a loved one. Let Lee Memorials help you create something by which you will be proud to be remembered.

MY CHECKLIST 1. Type of service:

q Funeral service, followed by burial or cremation q Funeral service, followed by a graveside service q Service at the crematory, followed by burial or cremation q Only a graveside service or a service at the crematory, followed by burial or cremation q Memorial service after the burial or cremation 2. Other funeral events: q Viewing or wake before funeral q Visitation before funeral q Reception following service q Specific religious mourning events 3. Personal touches: q Choice of location for funeral or memorial service, plus an alternate in case that location is not available. q Preferred officiant, plus an alternative q Preferred pallbearers (usually 6 people) q Choice of eulogists q Choice of other people you wish to deliver readings, prayers, poems, etc. and what you would like them to read q Preferred musical selections, including hymns, secular songs, and instrumental pieces q If donations will be requested from guests, indicate preferred charity, organization or cause 4. Guests: (Remember, your loved ones will know how to get in touch with family, but there may be people you’d like to have at your service that they may not know about, such as club or organization members, high school or college friends, former neighbours , etc.) Be sure to include as much contact information as possible. In the age of social media, it’s easier than ever to contact people, but the more information you can provide to your loved ones, the easier it will be for them to ensure that everyone you would like to attend your service receives notification.

Serving Elgin County for 3 generations Monuments ∞ Markers ∞ Engraving 43546 John Wise Line 519-631-8668 519-637-3385 (after hours) www.leememorials.ca

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021 Page 11

Don’t drink and drive Respect your scooter like you would respect a car. If you have been drinking, or if you are on any medications that affect your motor skills do not operate your scooter. Make sure your scooter is visible. Whether you are driving during the day or at night, make sure you scooter is visible to those around you. Make eye

Beep, Beep, the Scooter Went Beep, Beep, Beep Sometimes, getting around is not as easy as it used to be. It is always nice to walk when we can, but sometimes a store can just be too far and driving is not always an option anymore. Many people have turned to the use of

power scooters for their trips around town. But with great battery power, comes great responsibility. Here are some tips for your safety and the safety of others if you decide a scooter might be the right mode of transport for you in the future. Practise As the old saying goes, practise makes perfect. When you were younger you didn’t buy your first car and then take it out on the road without first knowing how to drive. The principle here is the same; it takes time to learn the basics, like spacing. Learning how to back up will save many toes from pain and many walls from being scratched! Make sure the scooter is off before getting in and out

contact with drivers so you know they are aware of you. Make sure it has a light and reflectors if driving at night. Beware of Curbs It is recommended you drive your scooter on the sidewalk whenever possible. But it is always important to be mindful of curbs; if your scooter goes off the curb it could tip and you could fall out and sustain an injury. Respect Like when operating a car, make sure you don’t have a lead foot when driving your scooter. Like the roadways, sidewalks and pedestrians can be unpredictable, so keeping a reasonable speed can help

keep everyone safe. A scooter is still a moving vehicle, so you are still expected to obey the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks, and to not drive with things in your hand or obstructing your view.

One of the biggest threats of injury for a scooter user occurs when you get in and out of the scooter while it is still on. If you accidently hit the forward or reverse buttons while you are halfway in or out, you are liable to fall. So be cautious and make sure your scooter is off before exit or entry.

DO YOU NEED A DO YOU NEED A DO YOU NEED A

Come join us for the 2021-2022 season.

S ewer r epairS can be e xpenSive ! Catch the problems before extensive damage occurs! $200 FOR BASIC INSPECTIONS with video link (including expert commentary) that you can personally view. Call us today to book your appointment $200 FOR BASIC INSPECTIONS with video link (including expert commentary) that you can personally view. Call us today to book your appointment $200 FOR BASIC INSPECTIONS with video link (including expert commentary) that you can personally view. Call us today to book your appointment e er r epairS can be e xpenSive ! Catch the problems before extensive damage occurs! S ewer r epairS can be e xpenSive ! Catch the problems before extensive damage occurs!

