Life ’ s Journey , through Literature
Linda Manwarren | Chair , Wellness Committee
“ Life is a journey to be experienced , not a problem to be solved .”
– attributed to Winnie the Pooh
“ Life is a journey ” is a well-known phrase , one that pops into our consciousness frequently as our years accumulate . It has popped in for me lately through the world of books , a world I frequently visit . And the Birds Rained Down by Jocelyne Saucier is one of those books . Originally published in French , Il pleuvait les oiseaux , it was a CBC Canada Reads selection a few years ago and has received several literary awards . It is a quiet , beautiful , and sometimes uncomfortable reflection on aging , selfdetermination , friendship , love , and death . Tom and Charlie , two octogenarians , live deep in the northern Ontario forest . They have abandoned their ordinary life and embraced living life where their personal choices are the primary force through life and death . Their only connection to the outside world is through two marijuana farmers who bring them whatever they can ’ t grow , build , or develop on their own . Their solitude is disrupted by the arrival of two women . The young woman is a photographer who is researching a survivor of one of the catastrophic fires of the early 1900s . The other woman is a 65-year-old escapee from an asylum where she was forcibly confined since her teens . Each character grapples with the choices that brought them to this place and time . The character development is rich and brings us through definitions , and redefinitions , of love and vulnerability . In our life journey we want to be happy , to love and be loved , and to live and die with dignity . This short novel invites us to visit these attributes of life through the eyes and hearts of its characters .
Well-Aged , Making the Most of Your Platinum Years by Ralph Milton is about fully embracing life ’ s journey beyond your 80 th birthday . Well-Aged expands the conversation around aging through the stories of real people and real experiences . Octogenarians are Canada ’ s fastest growing demographic , and while there are many books written about aging by health professionals , there is little available at the non-professional level for the oldest of the old . Ralph Milton is a retired journalist and provides the reader with a down-to-earth , inside look at what it ’ s really like to be old . Topics include :
● Identity and independence
● Choosing a retirement home
● Personal health needs and priorities
● Community support , friendships , and recreation
● Spirituality and religion
● Loneliness , depression , and frailty
● Leaving a legacy and making end-of-life arrangements
The COVID-19 pandemic increased public attention on the elderly and what can go wrong . To quote the author , “ Society has never had to deal with such a huge bunch of old people .” In this book , Milton presents an insider ’ s take on life ’ s journey into this world and wants everyone to embrace the belief that old age is not a disease .
Linda Manwarren is an avid reader who loves the time and opportunities that retirement provides — whether it is following long-time passions or exploring new ones . Linda is a member of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Retired Teachers ’ Association and chairperson of ARTA ’ s Wellness Committee . news & views SPRING 2022 | 43