The North Grenville Times
The Voice of North Grenville
The ‘Tween-ager, the Taxwoman and the Sandman Graeme Waymark "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return" (Genesis 3:19) Each year we celebrate new births of babies and blossoms as Spring awakens rosebuds in our cheeks, revealing twinkles in our glistening eyes. Moistened by miracles of joy, tears are invoked by the sheer potential of life itself. I had a new grandchild, Owin Grant, this Christmas who brought to me such joy… On the other hand, the pathos of our lives and of our community is the compelling demise of all and everything sooner or later. Nothing stops the inexorable aging mechanism but fortunately there is glue that holds together each year comprising many memories of passionate pursuit, unfailing pride, and serendipitous awe. Nothing ignites acceptance of this unstoppable process better than the fuel of consumable happiness and flame of ingestible delight. LIfe is like that: awe, delight, happiness, and pride a dose of faith, charity, a roller coaster ride. ‘Through sickness or health’ a code not just for marriage; ‘Twill guide acceptance astride - a social carriage. There comes a time in one’s life when education is done and experience well worn; where most moun-
tains will be climbed, oceans crossed, and the list left in life is reduced to items under a rubric, many of us are calling a bucket list. It is what one wishes to do between now and then. What is now? When is then? This is a question many senior citizens face. I call this period euphemistically: The ‘Tween-Age Years … To me, the ‘tween-age years are those that exist after year ‘X’ and before year ‘Y’. My notion also includes the year ‘Z’ as in, D-day: Death, or Dust to Dust. Thus: ‘Y’ is the age where one is very much alive and probably of reasonably sound mind, but not mobile and perhaps unable to care for oneself or make all vital decisions. ‘X’ is the age one finds oneself after retirement from a career - as many citizens of a certain age now find themselves. To give an example, working backwards: If one would die at age 92 (Z) and say, enter a home for assisted living at age 89 (Y); and if one’s current age is 69 (X), then the ‘tween-age years of that hypothetical person would be (Y-X) resulting in twenty years. (Y-X=20 yrs). With 2014 commencing, those born in the last few months of World War II are now approaching seventy years of age, with somewhere between one and two decades of ‘tween-age years (ten to
twenty years) remaining to them – that is to say, if my working hypothesis above is seen as reasonable by readers of this article. Younger folks than that, are called the ‘Baby-Boom’ (BB) generation, followed by the ‘generation X and Y’. This BB generation is healthier, stronger, more able and capable than perhaps any other generation in history and they have the means to live life in a multi-faceted exploration of events and experiences that many are including under a new rubric: The Bucket List. It is a list self-delimited by factors such as: health, resources, determination, will, and supports and in a few cases limited by others such as partner, family or other demands. Whatever, the BB generation stands to have the longest ‘tween-age period than any other generation. The most important notions regarding the ‘tweenage years and a bucket list are: Senior citizens usually can make the determination of when those years will apply individually to oneself and/ or partner. Others will or can see one’s parents and grandparents in the spotlight of ‘tween-age years and want to know how to support them during that time Professionals such as financial planners fully understand how best to assist a
Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills Discover one of the natural wonders of North Grenville! By popular demand, Sustainable North Grenville once again invites its members and the public to gather at Maplewood Hall in Oxford Mills at 6:45 pm for 7 pm start. Young and old may come and enjoy an entertaining and informative slide show and talk by renowned artist/biologist team Aleta Karstad and Dr.
Jan 8, 2014
Fred Schueler. Following the short presentation, participants will hike outdoors to a special observation spot below the dam to hunt for the giant Salamander known as Mudpuppies. This is a great opportunity to see Mudpuppies at the only place in Ontario where they can be easily viewed during their winter activity. Warm, outdoor clothing and rubber boots or water-
person or a couple, but may require a tool to determine those years as they will differ for each client In determining what those years will be and getting the most out of them, it will mean, for friends, family, financial planners and caregivers: 1. Using requisite resources to continue one’s life well managed past the ‘tween-age years; 2. Budgeting to ensure as many of any bucket list wishes are fulfilled or complete; and 3. Planning, to ensure that senior citizens are not confined to nursing or senior ‘homes’ too early. In summary, 2014 gives us the opportunity to provide for ourselves the ability to celebrate new births of both baby and blossom as Spring awakens the rosebuds in cheeks of senior citizens and opens twinkles in the glistening eyes of the aged, with or without cataracts! We seniors have the potential to thoroughly involve ourselves in all miracles of joy invoked by the continually repeating potential of life itself, even while life passes and it is not the ‘sandman’s dust’ that we see accumulating in our eyes. I hope this article will stimulate many to re-frame how they look at their retirement years, what they wish to experience, how and when.
Friday, January 10, 2014; 7pm.
proof footwear are recommended, as the observation area is along the shore of the creek. A bright flashlight (with fresh batteries) would also be useful. Don’t want to brave the weather? Stick around! At 8 pm, the Oxford Mills Community Association’s regular Game Night kicks off, with a variety of tabletop games being played til about 11:30 pm. Admission is free and open to all. A donation jar will be available to offset
the cost of renting the hall. To get to Oxford Mills, follow County Road 18 south from Kemptville. Maplewood Hall is just over the bridge, on the right-hand side, (not far from the Brigadoon Restaurant). More information: visit www.SustainableNorthGrenville.ca, http://www. SustainableNorthGrenville. ca Or http://pinicola.ca/mudpup1.htm
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SPECIALIZING IN NEW RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PLUMBING
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613-258-7787 www.copperwoodgc.ca info@copperwoodgc.ca Kemptville
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