Welcome to the Club

Welcome to ... 

THE 

CLUB 

...which is better 

than being 

under it! 

FREE & PRICELESS 

A GUIDE TO BEING OVER THE HILL 

Sarnia-Lambton 

A ‘’New’ Magazine for PEOPLE who aren’t 

Photo: George Rosema • pbase.com/grosema 

From the creators of... 

welcometotheclub.ca 

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 1 WINTER 2021


THE Club 

Laughter is the best medicine - here’s to your health. 


Winter 2021 

Volunteer Opportunities 

Transportation • Home Maintenance 

Meals on Wheels • The Peer Program 

Friendly Visiting • Fitness Classes 

Diners Club • Bingo 

Due to COVID-19, volunteer 

opportunities are limited. Please call 

the office for more information. 

How We Can Help You Live at Home 

• Transportation: Accessible for Mobility Issues (Wheelchair/Scooter/Walker). 

• Non-Urgent Stretcher Van: Designed specifically for stable, non-urgent 

transportation requiring a stretcher. 

• Meals on Wheels: Frozen or Hot meals delivered to your door throughout the rural 

County. 

• Home Maintenance: Lawn Cutting, Snow Removal/call the office for more services. 

• The Peer Program: An interactive program designed by seniors for seniors. 

• Care Giver Respite Support: Provides in-home relief for family and friends from their 

caregiving role. 

• Personal Care: Assistance with personal care needs of daily living including mobility 

assistance, bathing, and medication reminders. 

• Home Help: Light housekeeping and errands. 

• Crisis Intervention: Social Workers assist with crisis or abusive situations. 

• House Support: Social Workers assist with housing 

support for low income at-risk seniors. 

• Friendly Visiting: Volunteers provide 

regular visits to those living 

alone and have no family. ON 

HOLD 

• Diners Club: Seniors luncheon 

with entertainment. ON HOLD 

Fun Facts! 

LEO’s Volunteers are instrumental to our success. In 2019, over 121 volunteers 

contributed 4,844 hours of their valuable time. Without our volunteers, we could not 

continue to provide all our programs. Last year, LEO provided 73,698 services to 2,174 

clients! Let’s break that down. 

• 6,629 Meals on Wheels were delivered 

• In 2020, due to COVID-19, deliveries increased from 358 per month to over 7,500 

PER Month! 

• 29,213 Stretcher Van, Accessible Van and Volunteer Transportation services 

• Personal Client Support 21,611 services 

• Home Maintenance provided 3,471 services 

• Housing and Client Intervention Support 2793 services 

• 600 Diners Club Meals 

• 5,872 Fitness Classes 

LEO Scored 98% Exemplary Standing 

for providing Quality Services 

Funded in part by the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton 

and Jackpot City, Sarnia 

Become a Volunteer 

LEO’s annual costs to provide clients 

services is dependent on Fundraising, 

bequests, grants and donations. 

FundScrip is an excellent way to help 

support us through our Fundraising 

efforts. FundScrip is Gift Card website 

where companies donate a 

percentage of your sale to LEO as a 

fundraiser and the best news is, it 

doesn’t even come out of your pocket! 

Go to www.fundscrip.com and use 

the invitation code DFU33D. 

Lambton Elderly 

Outreach is proud to 

announce that we 

have been 

Accredited with 

Exemplary Standing 

under the Qmentum 

Accreditation i Program which 

demonstrates LEO’s commitment to 

providing safe, high quality health 

services to its clients. The principles of 

accreditation and ongoing quality 

improvement are integrated into our 

daily operations and services to our 

clients throughout Sarnia-Lambton and 

Chatham-Kent counties. 

This milestone is one to be celebrated for 

not only the benefit of our clients, but 

also for the hard work and dedication of 

the LEO staff. Congratulations to all who 

worked so hard throughout this journey 

and our continued success. 

Lambton Elderly Outreach • 1-800-265-0203 • www.lambtonelderlyoutreach.org 

P A G E 

2 

Our bottom borders for this issue are Irish Proverbs, in advance of St. Patrick’s Day.

Welcome to our very first issue! 



Winter 2021 Lose an hour in the morning and you’ll be looking for it all day. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 3


563 Front St. N., Sarnia 

519-337-9998 

GlassAndPillarSpa.com 


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Chocolate olat 

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We have the highest safety protocols in place! 

Memories of the Attic 

by Eileen Cade-Edwards, London 

from Daytripping Sept.-Oct. 1999 

Putting the Grey into Great! 


Winter 2021 

How strange it is that the modern 

home, with all its labour-saving devices 

and its emphasis on recreational 

facilities, should lack that enchanted 

storehouse of sentiment and family 

lore—the attic. How did those spacious 

“hold-alls” ever become out of date when 

their usefulness was so obvious? 

Besides being the perfect place to store 

those leftovers from the family’s past, 

think what a wonderful place it was to 

keep youngsters amused on rainy days. 

There were endless possibilities! A boy 

or girl could spend hours rummaging 

through the nameless objects of a past 

age. Very often there would be handmade 

toys such as small rocking horses 

and doll’s houses. There might be dolls 

with rag or wooden bodies and painted 

china faces. Young treasure-seekers 

could dress up in unbelievably elaborate 

garments and when they tired of that 

pastime, they could explore the yellowed 

pages of old books, some of them 

perhaps, guarding messages or small 

mementos or even pressed flowers. 

And the love letters! Oh, the love 

letters—so poetically gentle and polite! 

Where do people hide their 

love letters nowadays? Or 

do they use the telephone 

instead? Historical societies 

tell us that many a “missing 

link” in a family tree has 

been located through a letter, 

postcard or diary, found quite 

accidentally in the attic of an 

old house, while philatelists 

quite frequently turn up 

valuable “finds” from the 

same source. (Philately, by the way, 

is the study of postage stamps and postal 

history.) 

As a child, I longed for a rainy day, for 

it was only then that I was permitted to 

climb the steep and narrow stairs from 

an upstairs bedroom to “the room above” 

where I would rifle greedily through the 

treasures that once belonged to greataunts, 

great-uncles and perhaps even 

their parents before them. 

In their day almost everyone owned 

his or her own trunk so it was easy to 

form mental pictures of these shadowy 

relatives by the things they had seen fit to 

save. Their choice of reading matter was 

also a helpful clue. 

From the first page of a boy’s annual, 

in one of the trunks in my childhood’s 

attic, was the identifying message: “This 

is the property of Ben Locke, without 

whose permission this book may not 

be borrowed.” (I used to wonder how 

he would respond if he could know how 

often I had “borrowed” his precious 

book—without his permission!) There 

were also several sketches of very earlymodel 

cars and a set of hand-carved 

wooden elephants. Perhaps he had a 

weakness for travelling by one means or 

another! 

No one seemed to know what 

happened to Uncle Ben. Perhaps he had 

settled in some distant land and might 

even now return one day to claim his old 

trunk that, as far as I know, still reposes 

in a corner of the attic of my childhood. 

Then there was great-aunt Millie. 

Sometimes I would go through her 

trunk, but not often because the dark, 

heavy clothes depressed me, as did 

the yellowed, musty-smelling church 

magazines and torn sheet music. 

I never could remember who owned 

the two hump-backed trunks that 

squeaked when their lids were opened. 

But they were as mysterious as Aunt 

Millie’s were depressing. Nothing in the 

pair of them made much sense to me but 

both contained a few battered old books 

with odd titles which I used to 

imagine might hold details of 

hidden treasures and that if I 

could only open the volumes 

at the right pages, there would 

be clues enough to direct me 

to vast family fortunes! 

But of the five trunks 

sheltered in our spacious attic, 

by far the most interesting was 

that of Great-aunt Agatha’s. 

In contrast to the dull grey 

sky outside the window, the attic would 

almost glow with the wealth of colour 

from her trunk. There were frocks of 

apple-green and lavender-blue silk and 

full, cotton skirts in the finest weave in 

mauve and orange stripes. There was a 

ball gown in stiff eggshell blue satin and 

a lovely white wedding dress, and all of 

these were either gathered or tucked or 

decorated with tiny, colourless beads or 

fine lace. There were silk roses (possibly 

from discarded hats) badly crushed 

but still beautiful, and lengths of heavy 

silk and satin ribbon. And there were 

birthday and Valentine’s Day cards and 

dance programs. 

Oh, they were great places, those 

attics! All the magic, the mystery and the 

mad moments of people who now were 

only names, lived there—just a short 

flight of stairs above the rest of the house, 

but countless years and miles away. 

SCOTTISH 

A bird in the hand is worth 

ten fleein.’ 

Better bend than break. 

The cure may be worse 

than the disease. 

A good tale never tires 

in the telling. 

He goes long barefoot that waits for dead men’s shoes. 

Ale sellers shouldna’ be tale tellers. 

Fools look to tomorrow; wise men use tonight. 

A light purse makes a heavy heart. 

Money is flat and was meant to be piled up. 

What may be done at any time will be done at no time. 

Never marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper. 

He’s the slave of all slaves who serves none but himself. 

P A G E 

4 

If you buy what you don’t need, you might have to sell what you do. (Irish Proverb)

senior 

personal ads 

LONG TERM COMMITMENT: 

Recent widow who has 

just buried fourth husband, 

and am looking for someone 

to round out a six-unit plot. 

Dizziness, fainting, shortness 

of breath not a problem. 

You’re welcome to send articles and help us buld this new magazine. 

Welcome to The Club! 

By Mark Moran, Publisher 

I’ve planned to write these words 

for so many years and now I don’t even 

know where to start. 

Welcome to The Club is a new and a 

somewhat original magazine for people 

55 and up, and we mean all the way up. 

This is a huge age range to try to cater to 

in one magazine, but that will be our goal. 

There may be vast differences between 

people who are 55 and people who were 

born in ‘35 but we believe there are even 

more similarities. We want to entertain 

you and very much want to engage 

you, encouraging our readers to help 

build the paper by contributing in some 

way. That could be by writing an article, 

sending in a photo or offering us advice 

on what we’re doing right and what we 

can improve on. What would you like 

to see in this new magazine, and yes, I 

mean you! 

Some of our readers will be thinking 

that this looks an awful lot like a 

magazine called Daytripping. There’s 

a good reason for that. I started 

Daytripping in Southwestern Ontario 26 

years ago, to promote unique shops and 

towns throughout our region, and the 

“Daytripper” as it’s become known is 

still alive and well. This magazine will be 

distributed in Sarnia-Lambton, though 

the writers may be from anywhere in 

the world. 

From the outset we also encouraged 

Daytripping‘s readers to become 

contributors and over 26 years have 

amassed a library of articles from 

people just like you (which my sister 

Theresa Lecky spent hours re-reading 

in preparation for this). Very few were 

accomplished writers at that time, some 

had never tried, but they had a story to 

tell and share with others and we saw 

how much of an impact this new hobby 

or outlet had on their lives. Many of these 

articles were nostalgic and timeless and 

I’ve always wanted to have another 

magazine in which to publish them, 

one intended for an older audience that 

would appreciate them and identify 

with them. In too many cases the 

authors have passed on, and this is our 

way of keeping their words alive a little 

bit longer. For every article we reprint 

we’re donating $25 to the charity of our 

choice. The proceeds from this issue will 

add up to somewhere around $325 and 

the first non-profit we’ve chosen is the 

Strangway Community Centre. 

Daytripping has made many friends 

over the years and I’m hoping the same 

will be said about Welcome to The Club. 

It’s an odd name perhaps, but is a phrase 

I generally use when someone turns 50 

or 40 or any milestone age that is in my 

own rear window. At 55 I’m just barely 

allowed to pick up this magazine myself, 

and I have a great deal to learn, but think 

it’s going to be a fun ride and hope you’ll 

enjoy it as well. 

This issue, the first of four that we’ll 

publish in 2021, features the photography 

of George Rosema on the front cover. 

Photographers and artists are welcome 

to submit their work for consideration 

within the magazine or on the covers, 

and we have a wealth of talented folks in 

Sarnia Lambton. 

You won’t find any politics in these 

pages, no controversy and little real news 

for that matter. What you will find is a 

relaxing read that might remind you of 

simpler days as well as places and events 

from years gone by. You’ll also find some 

information on things in the here and 

now, and we hope to bring in more of 

this as time goes on. For example, we’d 

love to have a regular column with each 

one featuring a different trail in our area. 

There are more ideas on page 13. 

You’ll also be amused by the vast 

collection of silly tidbits and fillers we 

have accumulated in a quarter century 

of publishing Daytripping. There may 

also eventually be an events page - once 

there are any events to attend - and 

we’re open to any ideas you may have. 

There’s a questionnaire on page 25 

and I hope you’ll take a moment to give 

us your honest thoughts. As I mentioned, 

we have a lot to learn and are looking 

forward to bringing you a magazine 

you’ll come to love, and hopefully be a 

part of. This starts by asking you what 

we’re doing right, what we could do 

better, and maybe what we shouldn’t do 

at all. 

I can’t thank my staff enough for 

tolerating my years of talk about this 

idea, and finally helping to create it. I 

would especially like to acknowledge 

Carla MacGregor, who I met only a matter 

of days before the real work started 

on this magazine, but who has been 

indispensable in bringing customers on 

board to support the idea. Please go out 

of your way to support local businesses 

always, but especially at this time. 

Thank you for reading and Welcome 

to The Club! Don’t throw away this copy 

if you can share it with a friend instead, 

and look for the next issues in many 

locations throughout Sarnia-Lambton 

around the start of April, July & October. 

Welcome to The Club is published four times annually by Moran Advertising, Brights Grove, Ontario. The publisher reserves 

the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisment without notice or penalty to either party. No portion of this 

publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of Moran Advertising. The content of this 

publication does not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. The content of this publication has not been 

deemed by the publisher to be correct and accurate. The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages 

arising directly or indirectly from errors occuring in this publication beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied 

by that portion of the advertisment in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of its servants 

or otherwise, and there shall be no liablity for non insertion of any advertisment beyond the amount paid for such 

advertisment. Use of Material: submitted articles, letters, and other works or materials may be used, published, distributed 

and stored by Moran Advertising and Daytripping Magazine, in whole or in part, in print or by any other means. 



THE 


CLUB 

Recipes i 

p s 8 & 20 

Postcards d 

from the Past a t 13 

Trivia ia 10 

Milestones e 32,33 

2 33 

Questionnaire e na 

ire 25 

Gardening d 

i g 

Checklist h 

e k 11 

Word Search 15 

A Walk in the Park, photograph by George Rosema 

George Rosema, a Ruth t Sharon, a o John o h 

Gardiner, d r, 

Steve 

e e 

Hartwell, l , 

Kelly-Lynn y n 

Musico, i o 

Chris Treftlin, n 

Eileen 

Cade-Edwards, dwar 

ards 

ds, 

Alice i e 

Gibb, Lini n 

Richarda d 

Grol, Gayle 

Etherington ton Black, a k 

Ruth t 

Simpson, s n 

Mike k 

Keenan, enan 

Nancy 

n y 

McSloy, Jean a 

Leedale Hobson, b 

s n 

Nancy Millman, lm 

a , Jeanette 

et 

te 

Brimner, n r, 

Spokeshave, k 

e Betty t y Popelier, p er 

, Norma West s 

Linder, 

r 

Laurie BurrowsBreakey, ro 

Brea 

y 

Billy ly 

Yurchuk, h 

uk, 

Lee & Jean 

Bradshaw, h 

aw, Ann n D’Asti, t Dot Sale, and all the recipe and 

Milestones & Memories submissions. 

