My grandfather lived in a very small town of 5,000 people in southern Ontario back in the 60’s.  He had been the only doctor in the town for about 50 years, and knew everyone old, new and in between.  He brought most of the town’s children into the world; saw them through their teens, twenties and onward,and  brought their children into the world.

Granddad held office hours five days a week in his home/office and would visit the hospital day in and day out 20 miles away to see his patients.  And he was no stranger to making house calls.  “All a part of what doctors do dear,’ he’d say with a sweet smile.  “When and where they need me , I will always go.”

When my grandmother passed away, he was very sad and lonely but wouldn’t show it.  He would say he wasn’t lonely because he was needed and loved by so many. He was a good actor.

When he was turning 80, Granddad was still practicing medicine.  There was one more doctor in town now, but Granddad carried on.

In the summer of 1968, he was out clipping his hedge and tripped on the electrical cord.  We got a phone call from Granddad’s neighbour telling us, “Doctor has fallen! He seems okay but he refuses to go to the hospital.  He says he is quite fine thank you very much and keeps ordering the medics to put him in his house.”

My dad and I jumped in the car and headed out.  We lived about an hour away.  Upon our arrival, Granddad was in his bed, telling everyone he was fine and didn’t need to be fussed over.  My Dad, a doctor as well, examined Granddad “No broken bones Pop and your legs are responding well.  But you’ve done some damage to your back and will be in bed for some time to come. We will have to arrange for a nurse to come in.

“Nonsense,” he grunted.  I will be just fine.”

I looked over at him knowing how much he would hate a stranger in his house.  “Granddad, I want to take care of you.  School is out till September, so I can be your nurse for the whole summer.”  The familiar twinkle in his eyes returned immediately.  “That would be just grand dear.”  And so I began one of the best times in my life for all my 19 years.

Day one was a bit challenging.  He wanted to call all his patients to let them know he would be unable to see them for a while.  I called the other town doctor, and over the next few days, every one of his patients.  Mind you, in such a small town – news travels fast.  It seemed everyone had heard the news and so the casseroles, pies, homemade soups and flowers flowed in through all three doors to the house.

Week four he was feeling so much better.  He was able to walk but unable to manage the stairs.  He rang his bell one morning around 11:00.  I zipped up the stairs, “Coming Granddad.”  “Mary Anne, I want you to bring all my patient files up here. As well, I have prepared a list of all the other items to be brought up here. But right now I want my address book.  I have a lot of patients to call to let them know office hours start tomorrow. No time to waste.”

For the rest of that very special summer I spent with my Granddad, there was a doctor in the house.

A couple of days ago I had the delightful privilege of being invited to Shannon Oaks, a beautiful senior’s residence in the heart of Vancouver.

Beth and Murray Brubacher are the managers there, and are wonderful couple.  They have been running the place for xx years and do it with such loving care.

They were showing a very special film documentary and asked if I would like to join the residents in the theatre room.  I jumped at the chance.

The film is called Age of Champions.  And what a film!  It is series of wonderful true stories about seniors who just won’t let age get in the way of living and getting the most out of life.  These people range in age from 80 to 102, men and women performing feats most of us at 50 would be challenged to do.  They are Senior Olympians! And they are magnificent.

No sport is easy after a certain age, but these people inspire!  There is the golden tennis player, a women’s basketball team called the Tigerettes, and they truly are tigers on the court. There is the javelin thrower Adolph, Bradford the swimmer and a host of others. These people are as competitive and determined as anyone half their age!  They are out to win!

They train and they train and they train.  And then they go for the gold — with a huge amount of energy and a whole lot of chutzpah. This film has you laughing one minute and close to tears the next.

After the film was over, Beth held a gathering at the fireplace. After being treated by Shannon Oaks’ fabulous bakers who served up delicious cale chips with humus, lemon yogurt munchies and fabulous granola bars, Beth invited all of us down to the fireplace for a fireside chat about the film.

The first question came.  “What did you think of it?”  Voices began to ring out from every corner of the room. “Inspiring.”  “Amazing attitudes.”  “Incredibly driven.”  “Total inspiration!”  “I’ll be doing a whole lot more days in the gym!” And on it went.  That inspired me as much if not more than the film itself.  They were pumped!

So if you want a treat to share with your aging parents, or you are of a certain age, prepare to be inspired.  I highly recommend you see this film.

You can order it on line at www.ageofchampions.org.

It will give you a whole new spin on the “golden years”!  Enjoy.

Seniors Sing Their Hearts Out!

In just over a year, PALS CHORUS has become Vancouver’s most vibrant, cutting edge seniors choir 55 and over.   Under the direction of Lonnie Delisle, the chorus of thirty singers has been given new energy, with the kind of programming that moves far beyond the usual repertoire for seniors, taking on songs like Adele’s Rolling in the Deep, and combining it with Lady Gaga’s  outrageous Bad Romance while throwing in spirited choreography.  Whether the concerts are performed in the PAL theatre on Cardero St. in Vancouver, or at the launch of SFU’s public square where audiences were treated to a flash-mob entrance with PALS Chorus singing Man in the Mirror, standing ovations are no longer an unexpected surprise. Some chorus members were (and still are) professional singers with long careers, but no one feels intimidated; the only requisite is a love of singing.

If, heaven forbid, “Oldifying” sounds creep into the delivery, Lonnie yanks it from its roots, explaining the perils of “performing like lounge singers…getting sloppy, making it schmaltzy, straightening out the challenging rhythms. It becomes cheesy, like Muzak, and you may think you’re becoming more accessible to a wider audience but Don’t Do That. Hit the notes exactly where they are, do it bang on, and you will be youthful and current.”

The parallels between PALS Chorus and Young at Heart are evident to Lonnie: “What I found so inspiring and encouraging about Young at Heart, was seeing people find a place where they belong.  I’ve seen seniors who get forgotten about…their spouse dies and they’re in an old folks’ home and they’re hanging out without much to do and so they play bridge, and just hang out.

Stand up and SING your heart out.  It’s good for the soul!