All experience levels arewelcome. Photo by Kelly Taylor

New to curling? Try our Learn to Curl league. Every week you will receive instruction on different areas of the game, advancing as the weeks go on. Each lesson is taught by experienced and qualified instructors. Come try the newest option – our new Doubles league.

To advertise here contact [email protected] 519-631-5810 [email protected] 19-631- [email protected] 519-631-5810 [email protected]

Registration opens Wednesday, September 1. For more information visit our website or email us – [email protected]

Page 12 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

Black and White T.V.

Visit the Hometown St. Thomas Facebook Page for the Crossword answers.

Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Fully Installed Fully Installed Fully Installed Fully Installed

A cross 5 Chuck Conners is The ________ 8 Danger Will Robinson we are Lost in ___ 9 He was a real Menace 12 These hillbillys moved here after a fatefull missed shot 14 The adventures of Ozzie and _____ 15 He leaves Mayberry to join the Marines 17 My Favorite ________ 19 Do not adjust your TV, it is the ______ Limits 22 Lawyer/Detective Perry _____ 23 Sgt. Joe Friday 24 Whistling intro to Mayberry 25 This family is a little Creepy and Kooky 27 This junction was part of CBS Rural Comedy Lineup 28 She had to hide her belly button 29 Feb 9th, 1964, THE BEATLES

Down 1 Identical Cousins Patty ___ Show 2 He knows best 3 Western set in Dodge City, Kansas 4 Tim’s faithful companion (even in a well) 6 A talking Horse _____ Ed 7 Never really Lone thanks to Silver and Tonto 10 This director of terror’s hour 11 Secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega 12 Golly Gee Wally, He is the star 13 Desi loved her (4) 14 To the moon Alice! (12) 15 Pass me the coconut phone I want to get off this island 16 Elliot Ness is getting Capone 18 You just crossed over into this zone

20 Grandpa was a vampire 21 Casts a spell with a simple twitch of the nose

26 Borgnine plays a Lieutenant of a disfunctional crew

Fully Installed

Contact Us

Discover The Have you been thinking of a walk-in tub?

Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub rl ’ B t alk-In Tub Contact Us Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Contact Us Contact Us Contact Us i v r W d’ l In b

Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Disco l Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub

Save $1,500* on a

Walk-in Tub,

$500 Value!

COMFORT SERIES™

including a Free Toilet from

*with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Standard Walk-in Tubs; not combined with any other offer, and is valid in Canada only

Contact Us

Save $1,500* on a Save $1,500* on a i l i f Save $1,500* on a Save $1,500* on a Sa $ ,5 0* on Save $1,500* on a on a Save $1,500* on a Save $1,500* on a ave $1,50 * on a

Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, including a Free Toilet from including a Free Toilet from COMFORT SERIES™ including a Free Toilet from including a Free Toilet from COMFORT SERIES™ including a Free Toilet from *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Standard Walk-in Tubs; not combined with any other offer, and is valid in Canada only *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Canada only including a Free Toilet from *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Canada only *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Canada only *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Standard Walk-in Tubs; not combined with any other offer, and is valid in Canada only Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIM E Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIM E *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Standard Walk-in Tubs; not combined with any other offer, and is valid in Canada only Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIME *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk in tub by American Canada only 519-207-4100 [email protected] i cluding a Free il t f om Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIM E Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIME Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIM E Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETI E Products with the Art riti Foundation’ Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIME Products with he Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Com endation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at rth itis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIME na a nly *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American St dard Walk-in Tubs; not combined with any other offer, and is valid in Canada only *with the purchase of an installed ComfortSeries™ walk-in tub by American Stand rd Walk-in Tubs; not combined with any other offer, and is valid in Canada only COMFORT SERIES™ COMFORT SERIES™ COMFORT SERIES™ COMFORT SERIES™ COMFORT SERIES™ Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIME Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, Walk-in Tub, COMFORT SERIES™ COMFORT SERIES™ including a Free Toilet from including a Free Toilet from * ith the urchase f an installe COMFORT SERIES™ f rt eries alk-in tu y erican

$500 Value! $500 Value! $500 Value! $500 l ! $500 Value! $500 Value! l !