Mark Moran - Publisher, Ad Sales & Design 

Carla MacGregor r - Advertising ing Sales 

Carrie Ann Timm - Office fice 

Manager ager 

& Design 

i Theresa es 

Lecky - Archive Research 

Connie McFadden den - Distribution tion 

Research 

ea 

From the publishers 

of Daytripping Magazine 

Volume 1, Issue 1 • Winter 2021 

THE CLUB FEATURES 

You’ll find 

current and 

nostalgic 

articles 

throughout 

The Club. 

ON THE COVER 

YOUR CONTRIBUTORS 

CLUB STAFF 

P.O. Box 430 • Brights Grove, ON • N0N 1C0 

519-491-1676 • info@welcometotheclub.ca 

www.welcometotheclub.ca 

A Magazine 

for 55+ 

like no other! 

Winter 2021 Better good manners than good looks. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 5



Do you remember being 19... neither do we! 


Winter 2021 

Move Better, Feel Better, Live Better 

By Kelly-Lynn Musico, Brights Grove • Registered Physiotherapist, Registered Yoga Teacher 

Being a physiotherapist, I have had 

the privilege of encouraging people to 

optimize their physical health for the 

past 30 plus years. Thirty years—wow, 

how time flies when you are doing 

what you love! And I love being a 

physiotherapist and helping others! 

I once read an article that really 

resonated with me. It referred to 

investing not only in our monetary 

wealth for retirement, but also our 

physical health for retirement. I loved 

that comparison! Let’s think of our 

health like a bank. We want to put as 

much money in the bank as early as 

possible to maximize the gain. Saving 

money for retirement is much like 

exercise: it is better to start sooner than 

later to reap the rewards later in life. 

That being said, it is never too late to 

start “saving” to maximize our “health 

wealth.” 

I have always regarded that when 

we move better, we feel better. Now 

more than ever, during this crazy time 

of COVID-19, we can benefit from 

making conscious choices to physically 

move more, thus reaping the benefits of 

exercise both physically and mentally. 

Having recently completed, my 200- 

hour yoga teacher training, it has 

provided me with further opportunity 

to explore the body mind connection. 

Again, reinforcing my belief that when 

we move better, we feel better. 

When I refer to exercise, I am 

referring to different ways to move our 

bodies which improves our health and 

fitness. COVID-19 has forced many 

industries to “think outside the box” 

and do things differently. I have been 

“thinking outside the box” for years, 

when prescribing exercise to my inhome 

clients. Understandably, not 

everyone likes to go to the gym or do 

“formal” exercises, especially during 

these times. One way to get moving 

more, is to increase our “functional 

fitness” with everyday activities at work 

or home. Maybe instead of finding the 

closest parking space, park farther away. 

Take the stairs more often. Or, how 

about doing some balancing exercises 

when we are at the bathroom or kitchen 

counter? A few extra mini squats before 

sitting in our chairs. It all adds up! An 

hour is power! That way we are still 

increasing our fitness level without it 

feeling like a long, onerous task. 

What about walking? There are 

so many health benefits of simply 

walking. Without getting too technical, 

walking can improve blood flow and 

circulation and can release chemicals 

in the brain that can help in improving 

our mood. Walking or moving 

outdoors during the day has the bonus 

of sunlight to increase our vitamin D 

levels and further increase our mood. 

With many restrictions indoors, we 

now can increase our time spent 

outdoors. Couldn’t we all benefit from 

a few extra rays of sunshine? 

During this time, many of us are 

missing our connections with friends 

and family. How about merging the 

walk with a friend? Walking outdoors 

with a friend, while maintaining six feet 

physical distancing of course, is another 

opportunity to boost both our physical 

and mental well-being. Sarnia-Lambton 

County offers an abundance of beauty 

while allowing us to safely maintain 

physical distancing from others. How 

fortunate for us. No friend physically 

available? No problem. Grab some 

earbuds or headphones, call a friend, 

and get walking. A homemade version 

of “telehealth.” 

Sometimes, we forget what is in 

our own backyard. COVID-19 has 

awakened me to once again see the 

beauty that lies within our backyard. 

Sarnia-Lambton has so many areas 

to be discovered. It has been so 

enlightening to physically re-connect to 

old and new areas: re-exploring Rock 

Glen Conservation Area in Arkona with 

my daughter this past summer, regular 

walks along Lake Huron shores, cycling 

along the St. Clair Riverfront, walk and 

lunch breaks in Petrolia’s Bridgeview 

Park,even committee meetings in 

Canatara Park. 

It’s time to continue to re-discover the 

beauties of our area while increasing 

our physical and mental well-being. 

Now more than ever, is time to take 

the “magic pill of exercise” and invest 

in our present and future physical and 

mental health. 

Move better. Feel Better. Live Better. 

P A G E 

6 

The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune. (Irish Proverb)

Submit local photos as well for the magazine, possibly the front cover 

FUNNY 

x 

Peter Marshall: 

Rosie Marie: 


Paul Lynde: 


Paul Lynde: 


Joan Rivers: 

SQUARES 

x 

It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudists camps. 

In bowling, what’s a perfect score? 

Ralph, the pin boy. 

One is politics. What is the other? 

Tape measures. 

Paul, why do Hell’s Angels wear leather? 

o 

Because Chiffon wrinkles too easily. 

Your baby has a certain object which he loves to cling to. 

Should you try to break him of his habit? 

Yes. It’s daddy’s turn. 

Peter Marshall: At NASA, what keeps the cool air running around the spacesuits? 

Paul Lynde: Itsy Bitsy Eskimoes... 

Peter Marshall: According to Movie Life Magazine, Ann Margaret would xlike to start 

Paul Lynde: 


Rose Marie: 

Answers 

having babies soon, but her husband wants to wait awhile. Why? 

He’s out of town. 

During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet? 

Unfortunately, Peter, I’m always safe in the bedroom. 


You can’t buy 

Happiness 

but you can 

BUY 

LOCAL! 


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SHOWCASING MANY LOCAL ARTISANS 

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Northgate Plaza, Sarnia • 519-336-3838 

I feel very blessed to have been 

born, raised, and allowed to live my life 

in Rural Southern Ontario. I may not 

have appreciated my circumstances 

when I was young, but I was certainly 

not denied opportunities. Walking to 

and from a rural, one-room school 

house with other children in the 

neighbourhood was normal. Our 

safety was not questioned. If we ever 

needed help, it was just up a driveway 

to the nearest farm house. The physical 

benefits were not rated, and if you 

did not see eye-to-eye with everyone 

along the way, we learned ways of 

subtle avoidance and still arrived at 

school (or home) on time. 

On Saturdays we piled into station 

wagons and cars piloted by dads, moms 

or reluctant older siblings and headed 

off to baseball games, sometimes at 

the local ball park, sometimes going 

to another community. If the rivalry 

between communities was acute, the 

flavour of the game became intense, 

but most of the time we were just 

having fun playing ball, trading 

baseball cards, comparing catching 

gloves and bat swings. 

I was fortunate to not only have a 

bicycle, but also access to riding horses 

which were the fringe benefits of my 

Dad’s love of horses and his farming 

practices. When it was time to bring 

the cows up to the barn for milking, 

from the back pasture, the quickest 

and most enjoyable way was on the 

back of a horse. The bicycle got me to 

places up and down our concession, 

but astride a horse I could venture 

much farther outside my comfort 

zone and expand a circle of friends to 

include those who shared in this form 

of transportation. 

It’s Where 

You 

Grow Up 

By Nancy Millman, Sparta 

from Daytripping, July-August 2013 

I have lived my adult life just a few 

miles from where I grew up, and have 

always been grateful for the beauty 

of the land around me and the rural 

way of life. Of necessity, for thirty-five 

years I travelled into the city five days 

a week to paid employment, but at 

the end of the day it was my gratifying 

drive back to the farm which put a 

smile on my face. Slugging straw bales 

onto the elevator as they travelled up 

into the barn to my husband for piling, 

or guiding the John Deere tractor down 

rows of corn with dust rolling up into 

my eyes were some of the ways we 

spent our time. In spite of the sweat 

and dirt, these tasks will always be 

so much more enjoyable to me than 

unjamming a photocopier or trying to 

meet multiple production deadlines, 

only to start over and do the same 

thing the next day! 

We seem to be in a protected pocket 

of good weather, with disastrous 

environmental happenings being rare, 

widely spaced in time and of modest 

intensity. Over the years we have 

seen our share of flooded fields, crops 

wiped out by hail, barn doors being 

blown off by gale-force winds, ice 

storms and snow storms, but we have 

witnessed nothing compared to the 

natural disasters which have plagued 

other parts of the province, country, 

and indeed the world. 

The sounds are quiet here. When 

I walk the lane from the barn to the 

woodlot, stopping to listen, what I hear 

is silence, broken by the call of the 

crows in the woods or the chattering of 

a perturbed killdeer in the field beside 

me. Sitting on a log in the woods, I 

hear the rustle of leaves in the trees 

and squirrels scurrying through the 

underbrush. From the front porch of 

the house it is the songs of numerous 

birds, the cooing of the doves, the call 

of cardinals and blue jays which break 

the quiet. Local traffic is moderate, and 

of course there are always the local 

dogs, and neighbourhood children, 

but for the most part this is a district 

of peace and quiet where these are 

sounds of country and comfort. This is 

a place where you can take a walk up 

the road, wave to the guy working in 

a field, check out activity at the farm 

on the corner and visit your inner self. 

I read a saying once, “It is not where 

you grow up, but how you grow up”. 

But for me, I believe that where I grew 

up was what decided how I grew up. 

Having arrived on the far side of life’s 

journey, perhaps this philosophy can 

be taken a step farther, “It is not how 

you grow old, but where you grow 

old.” God willing, this is where I intend 

to do that! 

You’ve wanted 

one of these for 

50 YEARS! 

Why 

Wait? 

430 Exmouth Street, Sarnia 

519-344-7740 

pickersalley.com 

Winter 2021 If God sends you down a stony path, may he give you strong shoes. (Irish Proverb) P A G E 7



Must be 55 or over to read this magaizine. 


Winter 2021 

Floors for life. 

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® Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co., and Custom Floors Carpet One Floor & Home. 

(A through B) 

Accordionated: Able to drive and refold a road map at the same time. 

Adult: A person who stopped growing at both ends but not in the middle. 

Adultery: Putting yourself in someone else's position. 

Aeroma: Odor coming from an exercise room after an aerobic workout. 

Air travel: Breakfast in London, dinner in New York, luggage in Brazil. 

Amoebit: Amoeba/rabbit cross; can multiply and divide at the same time. 

Aquadextrous: Able to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes. 

Arbitrator: A cook that leaves Arby’s to work at McDonald’s 

Artery: Study of paintings. 

Avoidable: What a bullfighter tries to do. 

Banectomy: The removal of bruises on a banana. 

Antonym: 

Barium: What doctors do when treatment fails. 

The opposite of 

the word 

Bernadette: The act of torching a mortgage. 

you’re trying 

Boy: A noise with dirt on it. 

to think of. 

Bureaucrat: A person who cuts red tape sideways. 

Here are a few recipes from various fundraising 

cookbooks we’ve collected over the years. 

You’re welcome to send your own recipes, or on 

behalf of an organizaon that has a new cookbook 

we can help to promote... it’s free of course. 

Creamed Potatoes 

5 medium potatoes, pared & 

cut into 1/4 inch slices 

6 Tbsp mayonnaise 

3 Tbsp mustard 

By: 

The Dobson Family 

from “Millennium Menus” 

by Bridgeview Public School 

A lile fresh snipped parsley 

3/4 cup sour cream 

6 Tbsp pied ripe black olives 

3/4 tsp salt 

Microwave potatoes in shallow microwavable dish covered with plasc 

wrap on high power unl tender (approx 15 minutes). Let stand 5 to 10 

minutes. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, olives, mustard and salt in a 

smal bowl. Add to potatoes. Toss gently, sprinkle with parsley. Serves 6. 

Affordable Rates • All Work Guaranteed • 25 Years Experience 

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• Maintenance • Renovations 

All types 

of painting, 

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wallpaper 

Call Mark 519-330-4424 or email 1863989ontarioinc@gmail.com 

A Fairy Tale for the New Millennium 

Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, 

self-assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating 

ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow 

near her castle. 

The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said, "Elegant lady, I was once 

a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from 

you, however; and I will turn back into the dapper young prince that I am." 

The frog went on, "And then, my sweet, we can marry and set up house in 

yonder castle with my mother, where you can prepare my 

meals, clean my clothes, bear my children and forever feel 

grateful and happy doing so." 

That night, on a repast of lightly sauteed frogs legs 

seasoned in a white wine and onion cream 

sauce, the princess chuckled to herself and 

thought, "I don't think so Mr. Frog." 

By: 

Slow Cooker Irish 

Style Beef Pot Roast 

3 to 4 lb beef roast, boneless 

4-5 large peeled carrots, in 2” pieces 

5-6 medium red potatoes, quartered 

2 large onions, peeled & quartered 

6 celery stalks, in 2” pieces 

1 parsnip, peeled, in 2” pieces 

Mike Courtney 

from Brigden Fall Fair 

2010 Cookbook 

1 pkg mushroom gravy mix 

1 pkg brown gravy mix 

1/3 cup all purpose flour 

1/2 tsp each salt & pepper 

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 

1 tsp Dijon mustard 

1 cup beer 

Combine gravy mixes, salt, pepper and flour in large bowl. Add the 

vegetables to the bowl and toss to coat well. Put vegetables in 5 to 6 

quart slow cooker. Add beef roast to bowl, turning to coat with flour 

mixture. Remove roast and place in slow cooker in centre of vegetables. 

Whisk beer, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard in remaining flour 

mixture unl smooth. Add to slow cooker. Cover; cook on low for 10 to 11 

hours or on high for 6 to 7 hours or unl beef and vegetables are fork 

tender (no srring is necessary during cooking). Remove roast and 

vegetables. Carve roast in thin slices. Serve with vegetables and gravy. 

Serves 6 to 8. 

Orange Mandarin 

Cake 

1 cup sugar 

1 cup flour 

1 can mandarin oranges with juice 

1 tsp baking soda 

By: 

Fran Wellington 

from Wyoming Lioness 

30th Anniversary Cookbook 

1 egg 

1 tsp vanilla 

TOPPING: 

2 cups brown sugar 

1/2 cup nuts 

Mix first 6 ingredients well. Pour in 8x8” pan, then sprinkle with brown 

sugar and nuts. Bake at 350F for 35 minutes 

Send Your Recipes to info@welcometotheclub.ca 

P A G E 

8 

Better to be a man of character than a man of means. (Irish Proverb)

Most of the articles in here have been written by people like you. 

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& 

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POINT EDWARD 

(519) 344-3535 

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm 

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FOOT ORTHOTICS 

For slippers, shoes, boots, and sandals 

30 Years 

Experience! 

ON SITE SHOE ALTERATIONS 

For comfort, support, circulation, balance & fatigue 

303 Davis Street, Sarnia • 888-971-6345 Help with 3rd party claims 

Memories 

By Steve Hartwell, St. Catharines 

from Daytripping, Sept.-Oct. 2017 

Our memories, particularly of childhood, 

are the most powerful emotion, because 

our memories evoke all the emotions at the 

same time. The good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Feeling all of them at the same time can 

sometimes be, I imagine, like being on the 

receiving end of a shotgun blast in the face 

and surviving it. But, can more than equally 

be very worth the experience. 

