A Day with an Older Person

Introduction

Growing up, my father was always a great source of strength and guidance to me. He has always been a soft spoken and gentle father. I think having four daughters may have helped bring out the sensitive side of him. He has always been the voice of reason to all of us who have often turned to him for sound advice, even as adults. Last month, my husband, children and I flew to Montreal to spend a week with my family. My parents, my sisters and their families as well as my own family spent over a week at a winter cottage in Montreal. There was a lot of hustle and bustle in that little cottage. The fresh snow made the landscape beautiful and everyone, young and old found many activities to do during the day. My father and I spent a lot of time together that week. One day we went on a two hour walk on a cross country trail just he and I. We also spent an afternoon together in the kitchen preparing dinner, which has become one of his favorite pastimes since he retired years ago. Therefore my observations are from both those afternoons. That time we spent together helped me rethink the way I view aging.

Part I: The Walk My father has always been a nature lover and enjoys being outdoors. The weather that day was mild and sunny and perfect for a walk. It had snowed the night before and the pine branches drooped from the heaviness of the snow that had accumulated overnight. On this particular afternoon, I could sense dad’s restlessness to get out for his daily walk. As we set out for our walk I asked dad why he wasn’t wearing his hat. He laughed and said he forgot his at home and that he would be fine without one today because it was so mild. I reminded him that there were several others there that he could wear. He then confessed that he did not like how those looked on him. There I was standing