$500 Value! $500 Value! $50 Value!

Respiratory Home Services Respiratory Home Service

We provide: • Home Oxygen Therapy • CPAP / Sleep Apnea Supplies • Respiratory Equipment and Supplies 519.631.2030 x 2410 • www.stegh.on.ca

Respiratory Home Services

Products with the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation are tested and proven to make daily tasks easier. Learn more at arthritis.org/easeofuse. LIFETIME

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021 Page 13

A Rallying Cry for Boomers Everywhere by Terry Carroll

the World Wide Web. Especially for seniors. Need the name of a business that’s on the tip of your tongue? Get out your phone. What’s the original French version of the Everly Brothers’ Let It Be Me? Google it. Safety razors. Is that what they’re still called? Not electric razors and not straight razors. It’s what my dad taught me to use, and I’ve never considered anything else. Paper. One of the world’s great inventions, by the Chinese, right? I can still say “Chinese”, I hope, without offending. I know, I know; we’re supposed to be on our way to a paperless world, but no decent writer gets by without paper. Lots of paper. Your first draft is always garbage. You let it sit. You print it off, you mark it up, you keyboard the changes. There’s so much you don’t see until you print it off. That leads me to penmanship and handwriting. Look, I get it. Everybody uses keyboards. But if you want to be a decent writer, there are times when there’s no substitute for getting out paper and a pen and letting the words flow in a way they just don’t on a screen. Nail clippers. When I was a child, my father would cut our fingernails with a jackknife. Or my mother would do it with scissors. But c’mon, you two; the first nail clippers were patented in 1875. Nail clippers are hardly the work of no- good modern layabouts. I don’t care what they say, I don’t want to stay in a world without them. Or old white men. Hey, young, woke, white layabouts. Here you are lauding people in other cultures for the respect they show for their elders, and there you go taking down old white men on every street corner, in every medium, at every opportunity. These are your own fathers and uncles and grandfathers you’re dissing, which I think, Freudian genius that I am, means you hate yourselves. And this brings me back to, I don’t care what they say, I won’t stay in a world without love. This should be the rallying cry of Boomers in this moment. Our divided, political, I-won’t-let-you-talk, cancel-cultured world needs old people, of whatever colour, who once swore allegiance to love, peace and rock ‘n’ roll – to admit that rock ’n’ may not be all it was cracked up to be. But we don’t care what they say, we won’t stay in an angry, divided world. A world without love.

Please lock me away And don’t allow the day Here inside where I hide With my loneliness

So begins a song that became a Top Ten hit for Peter and Gordon in 1964. OnYouTube, you can catch a video of theP&G duo with mop-top hair, matching garb and acoustic guitars: you can listen to them harmonizing in the era’s boppy style to what are, after all, dark lyrics. The chorus that followed was: “I don’t care what they say, I won’t stay in a world without love.” I googled the background of the song. It was written by Paul McCartney when he was 16 and given to Peter Asher (half of Peter and Gordon, and brother of McCartney’s girlfriend in the 60s). John Lennon liked to joke about the song’s opening line. “Please lock me away,” Lennon would say. “Okay, end of song.” I’m no Lennon, but I’ve wondered more than once about the different directions the chorus could have gone. I don’t care what they say; I won’t stay in a world without, for example … the internet. Every time the power goes down, we realize the importance of what we once called oomers B and E YOND B Geoffrey Rae Managing Editor / Sales [email protected] 519-495-7177 Copy Editor Peter Bloch-Hansen Publisher Barb Botten [email protected] Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Photos, community events and article suggestions welcome. Please email [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 14 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021

BADDA BOOM! by Frances Kennedy

JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected] JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected] P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201, St. Thomas ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected]

Ontario Always Here for You Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns

My late father used to say, “Time speeds up whenyou’reover thehill becauseyou’re rolling down the other side.” That’s precisely what acclaimed BBC broadcaster and psychology writer, Claudia Hammond explores in Time Warped: Unlocking the Mysteries of Time Perception (public library). It’s a fascinating foray into the idea that our experience of time is created in our minds. It’s a disorienting concept; after all, we’ve been raised to believe that time is both reliable and objective. Yet considered in the context of the current global pandemic, it is also strangely empowering. On the one hand, our experience of isolation from friends and family seems to have lasted for eons and in the next moment we think about how time flies when we see a photo of a grandchild who has become almost unrecognizable in the same period. It’s worthwhile to consider that our perception of time passing is subjective. It matters because it is the experience of time that roots us in our mental reality and can be both friend and enemy. The trick is to harness it… time is the way we organize life, and the way we experience it. Hammond writes, “We construct the experience of time in our minds, so it follows that we are able to change the elements we find troubling — whether it’s trying to stop the years racing past or speeding up time when we’re stuck at a checkout or working out how long it’s been since we last saw our old friends.” To that I add this; I am a passionate advocate of daily journaling. Perhaps the greatest gift of my practice has been reading what I have written on this day a year ago. It is a remarkable tool for self-coaching and self-awareness that illustrates that our memory about what occurred a year ago appears as having taken place either significantly further in the past – “a lifetime ago,” or “just yesterday”. It turns out to be a defining feature of how the human mindworks, thescienceofwhich isat first unsettling, thenstrangely comforting, and if nothing else, intensely interesting. My point is simply this: we are alive in one of the greatest shifts in how we behave as human beings in the history of being humans. Record your experience for posterity. These are not ordinary times, so be aware that our perception of time passing can dramatically affect our mental and emotional well-being. To that concern may I offer this: keeping a daily journal is invaluable to you, your family and perhaps even a larger readership in future. Finally this ... time is the only non-renewable resource, so when we waste it, let’s do it wonderfully. Badda Bing!

Ontario

Looking for a New Shed this Fall?

Makes a great gift!

Mini Barns • Work Sheds • Play Houses Pool Change Rooms Let us make the CustomMade, Locally Built Shed Your Back Yard Deserves! Hand Crafted – Custom Built

Since 1974 10055 Carter Rd.

Proudly Printed By:

233 Edward Street, St. Thomas, ON

phone: 519-633-1580

fax: 519-633-8531

impressions-printing.com

Trust the professionals for all your moving needs! REEMAN THE MOVER LTD.

St. Thomas

• Local & Long Distance Moving • Commercial & Residential Moves • Senior Citizen & Student Discounts • Packing & Crating Service • Moving Supplies • Storage Facilities • Heavy Moving Specialist (pianos, safes, etc.)

Free Estimates 519-631-7346

Boomers and Beyond September 2021 Cover A great place to read and be. Bench and mini library can be found on the path to the St. Thomas Elevated park. Photo by Geoff Rae

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2021 Page 15

AMPLIFON IS THE GLOBAL LEADER IN HEARING HEALTHCARE, BACKED BY OVER 70 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Amplifon’s breakthrough technology · Enjoy a full day of listening on a single charge · Save money- no need to buy replacement batteries · Nomoretryingtofindorfumblingwithtinybatteries

20+ RECHARGEABLE SOLUTIONS!

If you are 50+, you should include routine hearing testing as part of your annual check-up.

Book a complimentary hearing test today! 226.212.4582 ST. THOMAS 519.245.2332 STRATHROY 519.287.5757 GLENCOE 519.471.1115 KOMOKA 519.268.3030 DORCHESTER 519.642.2200 LONDON 519.425.1783 INGERSOLL

BO GO

60 OFF * % up to OUR BEST HEARING TECHNOLOGY! UNBEATABLE PRICING!

PC60BOGO

BOOK YOUR FREE NO-OBLIGATION TRIAL TODAY! Try the latest rechargeable hearing aids today with no money down!** Limited spots available!

N

E

www.amplifon.com/ca

*Offervalidonselectmodelsanddiscountisapplicabletobinauralpurchase,thesecond aidonly.Cannotbecombinedwithotherdiscounts.**Seeclinicfordetailsoffreetrial. Offersexpire9/30/2021.PromoCode:PC60BOGO©2021Amplifon,AllRightsReserved.