Imagine you are 58. Imagine that after 

a 16 year search, you finally track down 

20 minutes of old 8mm films of yourself 

and your family recorded in the 1950s 

and 60s that you haven’t seen since way 

back then. Personal family photographs 

are worth a 1,000 words each. Personal 

family old film ‘Moving Pictures’ are worth 

a million words per second. 

How would you feel seeing those old 

family films, including yourself at age four, 

for the first time since way back then? 

I don’t mind confessing that when, at 

age 58, it happened to me, I experienced 

shock and then I balled my eyes out. 

Indeed, I’m 65 now, and every time 

I watch those old film memories the 

emotion blast hits me and I still usually 

can’t see those old film memories I’m 

trying to watch through the tears. 

I grew up on the west side of Islington 

Avenue, north of Dundas Street West, in 

Julie Munday, Certified Pedorthist 

www.soledecisions.com 

Etobicoke, the now west end of Toronto. 

Our next door neighbours, Joyce Medforth 

and her mother-in-law Lily, both widows, 

just happened to have an 8mm movie 

camera. Joyce recorded a bunch of home 

movies of our family. Every Christmas we 

would have Christmas brunch together in 

their home and watch the movies she had 

recorded of us. 

30 years later, in 1992, I was 42 and 

became obsessed with finding Joyce’s old 

home movies of my family, and it became 

a 16 year search. 

In early 2002 I had heard about DVD 

technology just beginning to emerge in 

Canada, and I finally got my hands on 

another family relative’s home movie 

films to try transferring them to digital 

video. Later that year the extended family 

got together for Thanksgiving and watched 

those old films. There was endless laughing 

and crying and thank yous from family, 

and a 10 minute chance to talk about it on 

radio, which was my mother’s idea. The 

radio show call-in phone tree lit up, and 

my 10 minutes brought in 40 phone calls 

the first day and another 40 every day for 

the next week on my message machine. 

This response convinced me there were a 

lot of people who would also want their 

family memories transferred, too. I’ve 

been doing it ever since. I expanded my 

services to photos, slides, audio and video 

tapes, and have made a tonne of families 

very happy. 

I’ve met a lot of WWII veterans and 

holocaust survivors and heard their 

stories. I have transferred recordings of 

things and events of historical or general 

interest to many Canadians: local festivals, 

parades, main streets of towns and 

villages, Montreal’s Expo ‘67 and Toronto’s 

Canadian National Exhibition visits, a royal 

visit to Argentina in 1936 and royal visits to 


The Meaning of Success 

At age 4... success is... not peeing your pants. 

At age 10... success is... making your own meals. 

At age 12... success is... having friends. 

At age 16... success is... having a drivers license. 

At age 20... success is... having sex. 

At age 35... success is... having money. 

At age 50... success is... having money. 

At age 60... success is... having sex. 

At age 70... success is... having a drivers license. 

At age 80... success is...having friends. 

At age 85... success is... not peeing in your pants. 

BUTTONS 

Elegance 

at its finest! 

Canada and Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, 

last runs of old trains, Port Hope flooding 

and Credit River winter skating—an endless 

list. I did a 1982 Reunion of the Canadian 

Rock Band Lighthouse at Ontario Place for 

co-founder Paul Hoffert, which included 

performing ‘Fly’ on stage with all the band 

members’ kids. I transferred home movie 

films for Jim Floyd, Chief Engineer of the 

AVRO ARROW, and Arrow footage recorded 

by the Chief Photo-Filmographer Lou Wise. 

I transferred a bunch of 1929-1932 16mm 

films recorded by Denton Massey of the 

famous Canadian agricultural equipment 

Massey family, which included the Calgary 

Stampede, Lake Louise, and a lake steamer 

tourist trip from Toronto to Lakeside Park 

at Port Dalhousie. All quite fascinating 

and very gratifying, some of which I’ve 

uploaded to my YouTube channel. 

But, what about my own family’s old 

home movies recorded by Joyce Medforth? 

Finally in 2008, my father gave me a 

shoebox of some family slides and photos, 

that very surprisingly also included the 

pamphlet for Joyce Medforth’s memorial. 

On that pamphlet was the name of one 

of her nephews who presented her 

eulogy. I decided to call every person with 

that name in Canada until I found him, 

hoping he would know where Joyce’s old 

films were. My very first phone call was 

to Sarnia, Ontario, who turned out to be 

Joyce’s eulogy presenting nephew and 

he knew who had the films—another 

nephew of Joyce. I contacted that nephew, 

and six months later, I had 20 minutes of 

those old 8mm home movie films Joyce 

Medforth had recorded of my family. 

When I saw myself in 1954, age four, on 

my little orange tractor in the driveway, I 

finally experienced what all my customers 

do when they see their own memories 

‘come back to life’ on the tv screen. 


From size 2 to 22! 

Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm 

Saturday 10am to 2pm 

www.buttons-and-bows.ca 

131 Michigan Ave., Point Edward • 519-491-1412 

Shock, and then I balled my eyes out. 

Most if not all my customers have the 

same first experience. Many have done 

it in front of me when I play them a bit of 

their memories to be sure they are happy 

with my work. Even the guys who swear to 

me the memories mean absolutely nothing 

to them, that they are only getting the 

memories transferred for a family member 

who made them promise to get it done. I 

quickly learned to have a box of kleenex in 

my hands for the inevitable ‘Niagara Falls.’ 

I transferred Joyce Medforth’s films of 

my family just in time for Christmas 2008 

to watch and share with my family. We 

have watched the films together every 

Christmas since then. 

When I was that little kid, and older 

later, and depressed, my mother would 

rally my hopes by telling me that I was 

‘special.’ That one day I would find and do 

something special. I just had to hang on 

to that hope, and be patient, for one day 

eventually I would find my special. That 

hope my mother gave me kept me going 

through life’s ups and downs, searching 

for that something to do that would be my 

special calling. 

Since 2002 I’ve been making so many 

people happy by saving their family 

memories. 

In November 2015 my wife and I 

retired to St Catharines, where throughout 

the Niagara Region and Southwestern 

Ontario, I hope to find a lot more families 

to make happy, too. 

Huh, go figure, eh, Mom? I hope you 

can hear me where you are now. You 

said way back then that I would find it 

eventually, and you were right after all. 

I did finally find my special calling. 

Thanks, Mom. 

Oh crap, there I go balling my eyes out 

again… 

Winter 2021 It’s not a delay to stop and sharpen the scythe. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 9 

& 

Bows 

TAKE HOME! 

Fresh Made Comfort Food 

A tradition since 1992! 

105 MICHIGAN AVENUE 

PT. EDWARD • 519-344-2855 

Worth Repeating... 

Age appears best in 4 things: 

old wood to burn, 

old wine to drink, 

old friends to trust, 

and old authors to read. 

Ladies Clothing 

& Accessories!


Exemplary customer service, a safe 

and friendly environment to shop 

519-383-0588 

Celebrang 50 years 1971-2021 

1 


Lambton County’s oldest 

& only independent 

family shoe store. 

• Orthotic Friendly 

• Fashion Forward 

• Men, Women, Children 

Open 

e 

Mon-Fri M n 10-5 

Saturday d 

ay 10-3 

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Sent in by Jim Canie, Pt. Edward 

By Old Farts - For Old Farts! 

HELPING 

HANDS 

HEALTHCARE ESERVICES 

Providing care & assistance to clients of 

all ages and their families & caregivers 

• Home Care & Respite Care 

• Companionship • Light Housekeeping 

• Help with any age/impairment/disability 

• Rehabilitation • Alzheimer’s & Dementia 

• Transfers & Ambulation • Personal Care 

• Medication Assistance • Transportation 

• Grocery Shopping • Meal Prep 

helpinghandssarnia@gmail.com 

Call JENNIFER 519-402-0374 

Palliative / PSW 

Free Consultation 


Winter 2021 

Driving 

TRIVIA 

Lovin 

My New Glasses 

Darling... 

Stop In & See The Difference An Independent, 

Locally Owned Business Can Offer! 

• Fashionable designer frames 

at compeve prices 

• Durable, high quality brands 

• Personal aenon to your vision needs 

• Honest opinion on your frame fit & style 

• Value brands available to fit your budget 

• Offer direct billing to most vision plans 

... A Frankly Optical Experience! 

Beth Kolthoff 

With Beth’s 30 years of 

experience she is dedicated 

to helping you find 

just the right pair 

from her great selecon 

of eyewear including 

sunglasses & contact lenses! 

Walk in or book a one on one appointment time! 

147 N. Mion St., Sarnia • 519-337-4060 • TheEyeGuySarnia.com 

Selected 

After Hours 

questions from 

Annual Trivia Night 

“The Daytripper” has a team entered every year, but we have yet to win. 

1. Which chart-topping 1974 single equated falling in love with 

Napoleon’s famed defeat, and who sang it? Both answers must be 

correct. 

2. How many times has the Mona Lisa been stolen? 

a] 8 b] 10 c] 1 d] 5 

3. What European capital city is not on a river? 

4. Which type of rock is the best for fossil hunting? 

a] Igneous b] Sedimentary c] Metamorphic 

5. What is the name of the anti-slavery novel written by American 

author Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852? 

a] Roots b] Uncle Tom’s Cabin 

c] Underground Railroad d] 12 Years a Slave 

6. What is taphephobia? 

a] fear of speed b] fear of toads c] fear of being buried alive 

7. What does this logo represent? 

8. How many human beings boarded Noah’s Ark? 

a] 6 b] 8 c] 10 d] 12 

9. Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Dopey. Which of Snow White’s 

dwarves is missing? 

10. Babe Ruth began his baseball career for the Boston Red Sox in 1914. 

What position did he play in that year? 

11. Inhabited since prehistoric times, this city is widely regarded as the 

world’s oldest city. Today it’s the capital of its country. Which city is 

this? 

12. Name the camera invented by Edwin Land in 1948. 

13. Which of the US founding fathers said, “Beer is proof that God loves 

us and wants us to prosper.” 

a] George Washinton b] Benjamin Franklin 

c] John Adams d] Thomas Jefferson 

ANSWERS: 

Answers Below 

1. Waterloo (ABBA); 2. Once (August 21, 1911); 3. Madrid; 4. Sedimentary; 

5. Uncle Tom’s Cabin; 6. Fear of being buried alive; 7. World Wildlife Fund; 8. 8; 

9. Sneezy; 10. Pitcher; 11. Damascus; 12. Polaroid; 13. Benjamin Franklin. 

P A G E 

10 

Silence is the fence around the haggard where wisdom is stacked. (Irish Proverb)

The magazine is distributed in most of Sarnia-Lambton, and it’s free! 

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519-869-2794 • www.skeeterbarlows.com 

With the short, wintery days upon 

us, your spring garden might not be 

top of mind, (apart from missing it of 

course)! Yet, this is the perfect time to 

reflect on last year’s gardening season 

and take time to plan the coming one. 

Ask yourself: “What flowers did well 

and what I want to do this time?” “Is 

it time to change the tired landscape?” 

“Do I need to put in a new raised veggie 

garden? “ 

Dream and design, before taking the 

plunge back into your garden and you 

will have a great plan for spring. 

To tide you over until then, you can 

immerse yourself in seed catalogues, 

clean your garden tools and take care 

of your indoor plants. Houseplants 

bring life and relaxation to the winter 

home with their bright foliage and air 

purifying qualities. While these may just 

be plants, for many they also become 

pets! Plus, caring for indoor plants 

is peaceful, allowing the gardener to 

slow down and get back to basics. Be 

intentional while watering plants or 

dusting off leaves and you will be more 

aware of the small moments of joy and 

beauty each plant brings. 

As we move through the winter 

season, we can begin to venture out to 

the garden again and check for the first 

signs of spring. March is not the nicest 

of gardening months, but gives the 

opportunity for a garden cleanup before 

the soggy month of April. Cut back 

perennial seed heads and grasses, clear 

out dead foliage and keep an eye out for 

pips of green peeking through the soil. 

Remember, you don’t want to remove 

• Authentic Hickory Smoked Ribs 

• Genuine Broasted Chicken 

• Seafood, Sandwiches, Wraps 

Courtesy of Sipkens Nurseries 

TUESDAY 

NIGHTLY 

H 

Y 

SPECIALS 

P L 

S 

Winter Garden Checklist 

all debris from your yard, as many 

pollinators hibernate in dead branches 

and leaves. Instead, keep those piles of 

decaying material tucked around the 

base of plants or in a wildlife corner to 

keep the habitat alive. The debris will 

break down and provide a wealth of 

nutrients for your garden come spring. 

The winter season, though dreary 

in some aspects, can be great for the 

gardener who can use this time to grow 

new life indoors, to plan ahead and 

anticipate the coming spring. As we 

all know, time flies much too fast and 

spring will be here before you know it. 

Dream on! 

Checklist: 

❏ Plan garden layout for spring 

❏ Continue to feed the birds with seed 

and suet 

❏ Order seeds and plan your seeding 

schedule 

❏ Start slow to grow seeds indoors: 

celery, broccoli, leeks, parsley and 

cauliflower and many summer 

flowers 

❏ Clean gardening tools in preparation 

for spring 

❏ Dust houseplant leaves, replace soil 

or repot those that have outgrown 

their homes 

❏ Tidy garden beds in late March: cut 

back perennials and grasses, cover 

garden debris with mulch, and 

remove weeds 

❏ Wait until the danger of hard frost 

has passed to do early spring pruning 

(Roses, Clematis, Butterfly Bush, 

Spirea, fruit plants and trees, etc.) 

A Year Round Garden Centre, e 

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on Cty Rd 22 

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From 

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NURSERIES 

You By Edgar Albert Guest 

You are the fellow that has to decide 

Whether you’ll do it or put it aside. 

You are the fellow that makes up your mind 

Whether you’ll lead or linger behind. 

Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar 

Or be contented to stay where you are. 

Take it or leave it, here is something to do. 

Just think it over, it’s all up to you. 

Nobody will compel you to rise 

No one will force you to open your eyes. 

No one will force you yes or no 

Whether you stay or you go. 

Life is a game, but it’s you who must say 

Whether a cheat or a sportsman you’ll play. 

Fate may betray you, but settle it first 

Whether to live your best or your worst. 

So whatever it is you are wanting to be 

Remember to fashion the choice, you are free. 

Keeping the right way or taking the wrong 

Kindly or selfish, or gentle or strong 

Careless of honour or guarding your pride 

All these questions you must decide. 

You’re the selector whatever you do 

The thing men call character – it’s all up to you. 

USA 

Submitted by Ann D’Asti, LaSalle 

Winter 2021 However long the day, night must fall. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 11



If you know where you were on July 20th, 1969 - this is for you! 


Winter 2021 

The Minister of Agriculture 

consulting with various agricultural 

producers and organizations in 

Wyoming about Bill 156, the Security 

from Trespass and Protecting Food 

Safety Act. 

Long-awaited grand opening of 

Gateway Casinos Sarnia at 

Hiawatha Horse Park, marking the 

return of slots to the track for the 

first time since 2012. 

Meeting with representatives of the 

Alzheimer Society of 

Sarnia-Lambton about the critical 

work they do in our community. 

Staying safe during the COVID-19 

pandemic. Despite the many changes 

to our lives, Queen’s Park continued to 

pass important legislation for seniors 

throughout 2020. 

BOB BAILEY 

MPP – Sarnia-Lambton 

Building A Better Sarnia-Lambton 

I’d like to send my most sincere greetings to the readers of this exciting 

new publication. With all the negative news we read every day, I’m 

delighted that Sarnia-Lambton now has a magazine focused on 

positive news, especially one that’s targeted exclusively for adults 55+. 

