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LETTERS: Immeasurable enrichment

Editor: Re: Respect has no age limitations, Jan. 22 letters.

Editor:

Re: Respect has no age limitations, Jan. 22 letters.

I would like to endorse Maggie Bernet’s warm submission.

I recently completed my masters MBA.M. (metaphysical) thesis on staying young at heart on the journey from aging to saging.

My greatest ‘teacher’ was my 95-year-old friend, Dorothy Bonshor, who recently died just a week prior to her 96th birthday, and to whom my paper was dedicated.

When I asked for her wise input, she unhesitatingly replied, “kindness”… towards one another.

We, too, were kindred spirits as we journeyed together during the past seven years. In later years, when she moved to Morgan Place Care Home, twice a week, often when she got tucked into bed at night, we would share stories, laughter, and deep spiritual insights, mostly by phone, with my three-legged Calico cat, Cadi, ‘listening in.’

The stories might include a warm fairy story or a favourite nursery one, such as The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, finishing with poetry or an inspirational blessing, and always laughter.

A highlight was when I met Olga Kotelko earlier last year, shortly before she died, and read my friend portions from her book (The OK Way to a Healthy, Happy Life), discovering that they were not only the same age, but their early lives had a similar pattern – same outdoor games, feeding farm animals before walking a lengthy way to school in Saskatchewan.

Over the years I witnessed the warmth of the love she shared with her large immediate family, grand- and great-grandchildren. In her 90s. she started visiting the spiritual centre I attended and participated in classes.

It was a privilege to facilitate the celebration of her life in December and hear the stories of a life well lived. My life is enriched beyond measure by her love, her wisdom and her encouragement. The memories of all that we shared – the stories, reminisces, inspiration, laughter – will forever remain in my heart.

Age need not have boundaries. Our stories are our rich heritage, and we can learn so much from one another when we bridge generations.

Dorothy B. Blandford, Surrey