Grand Old Lady

Today we drove Doris to Hamilton for a flight to her old home in New Brunswick. For the last week she was packing and rearranging her belongings for the trip. She doesn't mind flying but really wanted to drive the 1800 km in the seat of the second row behind us. We felt that two lengthy trips in a 2 week period would be tiresome. Doris is nearly 92 years old.

She manages to hang out laundry, bake her favourite cookies and anything else she puts her mind to. Her brother is turning 90 this year and has recovered from a medical incident which could have caused him to give up. Their getting together means much to both of them as phone calls do not really satisfy their need to be together.

We watched Doris today getting on the plane and Theresa had to wait until the plane was safely off the tarmac before we could leave. She does not need assistance but is nervous as we all are when we hear of plane crashes. When she arrives home the talk will be about old times but Maritimers always talk of the weather. I am sure every breakfast will be interrupted about weather it will rain or shine that day. Older folks are enjoying life more now because of the modern travel and communications. They still talk of the good old days and I confront them to tell me some of the good things about the old days.

The answers I receive are usually the same as account after account speak of trials and tribulations. They speak of the hard work, the lack of educational opportunities, the poor diet and lack of money and resources. Still they cling to the expression of the good old days. From what I hear from them there were no good old days. What they are saying is that with all the bad there was quality of time and relationships shared in a common sense so memories are of the family struggling together for a better life.

I love to listen to old folks talking of their school days, their home life, their parties and family celebrations. Life today is the same only played on a different field with different rules. Our children will listen to us soon when we talk of the days before TV and Ipods and will laugh and maybe even pity us for living in such primitive conditions. Doris lived in a different age but she fits in quite nicely with the modern world. She is a icon for her age group and an example of how she bridged the generations.

We will miss her for a few days and be ready for her return to fill in the blank space she leaves when she is not here. I hope the weather is changing every hour when she is Down Home so they will have lots to talk about.