As part of that demographic myself, I’ve always been focused on the 

unique needs of Sarnia-Lambton’s seniors. More than ever, people of 

this age group are the foundation of our entire community, offering the 

wisdom, insight, experience and work ethic that has built Lambton 

County and our entire country. 

Although it’s important to always look on the bright side, there is no 

denying that our past year has been a particularly difficult time, 

especially for Sarnia-Lambton’s most elderly and vulnerable citizens. 

Having said that, I’m very heartened by how our entire community, 

along with all levels of government, have pulled together and faced our 

challenges head-on. As a result, I believe we’re poised for a remarkable 

recovery in 2021. 

The government has been working hard to support seniors during 

these difficult times. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of 

making numerous important funding announcements, including nearly 

$6.5 million to Bluewater Health, plus major investments in long-term 

care, accessible transit, active seniors’ living, mental health supports, 

affordable housing, and a host of other projects. 

As 2021 unfolds, I believe the collective efforts we have all made will 

help us create a stronger, better Sarnia-Lambton. As a proud senior, I 

consider our generation the bedrock of our community - and I believe 

our best years are still ahead. 

Ontario has made historic new 

investments in Sarnia-Lambton’s 

hospitals and health care services to 

keep seniors and our entire 

community safe and healthy. 

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE 

805 Christina St. North, Suite 102 

Point Edward, ON N7V 1X6 

Remembrance Day was distinctly 

different this past year, but I was 

still honoured to lay wreaths on 

behalf of the Province of Ontario at 

many of the local cenotaphs, 

including Corunna. 

Contact Bob Bailey 

Tel.: 519-337-0051 

Fax: 519-337-3246 

Taking the wheel after announcing 

over $9.2 million in funding for 10 

Sarnia Transit projects to help improve 

transportation and infrastructure. 

With MPP Vijay Thanigasalam and 

members of the Sarnia Veterans 

Parkway group in Heritage Park at the 

unveiling of the new Hwy 40 sign. 

NOTE: Some photos were taken prior to the COVID-19 restrictions being enacted. Please 

follow all current recommended health guidelines for any public gatherings. 

E-mail: bob.baileyco@pc.ola.org 

Website: bobbaileympp.com 

P A G E 

12 

Honey is sweet, but don’t lick it off a briar. (Irish Proverb)

As you may have guessed by now, it’s for people 55+ 

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Make this magazine Your Own! 


THE 

CLUB 

The Club • P.O. Box 430, 

Bright’s Grove, ON N0N 1C0 

info@welcometotheclub.ca 

WELCOME TO THE CLUB is written by you, OUR READERS. 

Send in articles to be published here and possibly in Daytripping Magazine. 

Keeping our 55+ audience in mind, you may want to write about: 

• Long gone hangouts i.e. Kenwick on the Lake, Tab's Drive-In, the Campbell St. Staon 

• Local things that will never be the same - Local things that will never change 

• A local champion from the past or present that deserves recognion 

• A great local concert. Elton John? Johnny Cash? Alice Cooper? Bayfest? 

• Hidden gems in Sarnia-Lambton, whatever they may be 

Send us 

your stories, 

ideas & photos! 

• An in depth look at a local charity, event or movement 

• Growing up in this area in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 

• A first hand account of a trail/route in Lambton County 

• A personal story that you're willing to share (and tell us how we’re doing) 

Winter 2021 A man takes a drink, the drink takes a drink, the drink takes the man. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 13



Never throw this away (like that Bobby Orr rookie card you once had) 


Winter 2021 

“IT’S NOT JUST 

ABOUT THE MONEY, 

IT’S ABOUT WHAT 

IT MEANS TO YOU” 

Providing 

solutions 

for all your 

investment 

needs. 

BONNIE, JODI & MICHELLE 

Jodi Dark C.F.P. 

Financial Advisor 

Financial By Design 

1315 Michigan Avenue, Suite D102, Sarnia 

519-332-5050 l 1-888-231-3583 

R 

Scan the 

QR Code to go 

to our website 

How many dogs does it 

take to change a lightbulb? 

Golden Retriever -- The sun is shining, the day is young, we’ve 

got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside fretting about 

a freak’n burned-out lightbulb? OMG! 

Border Collie -- Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s 

not up to code. 

Dachshund -- Oh, c’mon! You know I can’t reach the lamp! 

Rottweiler -- Make me. 

Boxer -- Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark. 

Lab -- Oh me, me, ME!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? 

Huh? Huh? Can I? Oh, pleeeeze let me do it! Please, please please! 

German Shepherd -- I will change your light bulb just as soon as I lead these people 

from the dark. I must then make a second check to make sure I didn’t miss any, and 

do just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of 

the situation… before I address your need to change the light bulb. 

Jack Russell Terrier -- SURE! I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and 

furniture! 

Old English Sheep Dog -- Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see any light bulb? 

Cocker Spaniel -- Why change it? I can still find the place where I like to pee on the 

carpet in the dark. 

Chihuahua -- Yo Quiero! Taco Bulb. 

Pointer -- I see it, there it is, there it is, right there… 

Greyhound -- Light bulb? It isn’t moving. SO, who cares? 

New Zealand Sheep Dog -- Okay, okay, no. First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little 

cluster… 

Toy Poodle -- I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he 

finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry. 

The Cat’s Answer -- Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, 

the real question is: How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, 

and a massage? 

She gazed out at the blanket of snow 

that covered the backyard. Without 

borders its terrain looked foreign, almost 

surreal somehow. Except for a few wind 

blown drifts, the surface was smooth 

and untouched making it look devoid 

of character. The sunlight seemed too 

harsh and intense, like a spotlight on 

an empty stage. It reminded her of an 

untouched canvas. Closing her eyes, she 

visualized her backyard clearly. 

The snow lay flattened in a state 

of disarray with hundreds of little 

indentations upon the earth as individual 

as the flakes beneath them. Tiny 

footprints scattered in random patterns 

trampled the whiteness making the 

yard look worn and valued. The 

outline where small bodies 

had made angels lay like 

empty moulds ready to 

be filled with a lifetime 

of joy. An abandoned 

piece of cardboard lay 

beside a fort with two 

entrances, and a top 

heavy snowman with 

one eye seemed to 

welcome you into this 

white world. Even the 

dog had left his trail on 

this loving map. 

She had spent many 

hours in this very spot 

in her warm bright 

kitchen observing rosy 

cheeks, runny noses 

and striped mittens. 

Her children would 

The Window 

by Gayle Etherington Black, Ancaster • from Daytripping Winter 2005-06 

play while she would appreciate the 

silence of the house. Stopping every 

now and then between some domestic 

chore, she would marvel at their joy of 

being outdoors. A simplistic fun that 

cost and required nothing more than 

what Mother Nature had provided. 

They would reluctantly come inside 

bringing with them the delicious scent 

of the cold and outdoors. She could still 

hear the sound of hats being pulled off 

their heads, static making their golden 

hair stand on end. Bright eyed and 

flushed, they would make a mad dash 

to the kitchen leaving behind puddles 

of snow and water along with discarded 

boots kicked off haphazardly. Soggy 

mitts and scarves would lie over 

the heat registers filling the 

house with the smell of 

warm wool. 

Opening her eyes, she 

smiled as she recalled 

those loving memories 

like a treasured 

photograph. It had been 

years since her children’s 

world had expanded far 

beyond the backyard, 

but somehow they were 

still here with her. 

It was comforting 

to know that while the 

seasons may change 

and the view from the 

windowpane may be 

different, the past as she 

lived it would never be 

far away. 

P A G E 

14 

Better the trouble that follows death than the trouble that follows shame. (Irish Proverb)

In this difficult time, thank you for continuing to shop locally! 

The Winter 

of ‘77 

By Nancy McSloy, London 

from Daytripping Winter 2013-14 

Growing up in rural Southwestern 

Ontario (the Bruce Peninsula to be 

precise) in the 50’s and 60’s should 

have been a good primer for survival of 

the fittest when it comes to a Canadian 

winter! The winter of 1977 though was 

certainly a test to even the strongest 

winter survivalist! 

We had just bought our first home, 

an old farm house on a back road in 

Middlesex County. We were planning on 

renovating, had a dog and an 18 month 

old little boy and were expecting our next 

baby in June of that year. Life was good! 

Our knowledge on country things such 

as oil furnaces, wells and septic systems 

were minimal, our knowledge on 

renovating a house which was actually a 

money pit was even less. I had grown up 

in the country, but my parents had taken 

care of all of the maintenance details. 

One thing I did know was that you 

had to have food in the house. You 

couldn’t walk to the corner store to buy 

a loaf of bread or a container of milk. 

That tidbit of knowledge is probably 

what saved us! I also knew that you had 

to make sure that the oil tank was full 

for the furnace. The oil truck showed 

up the day before the storm of ‘77 and 

we had gone to Exeter to do a major 

grocery shop the previous Saturday. The 

larder was stocked, as was the fridge 

and freezer. 

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning 

in late January. My husband got up and 

went to work for 7 a.m. just as he did 

every other week day. What lay ahead 

was a total shock! Later in the day “Old 

Man Winter” made a very powerful visit. 

The roads were closed by early afternoon 

and I was on my own with a baby, a dog 

and no clue as to what to do if there was 

an emergency. I was stranded! 

My husband eventually called me at 

about dinner time to say that he would 

not be home, the roads were impassable. 

He said that he was just going to work 

an extra shift and hopefully get home 

sometime Thursday, once the storm had 

passed. Thursday turned into Friday 

and Friday turned into Saturday. He had 

spent nearly four days at work and I was 

at home, isolated with a baby and a dog. 

By Saturday, the 

storm had cleared and 

the main roads were 

getting plowed, not the 

rural roads though. He 

eventually went over 

to the little pub by 

the factory where he 

worked. He thought that 

if he sat there perhaps 

someone would have 

their snowmobile and 

maybe give him a 

ride. Eventually someone with an ATV 

offered him a ride. They drove down 

the highway to our side road and that is 

where he was dropped off. 

Our house was about a mile from the 

highway, but our road was impassable 

even with an ATV. He had called me 

before he left to say that he was getting 

a ride. Time went on and he still wasn’t 

home. By this time panic was setting 

in and prayers were going up fast and 

furious! I am sure those prayers made 

little sense, but I just kept talking! 

Cell phones were unheard of in 

those days so there was no way to 

communicate! TV was limited and the 

aerial had to be turned every so often in 

order to get a signal. I could barely open 

the door without having a blast of snow 

fall in, let alone go outside and try to 

turn a TV antenna! The radio stations all 

said the same thing; we were in a state 

of emergency. I had visions of being 

there by myself with my son and dog 

in a couple of months when the snow 

would finally melt! 

A few hours after he had called to say 

he was getting a ride, my prayers were 

answered! I heard something outside 

and in about a minute, in walked a 

“snowman,” followed by a blast of snow 

falling into the porch! My husband had 

walked or more accurately trudged 

through the snow banks and drifts, 

tripping and falling constantly. He was 

freezing, covered in snow, tired and 

starving. His first words were, “Run me 

a hot bath, please!” 

I had never been so happy to see 

someone! The bath was run, the 

homemade soup was simmering and 

we braced ourselves for what would be 

about ten more days of being “snowed 

in.” The snow plows and their crews 

were overworked. The army was called 

in to help and eventually we were dug 

out of the winter wonderland! 

I was relieved at the fact that the baby 

wasn’t due until June, so I didn’t have 

to worry about having a baby at home 

without any assistance. It was a tough 

go, but I like to think that we really had 

a turn at “survival of the fittest” and that 

our prayers were answered! 

Our Readers Are Our Writers! 

WRITERS WANTED 

Send us your stories, recipes & photos! 

The Club • P.O. Box 430, Bright’s Grove, ON 

N0N 1C0 • info@welcometotheclub.ca 


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Barristers and Solicitors 

Whether you are buying or selling real estate, 

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we provide personal service to help you 

through the legal process. 

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• Real Estate Purchases & Sales 

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30 Years Experience 

Winter 2021 Poverty waits at the gates of idleness. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 15



We’re all getting older - we may as well laugh about it! 


Winter 2021 

Green County Ebikes 

and 

Mobility Scooters 

New • Used 

Parts • Sales • Service 

Ebike & 

Mobility Scooter 

Batteries 

638 Broadway Street, Wyoming • 519.333.8313 • www.greencountyebikes.com 

The True Value of Your Teddy Bear 

By Lini Richarda Grol, Brampton • from Daytripping July-August 2012 

TUES TO SAT 

9AM - 5PM 

Recently at an auction, a little old 

teddy bear was sold at an exorbitant 

price, and to the connoisseurs it was 

worth every dollar bid on it. What made 

this teddy bear so extremely valuable, 

when you can buy these toys for a few 

dollars in every toy or department store? 

Since 1902 when the first teddy 

bear was recorded to be on the massmarket, 

each year world wide 950 000 

teddy bears are made and sold. No 

doubt teddy is the most beloved toy in 

the world. The first teddy bears were 

home and handmade of fabric, velvet 

or plush, or any material from a cast off 

piece of clothing, and stuffed with rags, 

wood-shavings or what ever was handy. 

Today teddy bears are mass produced 

and properly stuffed with hygienic new 

material, and they come in various 

colours and sizes. 

We used to dress our bears in our 

doll’s clothes. Today you can buy teddy 

bears dressed up as brides, sports figures 

and even as Sherlock Holmes complete 

with a deerstalker- hat, but even they are 

not that expensive. 

Teddy bears get around—they even 

toddled into literature. Who does 

not know Winnie the Pooh, a simple 

loveable bear, based on a Canadian 

cub bear, found in the wild, and raised 

and pampered by Harry Coldebourn, a 

veterinarian. He named his cub Winnie, 

after his favourite city Winnipeg. When 

he had to go to war and was sent to 

England, he gave Winnie to the London 

Zoo. 

There, the cub inspired A. A. De Milne 

to write the beloved classic children’s 

story: Winnie the Pooh. Canada made a 

series of stamps of Winnie, and Disney 

produced a feature film. Much earlier 

a teddy bear had made it into music— 

who does not know The Teddy Bear’s 

Picnic march? 

Our love for the teddy bears has 

inspired potters, painters, and printers of 

stationery, wallpapers, curtain materials 

and children’s clothes. Teddy bear lovers 

and collectors have formed clubs, they 

publish a newsletter and once in a while 

have meetings to show off their precious 

teddy bears. And as in every marketable 

item, the price is a question of supply 

and demand. 

Some teddy bears are no longer toys, 

they have become a commodity, an 

investment to be sold at auctions to the 

highest bidder. 

And the bids are high for an old teddy 

bear in mint condition. But an old teddy 

bear in mint condition that has sat 

unloved in a box, or glass case, 

has never given joy or comfort 

to a child. And is that not what 

a teddy bear was made for? A 

teddy bear that has lived with a 

little boy or girl, carries the scars of 

having been part of their life, their 

love, their fears and frustrations. A 

loved teddy bear has been the object of 

fierce hugs with sticky hands or peanut 

butter and jam or tear-wet kisses. It has 

to suffer lots of wear and tear, and needs 

many a-washing which in time damages 

its fabric. A loved teddy bear gets poked 

and pummeled, is dragged by its limbs, 

that may cause it, oh horror, to fall apart. 

It has had to be repaired over and over 

by a doting parent or grandparent, and 

after its operation was welcomed back 

with wild cries of joy and exuberant hugs 

and kisses. 

Parents, grandparents, doctors, nurses, 

firemen and ambulance workers know 

that in times of distress, no other toy can 

give comfort to a child like a loveable 

little teddy bear. To every child, his or 

her dilapidated old teddy bear is truly 

precious and priceless. And we all know 

that it can never ever be replaced by a 

spanking new teddy bear or one in mint 

condition. No matter what we adults say, 

only a child knows the true value of his 

or her teddy bear. 

663 Broadway Street 

Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0 

519-845-3212 

beth@bethhackettins.ca 

Headlines 

Actual headlines from many different newspapers. 

EXTRA!!! 

You really have to laugh at how some headlines are worded! 

Bank Drive-in Window Blocked by Board 

EXTRA!!! 

Caribbean Islands 

Drift to Left 

Hospitals are 

Sued by 7 Foot 

Doctors 

County Officials 

to Talk Rubbish 

William Kelly, 87 

was Fed Secretary 

Some Pieces of Rock Hudson 

Sold at Auction 

Hershey Bars 

Protest 

Old School 

Pillars Replaced 

by Alumni 

AUTO • HOME • FARM • INSURANCE 

P A G E 

16 

It’s easy to halve the potato where there’s love. (Irish Proverb)

Thank you to all the advertisers you see thoughout the magazine. 

Hockey Games on a Frozen Creek 

By Alice Gibb, London • from Daytripping Winter 2010-11 


Worth Repeating... 

“All changes, even the most 

longed for, have their melancholy; 

for what we leave behind is part 

of ourselves; we must die 

to one life before we can 

enter into another.” Anatole France 


• Manicures • Pedicures 

• Waxing • Electrolysis 

• Independent 

Hair Stylists 

a getaway from the everyday 

635 Broadway Street, Wyoming 

226-307-0772 • www.spa-cation.ca 

I guess you could call Joe O’Shea the 

“Godfather” of the Talfourd Creek hockey 

games. Once the creek had frozen 

solid, Joe headed down with his shovel, 

cleared a section of ice and created some 

makeshift nets. All the neighbourhood 

boys of a certain age then headed down 

to the creek after school and on holidays. 

Hockey became a very serious business 

for the rest of the winter. Girls didn’t play, 

of course, but we were welcome to sit 

by the roaring bonfire on the bank and 

either applaud or simper at whatever 

player had taken our fancy. Of course, 

many of the boys were our brothers, and 

we simply ignored them! 

Adults in our small hamlet were often 

overhead muttering about Joe. Things 

like the fact that he had fathered ten 

children and that he didn’t have a day 

job. We’d overhear comments like “Well, 

how can he be sick when he plays 

hockey down at the creek every day?” or 

even harsher sentiments such as “Wish 

I could catch the kind of heart problems 

that Joe has.” 

Nonetheless, it was Joe’s presence 

that allowed neighbourhood youngsters 

to spend exhilarating hours on the 

frozen creek. The rest of the parents 

knew that if someone did venture 

onto a soft spot, Joe was there to 

haul them back to safety. He was 

a voice of reason for occasional 

spats and an informal referee 

for the pick-up hockey 

games. While 

my brother and 

I were slightly 

awed by him 

when we visited at the family’s cramped 

little bungalow overlooking the creek, on 

the ice Joe was just one of the guys! 

We were eating breakfast at our big 

kitchen table one morning when Bill 

O’Shea knocked at our back door. My 

mother escorted him in; the usually 

hyper redhead was subdued. 

“My Dad,” he said, “had a heart attack 

last night. He’s gone.” For a moment, 

time stopped. We put down our slices of 

toast and contemplated the fact that the 

world had suddenly shifted. It seemed, 

until Bill’s statement, impossible to 

believe that one of your parents could 

actually die. 

The funeral was held on a school day 

so we couldn’t attend. The adults in our 

lives did all go to the funeral home to pay 

their respects. Eventually Mrs. O’Shea, 

Bill and the rest of the kids moved to 

the city. By the next winter, or the one 

or two after that, the creek had become 

so polluted that it was no longer safe 

for skating. We never learned whether 

someone else’s father would have 

stepped up to the plate to shovel snow 

from the frozen surface or settle 

hockey quarrels. We didn’t 

know it then, but over the next 

15 years, almost all of us would 

leave our village behind as many 

of the homes were dismantled 

by a local industry. Or that the 

creek would become more 

celebrated for its oil slick 

than for the frozen waters 

and the happy sounds 

of slapping hockey 

sticks on the ice. 

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The 

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One lady said, “Sometimes I catch myself with a jar 

of mayonnaise in my hand in front of the refrigerator 

and can’t remember whether I need to put it away or start 

making a sandwich. The second lady chimed in, ”Yes, 

sometimes I find myself on the landing of the stairs and 

can’t remember whether I was on my way up or on my 

way down.” The third one responded, “Well, I’m glad I don’t 

have that problem; knock on wood,” she raps her knuckles 

on the table, then says, “That must be the door, I’ll get it.” 

Retail Store on the Farm 

Produce Fresh From Our Fields 

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Winter 2021 Forgetting a debt doesn’t mean it’s paid. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 17

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Putting the “Old” back in “Damn You’re Old” 


Winter 2021 

Unique Gifts & Greeting Cards 

Home & Garden Decor 

Sun & Skin Care Products 

Purses, Scarves & Jewellery 

*Free Delivery in Lambton Shores 

www.whattravelwriterssay.com 

© by Mike Keenan 

Whenever I “go shopping” with 

Miriam, like many other men, I’m 

simply thrilled to be there at a wonderful 

social event, pleased to while away a 

few hours that I would otherwise waste 

watching sports at home on TV. Yes, I 

know that pools of men ritualistically 

collect around the “electronics section” 

of most big stores, but often it’s hard 

to watch the action, so I have learned 

to bring along a good book to read 

instead. 

Will people read much in the future? 

We are becoming so passive, that 

audio books might become our prime 

source of “reading.” Newspapers are 

shrinking in size, and the articles are 

never lengthy because we are now in 

the age of the “sound bite,” which is 

on a rather rigorous diet, diminishing 

radically each year. Some people, I’m 

sure, read only the headlines. And now 

that I have entered the realm of hitech, 

I bring along my electronic book 

reader, which allows me, like Miriam, to 

sample several books just as she tries on 

different stores in the mall. 

Unfortunately, the people who design 

malls do not want shoppers to sit for 

extended periods. You can accomplish 

only so much reading when sitting on 

uncomfortable benches installed to 

force one into the stores. Inevitably, 

even when I am uncomfortably set up 

and reading, another gentleman, no 

doubt “socially shopping” with his wife, 

comes along, sits beside me and asks 

what I am reading, then tries to tell me 

about his favourite book. 

Consequently, one needs to develop 

plan B, creative strategies for a retired 

husband when his wife is shopping 

and taking her sweet time, innocent 

behaviours to help pass the time. You 

are retired but you can still have fun. 

P A G E 

* Some restrictions apply 

View our flyer at 

pharmasave.com 

Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5 

Sun & Holidays 10-2 

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eh? 

• Safety Braces & Support 

• Mobility Aids 

• Wheelchairs, Walkers & Canes 

• Compression Stockings 

• Herbal Products & Supplements 

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Certified Stocking Fitter 

Digital 

Photofinishing Kiosk 

Wednesday-Saturday 10-2 

29 King St. W, Forest • 226-520-0054 

Male 

Shopping 

Techniques 

from Daytripping July-August 2014 

Here are a few techniques that work for 

me. Try them out. 

If they dispense free food samples, 

remain in front of the queue and say: 

“I’m really hungry; that’s not enough. 

More please. More! I’m retired. Super 

size me! Super size me!” Make a big fuss 

when they run out. If in an American 

mall, tell them you are on food stamps. 

Tell them you voted for Obama. Be 

careful with that one. 

After the food sortie, load up on 

boxes of condoms and when others 

aren’t looking, place several boxes in 

older people’s carts. Randomly “meet” 

these people later in aisles, and make 

a big deal out of their purchase. Tell 

them that you are impressed. Ask them 

how they do it. Are they on special 

supplements? Are they the ones that 

you saw in the Cialis commercial? 

Ask them for advice. Flash them the 

thumbs up sign. 

In the “sporting goods” department 

at American malls, ask to see their 

sharpest knives and biggest guns. Advise 

the clerk that your favourite movie is 

Taxi Driver, and then ask him or her 

where the anti-depressants are shelved. 

When an eager clerk probably on 

commission asks if they can help, 

demand to know their qualifications. 

Tell them that you have had issues with 

trust since your wedding. Ask: “Why 

can’t people just leave me alone?” 

Then, smile and say, “I’m going over to 

sporting goods.” 

Walk into the “house wares 

department.” Set every alarm clock to 

go off at 1 minute intervals. When each 

clock starts to ring, begin shouting, “I’m 

late. I’m late for a very important date!” 

If you get tired of these antics, simply 

return to an uncomfortable bench and 

read a little more. 

Hunger is a good sauce. (Irish Proverb) 

A hearty dinner of Easter ham, your family’s favourite salads and a 

special dessert is a great way to create or continue a family tradition. 

Glazes for Baked Ham & Picnic Ham 

General Directions: Thirty minutes before end of baking time, 

remove the ham from oven, score fat (cut shallow crisscross gashes), 

stick with cloves, spread with a glaze and return to oven. 

Brown Sugar-Orange Glaze: Mix together 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. dry mustard and 

enough orange juice to moisten. 

Brown Sugar-Pineapple Glaze: Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar with 3/4 cup crushed pineapple. 

Molasses Glaze: Mix dark molasses with a very little vinegar from sweet pickles. Spread 

sparingly on ham. Sprinkle with fine breadcrumbs. 

Maple Cider Glaze: Mix 1/2 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup cider, and 2 tbsp. dry mustard. 

Spiced Honey Glaze: Mix 1 cup honey with 2 tbsp. mustard. Spread over ham. Sprinkle with 

fine breadcrumbs. 

Jelly Glaze: Mix 1 cup red jelly with 4 tbsp. horseradish. 

Cranberry Glaze: Mix 1 can whole or jellied cranberry sauce, mashed with a fork, with 1/2 

cup light corn syrup. Or, use cranberry sauce alone. 

My Best Potatoes to serve a crowd 

If desired, use two smaller baking dishes; bake one now and freeze the second. 

Bake casserole to be frozen for only 30 minutes. 

2 lb. (1 kg) bag frozen hash browns 2 cup cheddar cheese, low-fat, grated 

1 cup chopped onion 

1 cup corn flakes or potato chips, crumbled 

2 10 oz. cans cream of mushroom 2 tbsp. margarine, melted 

soup, not diluted 

Salt to taste 

2 cup sour cream, low-fat 

Pepper to taste 

Sauté onion in 2 tbsp. margarine until soft. In large bowl or pan, mix soup, sour cream, 

cheese, seasonings, onion and potatoes. Spread into 9x13 inch greased baking dish. 

Mix corn flakes and melted margarine; spread on top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 F for 

about 1 hour or until bubbly. Variation: For a one-dish meal, add 2-3 cups cubed, cooked 

ham. Serves 12. (Approx. 223 cal., 12 grams fat per serving if using low-fat sour cream and cheese). 

Oven Roasted Vegetables 

1 envelope Lipton Italian Herb with tomato or any other dry soup mix 

1 1/2 lb. assorted fresh sliced vegetables** 

1 tbsp. vegetable oil 

** Use any combination of vegetables for a total of 1 1/2 cups each (zucchini, yellow 

squash, red or green bell peppers, carrots, celery and mushrooms). Preheat oven to 450 F. 

In large Ziploc bag or bowl, add all ingredients. Close bag and shake, or toss in bowl until 

all vegetables are evenly coated. Empty vegetables into a 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting 

pan and bake for 10 minutes. Stir vegetables. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until 

vegetables g are tender. Makes 4 servings g (Approx.( 92 cal., 4 grams fat per serving). 

Sweet Potato Soufflé 

2 c. sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed 3/4 tsp. salt 

3/4 c. hot milk 

Pepper, few grains 

1/3 c. butter or margarine 

3 egg whites, stiffly beaten 

1 tsp. grated lemon rind 

To mashed sweet potatoes, add hot milk and butter. Beat until fluffy. Add lemon rind, salt 

and pepper. Fold in egg whites (beaten stiff, but not dry). Pile lightly into a greased 

casserole. Bake in hot 400˚F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until puffy and browned. Makes 

about 6 servings (approximately 256 calories and 10 grams fat per serving). If desired: Top 

with 3/4 cup miniature marshmallows or cut up large marshmallows. Broil a few seconds 

until lightly browned. As a timesaver, use canned sweet potatoes. 

The Ultimate Make-Ahead Strata 

Everyone loves this puffy dish! Look through the refrigerator to see what you have. 

Hopefully, you’ll come up with about 1 cup cooked meat, (e.g.: corned beef, ham, Spam, 

chicken, turkey, cooked sausage meat or bacon). Next, see what you can find in veggies, 

such as 1 cup asparagus, broccoli, spinach or even a can of mushrooms, drained. 

10 slices any kind, day-old bread, crusts removed 

2 tbsp. butter or margarine 

1 small onion, finely chopped 

1/2 red pepper, chopped 

1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated 

10 large eggs 

TOPPING: 

1 1/2 cups milk 

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, optional 

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 

2 tbsp. dried parsley, crushed, if you have it 

pinch cayenne or dash Tabasco 2 tbsp. butter, melted 

1/4 tsp. nutmeg, if you have it 

crushed Special K or Corn Flakes 

Butter shallow baking dish large enough to fit 4 slices of bread (about 9x13-inch dish). 

Butter each of them as if you were going to make sandwiches and lay 4 in dish. Cut more 

slices to completely cover bottom of dish. Put butter-side up. Mix onion, pepper, 

Cheddar, chopped veggies and chopped meat; spread mixture over bread. Cut remaining 

bread in triangles or in different shapes or leave whole; put on top of mixture. Beat 

together eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce and other seasonings. Pour over sandwiches; 

cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. When ready to bake, mix Parmesan, 

parsley, butter and cereal; sprinkle on top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 1 

hour until bubbly, set and puffy. Allow to sit about 10 mins. before serving. (Approx. 340 

cals, 10g. fat, 23g protein, 17g carbs, 490mg. sodium and 3g dietary fibre per serving.)

It’s the advertising that makes a magazine like this possible, for free! 



Wednesday is 

SENIORS DAY! 

Numerous Savings 

for 55 and over 

An Old Fashioned Country Store with a Modern Twist! 

• Collecbles & Giware • Kids secon • Fudge • Maple Buer Tarts & Baking 

• Williamson Farms Beef & Local Pork, Maple Syrup, Cheese, Cider • Gi Baskets 

Shop Online www.williamsonfarmsmarket.com 

Curbside Pickup is always available • Ask us about delivery! 

Ipperwash Maple Syrup Fesval - Watch our website for details 

Mother’s Grey Hair... and... 

My Independent Spirit 

Have you ever wondered why Mom 

has grey hair? I have pondered this many 

a time in my life, and have decided it 

must be because of my independent 

spirit. She had to put up with it from day 

one. When she gave birth to me, the 

nurse would bring me in squalling. 

“Feed peewee, she has got the 

whole nursery in an uproar.” My 

defense for this is that the fools 

would have slept through their 

feeding. Somebody had to alert 

them. Better me than no one. 

The day my parents brought 

me home, they laid me on the 

sofa and I was squalling again 

(must have been near meal 

time.) The family dog took one 

sniff and ran away for three days! 

I have that effect on people. Old 

Pal did return, but he decided we 

would keep a cool relationship. 

His duty was to protect me, of 

course, only for Mom and Dad’s sake. 

They were his owners, not me. Well, that 

is what he thought. 

My mother recalls that one day she 

brought in my bottle and I threw it back 

at her. “Enough of the bottle. I’m big 

now, so bring on the cup.” 

Hard to believe that someone so sweet 

looking could be a holy little terror. Fed 

squash... it ended up on my head. She 

soon got the hint that I didn’t like squash. 

Put a hat on my head and I released a 

tune of “Naw, Naw,” as I pulled it off. 

Having a dirty diaper found me 

walking with my legs straddled, gagging. 

Really when I think about it I decided 

everything that she needed to do. All 

that was left for her was to do it! 

Walking along main street on a Friday 

night saw my Dad having to carry me 

facing where I was going. Simple enough! 

Who wants to see where they’ve been? 

A visit to the doctor was a real treat 

for her. It was simple as far as I was 

concerned—I didn’t want to go! The 

14 King St. W., FOREST • 226-520-0144 

by Ruth Simpson, Watford 

from Daytripping 

May-June 2008 

three ring circus started when they called 

my name. Mom would have to drag me 

crying and screaming through the door. 

Things would have been a lot simpler if 

she had left me to my own decision. I 

hated going to the doctor. It’s not that 

I didn’t like him, but I hated the 

tongue depressor. I thought I would 

throw up, not to mention the nurse 

from #^@*! Was she mean with the 

needle. I must say my dad found out 

how handy she was with a needle, 

when he went in for a shot. Then 

they understood my aversion to 

the whole idea of going to see the 

doctor. What if I had to have a 

shot? It sets my teeth on edge 

even now. 

The time came for me to go 

to school. Did I want to go? N-O- 

O-O! The first year was a trauma 

for mother, me and the teacher. 

Funny enough, the second year 

was better. Another girl was brought 

in by her mother kicking and crying. 

The poor teacher! Not another one! Of 

course, I was cool with the idea of school 

by then and I sympathized with her. 

I told her it would be okay. To this day 

when we run into each other we have a 

laugh about our trouble with school the 

first year. 

I run into my first grade teacher every 

now and again. Yes, the woman is still 

alive having survived the trauma, and 

no, she doesn’t run the other way when 

she sees me. Brave woman! 

Things did get better as I got older. 

I eventually ventured off to my own 

apartment. Are there any bets that Mom 

was ready to send me from day one? 

Now, I was really independent and loved 

living on my own. 

My life partner now has the pleasure 

of my independent spirit. The rules are 

still the same. Let me alone, so I can do 

a thing the way I think it should be done. 

Oh, by the way... his hair is now grey. 

Phrase Origins 

Wet Your 

Whistle 

Refers to quenching 

your thirst, and one 

theory suggests that 

pubs used to have 

ceramic cups with 

whistles built into the rim or 

handle, so you could “whistle” for 

another drink, but there’s no 

evidence to support this. What 

seems to make the most sense is 

that whistle was just another way 

to say mouth or throat, so the 

phrase just meant getting a drink. 

This issue was 

printed on January ary 

10 th 

Open the door to your 

financial well-being. 

Pat Smits 

Financial Advisor 

12 Mac Donald Street 

Forest, ON N0N 1J0 

519-786-4924 

Tues to Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 10-4 

Please Remember... that much may have changed since this 

issue came out, and we’re all hoping that it’s connually for the beer. 

Some shops may be temporarily closed but sll offering services. 

Please call or go to our customers websites or social media sites for updates. 

Thank you for supporng local business! 

www.edwardjones.ca 

Winter 2021 There’s nothing so bad that it couldn’t be worse. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 21



This magazine comes with a free, built-in, old-fashioned fly swatter! 

LAMBTON HERITAGE MUSEUM 


THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE 

www.heritagemuseum.ca 519-243-2600 10035 Museum Road Grand Bend 

• Enjoy our fantastic feature exhibits including: 

» Capturing the Moment: Photography in Lambton County 

» Memories of Rural Life 

• As part of your regular museum admission fee, rent 

snowshoes and trek our Woodland Heritage Trail! Great 

physically distanced activity for the winter months. 

• Book your time to visit in advance on our website or by 

calling the main museum number. 

• Visit our websiter for special programming and to sign up 

for event notifications/news updates! 

LAMBTON COUNTY ARCHIVES 

Visit the Archives to: 

» Discover the local history and 

families of Lambton County 

» Trace your ancestral roots 

using our family histories. 

» Uncover unidentified photos 

in our X-Files photo collection 

» View our website for 

upcoming events & 

workshops. 

Winter 2021 

Discover · Preserve · Connect 

787 Broadway Street, Wyoming lambtonarchives.ca 519-845-5426 

P A G E 

22 

Who keeps his tongue keeps his friends. (Irish Proverb)

Some of the articles are from the archives of Daytripping Magazine 

Actual 

FAMILY 

FEUD 

Answers 

• A kind of ache - Fillet 'O' Fish 

• A sign of the zodiac - April 

• Name an animal you might see at the zoo - Dog 

• A food that can be brown or white - A potato 

• Something a cat does - Goes to the toilet 

• A famous Scotsman - Vinnie Jones 

• Name a famous royal - Mail 


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- Menon this ad for a 15% discount - 

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www.country-yarns.com 


Established in 1978, 

Lambton Pharmacy continues to 

provide caring, professional pharmacy 

services to residents of the beautiful 

town of Petrolia and Lambton County. 

By Jeanette Brimner, Embro 

On Hiding Your Age Daytripping July-August 2007 

Age demeaning remarks can come 

anytime, from anywhere. I was picking 

out a colour for our new living room rug 

when I pointed out a tint I disliked. The 

saleswoman, in late middle age like 

myself, answered my comment with “I 

hate it too! It reminds me of old age. 

But we’re all headed that way aren’t 

we?” I managed a slight smile, gritted 

my real teeth and changed the subject. 

It makes me angry every time I hear 

something derogatory about age. I hate 

the commercials that tell us how to 

erase fine lines and wrinkles, tighten 

saggy eyelids, fade age marks and hide 

every hint of gray hair. I should hold 

a placard outside of our local beauty 

salon saying “I’m keeping my wrinkles 

and laugh lines, my sagging neck, my 

droopy lids and everything else about 

me that hints that I’m no longer young 

and am not ashamed of it, so there!” Of 

course the younger ones would agree 

that my crazy behavior and outlandish 

attitude was due to early onset senility 

and I’d be swept away in a paddy 

wagon! 

A friend of mine, a very attractive 

woman whose hair turned prematurely 

white when she was in her thirties was 

going to see a nice relaxing movie. A 

cocky teenager selling tickets asked, 

“Are you a senior?” despite the fact she 

was only fifty one.” 

“Not yet,” she said while forcing a 

fake smile. 

“Well if you’re over forty,” he 

remarked arrogantly “You’re already 

over the hill!” 

It’s lucky my friend is good natured 

or she might have kicked him way 

over the hill and into the river! What 

a nerve! 

I’ve heard of age discrimination in 

the job market, but when someone 

on a documentary announced he had 

lost his job as vice president of a large 

corporation because he was too old 

and set in his ways I wanted to laugh 

out loud, because the facts were so 

absurd. I’m getting used 

to doctors who look like 

teenagers taking care of 

me when I go to the clinic, 

and lawyers on sitcoms 

looking as if they just got 

out of high school, but 

when a forty seven year 

old is treated as if he’s 

becoming obsolete it’s just 

too much to tackle. 

There are so many 

people I know who 

are living vibrant and 

productive lives and are in their 

eighties now. A friend who lives in the 

area where I used to live is now eighty 

four, but she’s still energetic and loves 

life. And she’s very thankful to have 

her health. To this day she attends 

exercise classes every week, rides 

her bike, travels and attends various 

meetings and has her black belt in Tae 

Kwon Do. 

My husband plays bridge every 

week and one of the oldest members 

is almost ninety. She’s sharp and finds 

duplicate bridge relaxing! My uncle 

practiced law well into his seventies 

and there are so many I know who are 

living productive lives in their senior 

years that they’re too numerous to 

mention. 

Imagine if Grandma Moses decided 

not to paint because she was getting 

old. If Michelangelo had decided at 

sixty five that he was a ‘has been’ the 

world would have been deprived of his 

most famous frescoes. So many well 

known people have achieved so much 

in their later years. 

“You’re as old as you feel,” is a worn 

out saying but it’s so 

true. A persons attitude, 

not our youth obsessed 

society, should have 

the last word, and it’s 

time that older people 

demand more respect. 

Now that the baby 

boomers are ageing, 

attitudes will slowly begin 

to change. Older people 

should be able to ripen 

naturally, not succumb 

to cosmetic surgery, laser 

treatments and liposuction in order 

to be accepted in society. When the 

lack of young workers results in many 

seniors returning to work, it won’t be 

their looks that are important but their 

experience, open mindedness and 

health! 

So here’s to people over forty. We 

may be considered over the hill but 

there’s another one up ahead waiting 

for us to climb! 

Publisher’s note: 

Since when is 40 over the hill! 

Egads, the nerve of some people! 

4130 Glenview Rd, Unit 2, Petrolia 

519-882-0650 

Danielle Edgar, B.Sc., PharmD 

Pharmacist 

Monday–Friday 9am–6pm 

Saturday 9–12 

Worth 

Repeating... 

Life is like a mirror - 

we get the best results 

when we smile at it. 

Retirement 

Village 

Downtown Retirement Living 

in a Quaint Victorian Town 

www.albanyretirementvillage.com 

Call to Book a Tour: 

423 Albany Street 

Petrolia, ON 

519-882-3157 

Enjoy Friends | Enjoy Independence | Enjoy Life 

Winter 2021 It is more difficult to maintain honour than to become prosperous. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 23



Living life to the fullest (until about 9:00 p.m.) 


Winter 2021 

HOGAN 

P•H•A•R•M•A•C•Y 

Beautiful Gift Shop 

• Wedding • Birthday 

• Baby • Home Decor 

4177 Petrolia Line, Petrolia • (519) 882-1840 

Do not attempt to stop the blade with your hand. 

…in the manual for a Swedish chain saw 

We Are Here to Serve You 

6-1000 Finch Drive, 

Sarnia, Ontario 

N7S 6G5 

519-383-6600 

marilyn.gladu@parl.gc.ca 

www.mpmarilyngladu.ca 

Full Service Pharmacy 

Full Service Cosmetic Department 

Full Service Home Health Care Dept. 

Access hole only - not intended for use in lifting box. 

…on the sides of a shipping carton, just above 

cut-out openings which one would assume 

were hand holds 

Do not eat. 

…on a slip of paper in a stereo box, referring 

to the styrofoam packing 

Warning: May contain nuts…on a package of peanuts 

Do not dangle the mouse by its cable or 

throw the mouse at co-workers. 

…from a manual for an SGI computer 

Warning: Do not climb inside this bag and zip it up. 

Doing so will cause injury and death. 

…a label inside a protective bag (for fragile objects), which 

measures 15cm x 15cm x 12cm. 

Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-6, Sun10-5 

A shop for both the modern 

& classic Quilter! 

4247 oil heritage rOad, 

petrolia • 519-918-2226 

• fabrics • patterns • classes 

now an authorized Dealer for: 

Open tuesday to Saturday 10 am - 5 pm 

Shop on our website too... www.stitcharie.com 

It was the 

Best of Times 

to Grow Up 

So, I’m a baby boomer…I was born 

on a dark and stormy night in December 

1952. In the old days, I’d have been right 

at the end of the baby boomers, but now 

they’ve sort of extended it and there are 

more baby boomers than there used to 

be. Of course, the folks who are runnin’ 

the world these days—mostly young 

folks—absolutely can’t leave anything 

alone. Like I think they’ve dumped 

Daylight Savings Time when I wasn’t 

looking…or maybe they dumped the 

other one. Anyway, we might not have 

to change our clocks anymore…and I 

hated changing my clocks, but it was 

just something you always did…why 

change it? 

Of course, from the perspective of 

an old guy—a gnarly old codger—most 

everything on the planet seems to 

be in a bit of a mess these days. Yea, 

we’re overpopulated and overpolluted 

and over this and over that…but we’re 

strugglin’ along, careening from crisis to 

crisis in the same way we always have 

since the beginning of recorded history. 

We’re not good at long range planning… 

we just sort of fumble along, sometimes 

staggering remarkably close to the edge, 

but always, never quite toppling over. 

Yea, I was born and raised in the 

small town of Hanover and still have 

the fondest regards for that community. 

Growing up in Hanover back in the 

really old days was sort of like growing 

up in Mayberry. You know, where Andy 

Griffith and Don Knotts were the police 

department, every boy in town owned 

a BB gun and there was roller skating 

in the summer and ice skating in the 

winter. We watched John Wayne and 

Audie Murphy save the free world at 

the Paramount Theatre every Saturday 

afternoon. It surely seemed like a 

simpler time when things were more 

cut and dried. 

You know, we spent most of our 

time as young people growing up in 

Hanover complaining about how bored 

we were. Only now, as I watch today’s 

young people on their devices, do I 

realize what a richness of activity I 

grew up in the middle of. We had our 

ice and roller skating, there was the 

bowling alley, the pool room, the show, 

a couple of restaurants to act as after 

school hangouts. The churches in town 

By John Gardiner, 

Wallaceburg 

ran “coffee houses” for teens and there 

were dances going on all the time. I 

played in a band when I was a young 

guy—and, actually, still do—and we 

were busy all the time because there 

were always dances and parties and 

stuff. 

We grew up in a golden period to 

be a young person. My parents never 

really got to be teenagers because they 

grew up during the Great Depression 

and the war; my dad always thought 

he was extremely lucky because he 

was just too young to actually be in the 

war, but was old enough to share in 

the prosperity that came after the war. 

Our generation not only didn’t have to 

endure a depression or a war, but really 

also got to share in the prosperity of the 

1950’s, 1960’s and early 1970’s, when 

the world seemed filled with hope and 

anything seemed possible. 

These days, the world seems 

enormously complicated and difficult 

to navigate in. But I’m kinda thinkin’ 

that just might be me getting to be an 

old guy. I suppose it’s only natural to 

feel that your generation grew up in 

the best of times—had the best music, 

movies, TV shows, books and cars and 

everything else. I think each generation 

sort of feels like that about the times 

they grew up and came of age in. 

But that won’t stop me thinking 

that my generation was the one that 

had the absolute best of everything 

as we passed along through life. I’ve 

had a great run through life and have 

somehow ended up with some really 

old children and a whole passle of notso-old 

grandchildren…not really sure 

how it happened, but extremely glad it 

did. It is, however, exceptionally strange 

to be the same age as old people. 

Anyway, be well and stay safe out 

there, or as the guy on Hill Street Blues 

used to say, “Be careful out there, 

because life can throw some really 

challenging curves at you.” 

I sometimes say, “Be good, and if you 

can’t be good, then be careful.” 

Publisher’s note: I was born in ‘65 John 

and always thought I was at the end of the 

boom! I hear permanent Daylight Time 

isn’t a sure thing yet, but Ontario has 

greenlighted it if Quebec and New York 

State agree to do the same. 

P A G E 

24 

If you want praise, die. If you want blame, marry. (Irish Proverb)

Please email us your thoughts on the questions below. Thanks! 


senior 

personal ads 

FOXY LADY: 

Sexy, fashion-conscious, 

blue-haired beauty, 80's, slim, 

5'4" (used to be 5'6"), searching 

for sharp-looking, sharp-dressing 

companion. Matching white 

shoes & belt a plus. 


SARNIA 

519-337-3713 

THE 

OIL SPRINGS 

519-834-2833 

• AUTO • HOME • FARM 

• TENANTS • COMMERCIAL 

1-800-265-7506 • www.cam-ron.ca 


Questionnaire 

This is the first issue sue of Welcome to The Club and we need 

ed 

your input and constructive ctiv 

e criticism, ic 

ism, 

so we can build a better 

e ter 

magazine for you. There are no wrong answers. 

Just for fun we'll award $50 gift certificates to two readers, 

selected randomly. Feel free to send afew words or afew 

pages & elaborate as you see fit. 

• Fresh Produce 

• Fresh Meat 

• Party Trays 

• Bakery 

• Deli 

• Bulk Food 

• Seasonal 

Merchandise 

• Flower 

Market 

Please mail answers (on a separate sheet) to: 

P.O. BOX 430 • Brights Grove, ON • N0N 1C0 

OR Email info@welcometotheclub.ca 

o 

e o 

e 

Include your name, email & phone number please. 

1. Is the magazine difficult to read at all? 

Is the type too small? 

Are there too many fonts or hard to read fonts? 

2. At first glance, what stood out that interested 

you in this issue? 

3. We’ll publish four issues per year. For how long 

are you likely to keep this issue of The Club? 

Every Tuesday is SENIORS DISCOUNT DAY 

10% OFF for age 60 and over (must tell cashier) 

Doesn’t apply to tobacco, lottery or gift cards 

Use our easy 

ONLINE 

SHOPPING 

SERVICE 

www.yourindependentgrocer.ca 

We’ll bring your groceries to your car! 

4. If we were to add a regular column on any 

topic, what should it be? 

5. Is there anything in this magazine that offends 

you, even in the slightest? Please be honest. 

6. Does the content in this issue strike you as being 

too old for you, too young, or just right? 

7. Where did you pick up this copy of the magazine? 

Where is the ideal place to pick one up? 

4136 Petrolia Line, 

Petrolia 519-882-2211 

www.yourindependentgrocer.ca 

A Magazine 

for 55+ 

like no other! 

Winter 2021 Enough and no waste is as good as a feast. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 25



Aging with Grace 

by Billy Yurchuk, General Manager of Wellings of Corunna 

I’d write something better here but I forgot to! 


Winter 2021 

What a year 2020 was and what 

should we expect in 2021? Keeping 

ourselves and those around us safe 

from harm could be deemed as the 

activity of highest priority during these 

unprecedented times. It is becoming 

more and more important to help 

each other and especially our more 

vulnerable seniors throughout Lambton 

County. Whether it is helping with their 

shopping or clearing snow from their 

driveways, making other’s lives easier is 

just the right thing to do. 

There’s a great deal of information on 

the Age-Friendly Sarnia Lambton website 

(www.age-friendlysarnialambton. 

ca) including a link to “Age-Friendly 

Grocery and Food Delivery Services” 

which outlines all of those people and 

organizations who are willing to provide 

grocery shopping and food delivery. 

For those of you who still want to do 

your own shopping, many stores have 

dedicated their first hour of business 

for our senior population which reduces 

the number of people in the store and 

provides some more personalized 

assistance to make your shopping 

experience easier for you. 

It is crucial for the survival of our 

local businesses that the residents of 

Sarnia-Lambton to continue to shop 

locally. Most businesses have adapted 

their way of doing business to keep you 

safe by the habits of proper sanitization, 

limiting the number of customers in 

their stores at one time as well as curbside 

pickup in many cases. 

While it is important to physically 

distance yourself from others and in 

fact, physically isolate yourself, in order 

to keep yourself safe, it is not good to 

isolate yourself completely. Keeping 

your mental health in mind is of 

constant importance and reaching out 

to others will help with that. If you have 

a computer or tablet, staying in touch 

with video will be beneficial. If you are 

not computer savvy, there are those who 

can help with that. There are several 

events and services available online 

such as bingo, live entertainment, etc. 

and I promise you that computers are 

easier than you think!! 

I ran into one such example of a 

new hobby recently. On the second 

Wednesday of each month, I host an 

interview of sorts at Wellings of Corunna 

called “Fireside Chat with Billy”. Last 

month, I met with Crystal from Crock- 

A-Doodle which is a business inside 

the Canadian Superstore grocery store. 

Crock-A-Doodle is a place where you 

can purchase take-home kits and paint 

a ceramic item of your choice. You then 

have it taken back to them and they 

“fire” it for you. 

As we head into 2021 find your own 

way to connect with family and friends 

and share time together. Don’t forget 

to continue to reach out to each other 

by phone or video. Don’t forget those 

who may be alone, isolated and lonely. 

Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a 

while. Maybe write a hand-written note. 

Remember those? 

Life is hard enough. Be kind. Just 

love each other. 

You can be anywhere in the world and sll read 

Welcome to The Club 

Subscribe for FREE on our homepage and 

we’ll simply email you a link to each new issue. 

All Inclusive Suites & Apartments with kitchenettes. 

CUSTOM MENU OPTIONS • ACTIVITIES • 24HR CARE 

Call for a personal tour. 

WALLACEBURG • 519-627-9292 

What's Your Big Hurry? 

Sit back and relax, in your old favourite chair, 

And read what this writer, with you, has to share. 

The hustle and bustle, we do every day, 

Our times shall pass quickly, and our lives, ebb away. 

Relax, and slow down - and take a deep breath, 

Don't be in a hurry, to meet up, with death. 

This era we're living, is all rushing, and speed, 

And it's all about money, that's bringing on greed. 

By Spokeshave 

The online version may not be as “Priceless”... but it’s just as FREE! 

P A G E 

www.welcometotheclub.ca 

26 

Lie down with dogs and you’ll rise with fleas. (Irish Proverb) 

Sit alone on the bench, or stroll through the park, 

Watch children at play, 'till day light turns dark. 

The years we were children, let your minds wander back, 

Our lives and our bodies, knew how to relax. 

Today, it's all hurry, with our lives on the run, 

Slow down, my dear reader, or your days shall be done. 

Go visit your elders, (should they still walk the earth,) 

Take a walk with them slowly, and make their life worth. 

If you're hungry for money, the fortune you've made, 

Could cost you your health, and buy you a grave. 

Our health is quite precious, as all folks should know, 

Your life will last longer, relax, and go slow. 

Don't misinterpret, your life's still a prize, 

A person should daily, all do exercise. 

(The moral of this poem) 

It's speed, greed, and hurry, that's getting us down, 

Slow down, my good readers, and we'll see you around.

We’d like to hear your honest opinions on how you like the magazine. 

BOUTIQUE MEDICAL SPA 

1098 London Road, Sarnia • 519-542-0079 

www.aboutfacesarnia.com 

Staying Independent 

“I’m never leaving my house!” or 

“They’re going to have to carry me out of 

here!” These are just a couple of phrases 

we hear from our friends and neighbours 

when we talk to them about their desire 

to stay in their homes as they age. 

Understandable really when you consider 

the following. 

A new study by Home Care Ontario 

states that 91% of all seniors in Ontario 

want to stay in their own home as long 

as possible, and 95% know that being 

in their own home with some assistance 

is the safest place for them, especially 

during the Covid-19 

pandemic. 

City 

Now consider the 

cost. This table shows 

the average cost 

according to CMHC, per 

month, by city, of living 

in a senior community 

(aka Retirement Home). 

The average income 

for Canadians over 65 is 

roughly $40,000 a year. 

You can see the reality 

that older citizens are 

By Chris Treftlin, Shine at Home 

TIGHT 

SCULPTING 

25% OFF 

facing. They want to live in their home 

and they cannot afford to leave. 

Over that past decade we have seen 

a pattern develop. The individual senior 

realizes that they need assistance. 

Perhaps with keeping up the house such 

as cleaning, yard maintenance, laundry— 

things that younger adults manage 

with relative ease (excluding my kids of 

course, who can never keep their rooms 

clean). It starts with a little home-based 

assistance, then perhaps meals become 

an issue. Making a balanced, nutritious 

meal, peeling the potatoes, cooking the 

Average 

Cost /Month 

Toronto $4,050 

Ottawa $2,865 

Mississauga $3,150 

London $3,367 

Windsor $3,287 

Lambton County $3,314 

Chatham-Kent $2,811 

Ontario $3,758 

meal, etc. becomes 

a hassle. It becomes 

easier to open a can 

of soup. 

Many times, family 

steps into the need, 

picking up the tasks 

that Mom or Dad 

are challenged by. 

Depending on the 

kids, this can work 

and in many cases 

it works well. Many 

times, the kids are too 

Gone But Not Forgotten 

By Jean Leedale Hobson 

The everyday experiences we knew years ago must seem almost 

incomprehensible when told to the youth of today. 

Remember... 

• Putting a three-cent stamp on a first-class letter? 

• Filling a fountain pen with ink from a bottle? 

• Forgetting to empty the tray under the icebox? 

• Going to a Friday night movie for a quarter, 

and taking home a dinner plate as well? 

• Trying to keep the seams straight in silk stockings? 

• Waxing and polishing hardwood floors down on our hands and knees? 

• Bringing in sweet-smelling laundry from the clothes line? 

• Ironing cotton handkerchiefs, starching shirt collars, darning socks? 

• Taking the boss's dictation down in shorthand, then transcribing the 

squiggly lines on a manual typewriter? 

• Using a sheet of carbon paper to make a copy? 

• Wearing a hat and gloves just to go shopping? 

• Pumping the player piano for family sing-songs? 

• Creating our own mental images as we listened to sitcoms, plays or 

sports on the radio? 

• Cranking the wall telephone to reach the operator, hoping the party 

line was not in use? Then hoping nobody's listening as we talk. 

Were they the 'good old days' or WHAT? 


Kern 

water 

1804 London Line, Sarnia 

519-542-4211 

kernwater.com 

Mon–Fri 9 am–6 pm • Sat 8 am–2 pm 

busy with their lives and families. 

The progression continues over years 

and more complex care is required. 

Activities of Daily Living is the technical 

term. ADL’s, if you are into acronyms. They 

include bathing and grooming, dressing 

and undressing, meal preparation, 

functional transfers (assisting in sitting, 

standing, or laying position), toileting, 

ambulation (physical movement), 

memory care and stimulation. At this 

stage we have seen individuals remain 

very safe, happy, and secure in the homes. 

They are where they want to be, and we 

are helping them. 

So, there it is. Living at home while 

aging, or “Aging in Place,” (another term) 

can be done and done well. It really 

just becomes a decision, and after the 

decision, a plan. 

In future articles we will go deeper 

into important topics that will put some 

meat on the bones of your plan. For now, 

we will go through some of the basics. 

Housekeeping and home maintenance 

are areas that many Age in Placers 

require help with. Doing your homework 

pays off. Finding a lawn maintenance 

company for instance can be done by 

doing an online search. However, a 

deeper look needs to happen. Does the 

service provider have the appropriate 

references, and insurance? Are you 

Kern 

water 

Home Water 

Treatment 

Mon–Fri 9 am–6 pm • Sat 8 am–2 pm 

1804 London Line, Sarnia 

519-542-4211 

kernwater.com 


U-Fill 

Water 

Delivery 

Service 

Reverse 

Osmosis 

and Alkaline 

covered? Will their standard of service 

meet yours? Do this homework before 

you need the service so when you do 

have the need you will not be behind the 

curve. 

This same methodology applies across 

many if not all the other different aspects 

of assistance you may find you require. 

Now you have the beginning of a plan 

to stay at home as you age, or as you Age 

in Place. See how I did that? 

Ok, now what? Tell everyone. Tell your 

kids. Believe me they will be thrilled. Tell 

your neighbours. They will probably want 

the lawn company’s contact information 

for themselves. Display the plan in a 

bright red folder beside your favourite 

chair, and tell everyone this is your Age 

in Place folder, “...if you ever need to 

get some information on my service 

providers.” 

Our experience over the past 10 years 

of offering home-based-care shows us 

one inescapable, in-your-face truth. Here 

it is. Those individuals that are willing to 

accept help do much, much better with 

living long, happy, independent lives with 

joy, than those that for whatever reason 

in fear, or just shear stubbornness, refuse 

help in assistance with daily living. 

Another truth: it is always better 

when you are making the decisions for 

yourself. 

Better Water 

for Better 

Health 

Water softeners, 

whole house filters 

and drinking 

water units 

Benefits 

Water Treatment: 

• Improved taste and clarity 

• Removes contaminents 

• Environmentally friendly 

• Cost-effective 

Water Softener: 

• Healthier hair, skin 

and nails 

• Preserve appliance life 

• Cleaner/shinier silverware 

and glassware 

• Softer clothes that last 

longer 

Winter 2021 It’s the first drop that destroys you, there’s no harm at all in the last. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 27


It takes 

BALLS 

to 

knit! 

Heaven is 

Handmade 

“A Yarn Boutique” 

ue 

Everything 

you need for 

knitting & crochet 

250 North Christina Street 

Sarnia • 519-491-9276 

www.HeavenIsHandmade.ca 


Taking Time to Put Names 

to Family Photographs 

By Dot Sale, Belmont - from Daytripping’s July-Aug 2016 issue 

One of the problems with 

technology, particularly the way we 

now take digital photographs and save 

them electronically, is what will happen 

to them in the future. Practically gone 

now are the photo albums people used 

to create filled with family photos taken 

during special occasions and trips. Now 

the modern generation whips out their 

cell phones, and iPads to show off their 

latest photos of new family members 

or the trips they just came back from. 

Rather than making hard copy photo 

albums, everything is being saved on 

memory sticks, or to something called 

a Cloud on the internet, or simply 

being pasted on Facebook for everyone 

to see. 

As a family genealogist, I’ve 

discovered the hard way that the good 

old days of photography and photo 

saving weren’t that perfect either. 

I recently received a large box of 

family memorabilia that included 

three photo albums—one of family 

A new magazine, for people who aren’t! (new that is) 

members, as well as an abundance of 

loose photos. 

Sadly, my great-aunt, whose box it 

had been, had fallen into the same trap 

as everyone else. She didn’t put names 

on all the photos, or in the case of the 

albums, under them. There were a few 

exceptions, though, and of these I am 

extremely grateful. 

In many cases, though, rather than 

writing the name of who the photo 

was of on the back of it (presuming, 

I guess, the next person to see them 

would know) instead they had written 

where and occasionally when the 

photograph was taken. Any letter they 

might have been included with had not 

been saved. 

Early on in my family genealogy 

hobby I had heard during a presentation 

that identifying the subject of your 

photos was something everyone 

should do. That way whoever inherited 

them would know whether they should 

be kept and passed on in the family, 

or just thrown out. Being guilty of not 

doing it myself, I had gone home and 

immediately set about identifying all 

the photographs I had stored in boxes, 

including whenever possible, putting 

them into separate photo folders. 

Call me old fashioned, but I still go 

to the store and make hard copies of 

important photographs my husband 

and I have taken. Then I buy a photo 

album to put them in and make it a 

point to put a label on it, giving the 

event, place it was held, and the date 

the photos were taken. 

Trust me, it will seem like too 

much work to you, but your family 

will definitely thank you later when it 

counts. 

Welcome to ... Winter 2021 

Jamie Easter 

Reg. Physiotherapist 

Do You Have Arthritis 

in Your Knees or Hips? 

GLA:D Canada is an 8-week 

education and exercise program for those with stiff and/or painful knees 

and/or hips, or those with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis. Research from GLA:D® in 

Denmark shows participants report less pain, reduced use of painkillers, fewer 

indiviudals on sick leave, and being more physically active. 

GLA:D CANADA IS MADE UP OF 3 PARTS: 

• 2-3 Education Sessions 

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• Data Collection for Quality Monitoring 

Cross Works Physiotherapy is proud to present the 

GLA:D program at Ironworks Fitness. 

For more information please contact 519-491-7273 

Covered Under Extended Health Care 

Jayme Davies 


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Reves Henderson 


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The 

Wisdom of... 

Mark Twain 

To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence. 

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your 

government when it deserves it. 

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives 

fully is prepared to die at any time. 

Grief can take care if itself, but to get the full value of a joy you 

must have somebody to divide it with. 

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in 

the dog. 

Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today. 

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time 

to pause and reflect. 

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal 

life. 

Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the 

rest. 

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the 

world and moral courage so rare. 

P A G E 

28 

Young people don’t know what old age is, and old people forget what youth was. (Irish Proverb)

The next issue will come out around April 1st (and we’re not kidding) 

NORTH END APPLIANCE 

Serving Sarnia-Lambton Over 30 Years 

519-336-7676 

635 Cathcart Blvd., Sarnia 

northendappliance.ca 

Church Ladies 

With Typewriters! 

The pastor would appreciate 

it if the ladies of the 

Congregation would lend 

him their electric girdles 

for the pancake breakfast 

next Sunday. 

Low Self Esteem Support 

Group will meet 

Thursday at 7 PM. 

Please use the back door. 

The eighth-graders will be 

presenting Shakespeare's 

Hamlet in the Church 

basement Friday at 7 PM. 

The congregation is invited 

to attend this tragedy. 

Weight Watchers will meet 

at 7 PM at the 

First Presbyterian Church. 

Please use large double door 

at the side entrance. 

The Associate Minister 

unveiled the church's new 

campaign slogan last Sunday: 

'I Upped My Pledge - 

Up Yours’. 

By Betty Popelier, Oil Springs from Daytripping March-April 2018 

The years have gone by far too quickly 

and according to the calendar I have 

grown old. I don’t feel old, but I know 

it must be so. My boobs are starting to 

get pretty friendly with my stomach. 

The skin on my underarms is looking 

like a bag of prunes and I am forced to 

acknowledge the growing number of 

aches and pains throughout my body. But 

what is most noticeable is the reflection 

of a face that peers back at me when I 

look into the mirror— unbelievably it’s 

me. When did my pink, smooth, delicate 

skin disappear only to be replaced by 

a pasty white face, filled with so many 

lines, creases and wrinkles? Where did 

they come from? I want them to go away. 

I want my old face young again. 

But wait a minute, do I really? 

If I still had my youthful, clear face, it 

would mean that I have not laughed. 

There are several creases on each 

corner of my mouth. One or two a 

result of happy smiles on the day of 

my wedding; naive and unafraid, I 

climbed aboard the roller coaster called 

marriage, and 53 years later, what a 

wild ride it has been! 

At least three formed from 

expressions of pure joy on the days each 

of my children were born. I remember 

all the laughter and fun experienced 

during many of our camping trips 

and vacations. Surely a few must 

have appeared signifying the love and 

tenderness felt while cuddling and 

playing with all my grandchildren. Many 

could be the result of chuckling and 

gaiety enjoyed during family gatherings 

and weddings. 

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The Wrinkles On My Face 

So, no, I think I’d like those creases 

to stay. 

What about those lines caused from 

worry? They may not be as wonderful but 

are nonetheless a part of me. 

Those on my forehead and around my 

eyes; maybe a few express the anxiety 

felt during my initial job interview. Did 

they like me? Were all the questions 

asked, answered to their satisfaction? 

The nervousness upon being hired— 

could I actually do the job? 

There’s at least another three resulting 

from anxious feelings as I waited for each 

of my children to finish their first day of 

school. “Did mommy make it through 

the day?” the bus driver asked. I think 

those first days were much more difficult 

for me than for them. Some could 

have originated from many sleepless 

nights when these same youngsters 

became teenagers. I would mark time 

impatiently late into the night, pacing the 

floor, imaging all the horrible things that 

could have happened, at the same time 

attempting to convince myself they 

were fine. I cannot describe the 

relief felt when the key finally 

turned in the lock, 

ensuring their safe 

arrival. 

The loss of 

weight and stress 

before and after 

my heart operation 

and difficulties 

since, surely had an 

impact, and a few 

could have been 

caused from listening 

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to heartbreaking family stories of loves 

and marriages lost. 

Somehow despite the worry, those 

lines don’t seem to bother me now. 

It would mean that I have not cried. If 

all my wrinkles were to fade away, would 

I want to lose the memories of all those 

tears? 

There were moments of great 

sadness as tears formed rivulets down 

my cheeks leaving marks not only on 

my face but in my heart as well. The 

first could have appeared during a brief 

breakup with my first—and only—love. 

More grew from anguish and sorrow 

suffered while attending funerals for my 

endearing grandparents, loving parents, 

close relatives and friends. Surely a few 

originated from the devastation felt 

after a fire nearly destroyed our home. 

Each one is a visible reminder of 

grief-stricken and precious moments, 

ones that should never be forgotten. As 

I gently touch and retrace all of those 

now familiar etchings, I realize there is 

a meaning and story concealed behind 

each and every one. 

So I will rethink my original thoughts 

about that lined, creased and wrinkled 

mirror image. 

As I take another peek, I 

feel somewhat comforted by 

the reflection of the woman 

looking back at me. True, she 

has aged, but now appears 

stronger, and wiser. My face 

tells me I have laughed 

and cried, experienced 

joy and sorrow, rejoiced 

in moments of great 

pleasure and survived 

those of despair. 

My old face tells me 

that I have lived. 

SENIOR’S 

DAY 

Every Thursday 

20% OFF! 

Tammy Maure 

1249 London Rd 

519-491-6778 

* Every surface & product is sprayed with disinfectant fog daily for your safety! 

Winter 2021 It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 29


• CPAP Supplies & Sleep Accessories 

• Home Sleep Apnea Tesng 

- In your home, no wait list, professionally 

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• Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring 


SLEEP HEALTH 

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Growing old is inevitable, but growing up is optional 

Seniors 

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regular priced merchandise 

Available with a PC Optimum card at 

the following Shoppers Drug Mart stores: 

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123 Mitton Street South, Sarnia 

420 Lyndoch Street, Corunna 


Winter 2021 

Words 

for 

Women 

to 

Live 

By 

As found in The Chatterbox Gazette 

• Aspire to be Barbie - the witch has everything. 

• If the shoe fits - buy them in every color. 

• Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila. 

• In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls! 

• Go on the 30-day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days). 

• When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal 

with it. 

• Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your 

personality. 

• I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here. 

• Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself. 

• Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you 

walk funny. 

• When life gives you lemons - turn it into lemonade then mix it with 

vodka. 

• Remember, wherever there is a good looking, sweet, single or married 

man there is some woman tired of his nonsense! 

• Keep your chin up, only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest. 

• If it has tires or a beard it's gonna give you trouble. 

• By the time a woman realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter 

who thinks she's wrong. 

'Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, 

but live for today’ 

Now smile and tell any girl wasting time at work, suffering from a hangover, 

or just suffering from life, who might need a reason to smile! 

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Because all women 

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519-491-5256 

5256 

By Norma West Linder, Sarnia - From Daytripping, Christmas 2007 

When I was a kid I watched a 

magician flutter a red silk handkerchief 

and produce, seemingly out of 

nothing, a huge bouquet of rainbowcoloured 

flowers. I was entranced. 

To this day, I am easily confounded 

by magic. The simplest card tricks 

baffle me. One I found on Simeon’s 

World of Magic on the Internet(www. 

simeonmagic.com) was so easily 

solved I was embarrassed when my son 

explained it to me. Simeon showed four 

cards, instructed me to choose one, and 

promised my card would be missing 

when he showed the cards again. Sure 

enough, it was. What I didn’t realize 

was that all four cards were different 

ones. I had been concentrating so 

hard on my chosen nine of diamonds, 

I hadn’t even noticed the other cards. 

Until I saw his biography on Patrick 

Watson’s TV show “The Canadians” 

I’d never heard of Stewart James, 

even though he was born and died in 

Courtright, Ontario, just a few miles 

down the St. Clair River from Sarnia. 

James, born in 1908, lived in a 

house named “Aberystwyth” for most 

of his life. An only child, he was overly 

protected by his mother. He always 

had to go right home after school, and 

she would never allow him to play with 

other children. Probably this accounts 

for the fact that he became attached 

to imaginary friends. He claimed 

they gave him secrets to magic tricks. 

The only time he was able to 

break free of his mother’s influence 

was when he joined the army and 

presented magic to the troops in World 

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The Magician of Aberystwyth 

War II. He did manage 

to become engaged to a 

woman before he went 

overseas, but when he 

returned home, his mother demanded 

his complete attention. His fiancee 

returned his ring, and he never married. 

James’s mother died in 1972 at 

the ripe old age of 97. He looked 

after her until the end of her life. 

It would have been lonely for him 

without his imaginary companions. 

From 1956 until 1977, the great 

magician Stewart James delivered 

mail in the Courtright area. Today he 

is recognized as one of the greatest 

creative forces in magic, originating 

hundreds of tricks. Most of them were 

published in books and magazines, and 

many were released as marketed items. 

When “Stewart James in Print: The 

First Fifty Years” first appeared, it 

surprised the magic community. As 

large as the New York phone book, its 

1025 pages were filled with hundreds 

of clever tricks. Two printings of the 

book sold out quickly. Edited by P. 

Howard Lyons and Allan Slaight, 

500 copies have been reprinted in 

response to public demand. It is the 

largest work ever published on magic, 

let alone the magic of one man. It 

can be ordered through the Internet. 

Stewart James died on November 5, 

1996. He had been a member of the 

Order of Merlin Excelsior since 1926. 

Many children enjoy trying their 

hands at magic, but few of them ever 

attain such success in the art as Stewart 

James, the wizard of Courtright. 

We donate $25 for each article we 


reprint from the archives of 

THE 

Daytripping Magazine. 

CLUB The recipient for this issue is the 

Strangway Community Centre 

Send arcles to info@welcometotheclub.ca 

The Club • P.O. Box 430, Bright’s Grove, ON N0N 1C0 

P A G E 

30 

The schoolhouse bell sounds bitter in youth and sweet in old age. (Irish Proverb)

If your business offers anything to people 55+, you can advertise too! 

When things in your life seem almost 

too much to handle, when 24 hours in 

a day is not enough, remember the jar 

and two glasses of wine. 

A professor stood before his 

philosophy class and had some items 

in front of him. When the class began, 

wordlessly he picked up a very large and 

empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to 

fill it with golf balls. He then asked the 

students if the jar was full. They agreed 

that it was. 

The professor then picked up a box of 

pebbles and poured them into the jar. He 

shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled 

into the open areas between the golf 

balls. He then asked the students again 

if the jar was full. They agreed it was. 

The professor next picked up a box of 

sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, 

the sand filled up everything else. He 

asked once more if the jar was full. The 

students responded with an unanimous 

“yes.” The professor then produced two 

glasses of wine from under the table 

and poured the entire contents into the 

jar, effectively filling the empty space 

between the sand. The students 

laughed. 

“Now,” said the professor, as 

the laughter subsided, “I want 

you to recognize that this jar 

represents your life. The golf 

balls are the important things 

E-Mail 

The E-Mail 

IN-BOX 

Send the good stuff to info@daytripping.ca 

Two Glasses of Wine 

faith, family, children, health, friends, 

and favorite passions—things that if 

everything else was lost and only they 

remained, your life would still be full. 

“The pebbles are the other things that 

matter, like your job, house and car. The 

sand is everything else—the small stuff. 

If you put the sand into the jar first,” 

he continued, “there is no room for the 

pebbles or the golf balls. 

“The same goes for life. If you spend 

all of your time and energy on the 

small stuff, you will never have room 

for the things that are important to you. 

So… pay attention to the things that are 

critical to your happiness. Play with 

your children. Take time to get medical 

checkups. Take your partner out to 

dinner. Play another 18 holes. 

“There will always be time to clean 

the house and re-arrange the shed. Take 

care of the golf balls first—the things that 

really matter. Set your priorities. The rest 

is just sand.” 

One of the students raised her 

hand and inquired what the wine 

represented. 

The professor smiled, “I’m 

glad you asked. It just goes 

to show you that no matter 

how full your life may seem, 

there’s always room for a 

couple of glasses of wine with 

a friend.” 


Live Care Free at 

Fairwinds Lodge! 

1218 Michigan Avenue 

Sarnia, ON N7S 6L1 


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grocery shopping, snow shoveling, and home maintenance. 

Enjoy great company, delicious chef-prepared meals, 

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From 

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to Empty Nester 

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Redeem this coupon 

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Winter 2021 If you come up in this world, be sure not to go down in the next. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 31



Don’t put this down! You’ll have to bend over to pick it back up! 


Winter 2021 


THE 

CLUB 

milestones & 

Send us a photo o of someone’s one’s milestone 

e 

birthday, anniversary or rerement that has 

taken place recently, or if they just deserve 

recognion. The main person must be 55 or 

over and the photo must be of good quality. 

Covid-19 Warrior by Paula Loxton 

This one, of several pieces, was donated to 

Dr. W. Southco. They are availabe as shirts, 

totes and more at redbubble.com. 

Moments 

Free! 

Find our email 

and address on 

page 5. Photos are 

not guaranteed to run. 

Grant Jones 

Dedicated Blue Water Health volunteer, 

turns 90 on February 19, 2021. 

Cathy Cooper 

of Bright’s Grove, rered on December 31, 

2020 aer 34 years with TD Bank. Shown here 

with granddaughter Samantha St. Pierre. 

Joe & Lois McGrail 

of Wyoming, celebrated their 

50th Wedding Anniversary on October 24, 2020 

Merlyn Inch 

turned 85 on 

December 14, 2020. 

Photo by Mel Inch. 

Gary Shrumm 

of Sarnia, turned 65 on 

July 17, 2020 

P A G E 

32 

A man may live after losing his life but not after losing his honour. (Irish Proverb)

Please tell our advertisers that you saw their ad in this new magazine! 



Joan-Marie Dibblee (Moran) 

turned 65 on December 15, 2020. 

Bruce Dean 

turned 75 on 

December 12, 2020. 

Heather Jackson 

rered on December 18, 2020 aer 

20 years with the Lambton Kent 

District School Board 

George Sco 

turned 65 on 

October 27, 2020. 

Despite the countless hours I’ve spent 

thinking of ideas for this new magazine, this 

“Milestones” secon was a last minute 

thought. Because there was no planning and 

because we’ve never published an issue of 

this magazine unl now, I went to my own 

Facebook page and the “You Goa Love 

Sarnia” Facebook page and asked people to 

send in photos to commemorate these key 

points that have been celebrated in the lives 

of Sarnia-Lambton residents. A 50th 

anniversary, a 75th birthday, rerement aer 

35 years, making the mayors honour list, 

maybe singing the Naonal anthem at a 

Sarnia Sng game... any milestone, with the 

only rule being that the protagonist in the photo 

must be 55 or older. And at no cost. Quite frankly, I think this could be a magazine in itself. 

The very first submission was from a friend named Rhonda Lee Read, but it was 

Stephenson when I knew her. We lived in Wyoming, