Recently, I was overjoyed by a lovely surprise visit from my grandson and his wife, both RCMP officers, who drove a long distance to come by with their 11-month-old baby daughter. As we were in conversation, the baby was crawling on the … Read more

My advancing years have prompted me to ask a lot. I ask fellow walkers to get me across the street safely by letting me know when the light turns to the "Walk" signal. In the grocery store, I ask helping hands to reach items or to look at … Read more

I've been a mother for 70 years, and Mother's Day this year made me think of the years gone by. Now, all my children are retired and have their own families. There have been times to be proud and, yes, times of difficulty! Growing up was … Read more

Over 25 years ago, I was told that I was going blind. Treatments and surgeries have slowed the onset of visual impairment over the years, yet the lack of sight is evidently growing, and it has become more apparent lately. Slowly, over the … Read more

A game show on television named The Price Is Right is the world's longest-running game show with episodes five days a week. The contestants can win cash and prizes by guessing the price of various products without going over. It is … Read more

The approach of Christmas certainly stirs up memories of yesteryear. Changes are replacing the ways of the old days. It was Advent, which means "coming", and the Finnish Lutheran church that I attended as I grew up was preparing the … Read more

I had been "in the woods" with my telephone, television, and Internet provider for what seemed like a very long time. I felt that something was wrong with my bills, and I began to inquire about it. I took to the telephone to call the … Read more

When the practice of Hallowe'en is upon us, I am bothered by the activities of the day. It just rubs my spiritual health the wrong way. I have seen the dark side of that day and night. For many, the scarier the decorations for the day the … Read more

I had gone around the neighbourhood as usual handing out some of my devotionals. Many took them, saying, "Thank you." A few said a bold "No!" That's how it was when a young lady told me "No". I still had the copy out in my hand when I saw … Read more

Long ago, a Thanksgiving Day was gloriously decorated with shades of autumn colours. It had been a busy day in my restaurant 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the Trans-Canada Highway. There was a break with … Read more

One evening before bedtime, I was watching a Christian program on television when the feed for it was cut off. After trying to fix it, things got worse, and I got only one channel to watch. I was sure that I had messed up the television by … Read more

It was early in my life that I was asked to sing solos in school and community gatherings in Finland. Before World War II, it was intended that I continue to have singing lessons from an opera singer who spent her summers in our village. … Read more

The days of winter seem to hold the darkest hours of the year. Many people leave home for their workplaces in the dark and also return in the dark. In addition, winter mornings are in a deep-freeze. I also think of a large company of … Read more

I am one of those so-called stubborn elderly people holding onto my independence tooth and nail. I have rejected help, saying, "Please, let me do things in my own home." I find people are very helpful anyway, so when I can't get my coat … Read more

Once again, I was not connected to the Internet, and I was in need of assistance. I contacted the service by telephone, and after the usual drill, the technician recommended that I let him walk me through fixing the problem. … Read more

I needed a computer technician to fix my Internet security software. Watching him go from screen to screen, from page to page, with writings and numbers and codes for what to do next, I was taken by all the technology before me and the … Read more

It was my 88th birthday, and I was receiving e-mails, cards, and flowers to my great enjoyment. One more event was coming, when one of my three sons and his wife drove some two hundred kilometres to take me out to lunch. I thought nothing … Read more

One winter long ago, a neighbour of our church phoned to complain that the church was not doing its share of clearing the sidewalks of snow. I had taken the phone call, so later after work, I went to see what had happened. As I saw it, the … Read more

I have been visually impaired for some time now, and today, I want to tell you about my struggle with not being able to see the details. Adjusting to this new normal is like being a first-grader in the school of learning! I am often … Read more

My daily walks include meeting people, and so it was one day, that I asked a lady if I could sit on the other side of an outdoor table at a cafe. After a brief silence, we engaged in conversation about how lovely the day was. We found … Read more

Lately, I have been disturbed time and time again by phone calls and e-mails that are in the category of an unnecessary nuisance. The caller offers a service, like cleaning ducts. (I live on the seventh floor, which should say it all.) … Read more

One day, back from my grocery shopping in the nearby mall, I checked the change that I had received from the cash that I had paid for the groceries. My first look was a sure thing: I had received less change than I was owed. This left me … Read more

I would like to bring greetings from my "sick-bed" to all who know what that is about! Being an old one sometimes robs us of some privileges that we once took for granted. This year, I have been registered with Brantford Lift, the city … Read more

On my walk around the block just awhile ago, I was down in my spirit, saddened by the obvious worldly conduct of the people that I passed. My thoughts were mixed, seeing the disorderly behaviour on the street corner that undermines the … Read more

I find myself putting in the time sitting on my recliner knitting more dolls. Even though I see double at times, each doll forms out properly — it is all from old know-how and memory. I noticed that the clock on the wall was out of sync … Read more

Since Family Day was introduced in our province as a public holiday on the third Monday of February, I have taken a walk to the organized fun fair in the city. Streets closed for other traffic allow vendors to set up their tents, and many … Read more

With race riots, government oppression, radicalized terrorists, horrific new diseases, and financial meltdowns, today's world is in as much darkness as it was 2000 years ago, and as it was before that, when people were hoping for a … Read more

The day came to seek consultation for a lingering health issue that is not of the life-and-death category, but is nevertheless disabling and life-changing, causing limitations. Arthritis is well known to many who silently suffer in its … Read more

It is a growing scene to see young and old with handheld, computerized gadgets playing a game. It amazes me how many new kinds of computer games are being offered for all ages. The older computer games lose their charm as new ones come … Read more

It was one of those Sunday mornings to wake up sleepy, tinged with disinclination and reluctance to get out of bed. My sleepy head was offering me one excuse after another that it did not matter if I slept in and missed going to church. … Read more

I often take the bus to the other side of the city, and during the hour that it takes to get there and back, I notice some reconstruction taking place. On the roads and streets, there are excavators digging up water mains, machines … Read more

I left my apartment to take my daily walk around the block with a few of my booklets in the basket of the walker that I use to get around with these days. I don't like to feel shut in and unable to meet people. Before I closed my door, I … Read more

I was late doing my spring cleaning, and it bothered me, so I decided to give it a try, and gathered the necessary tools. I prayed for my hurting shoulders, wrists, and back to co-operate with me to wash at least the outside windows that … Read more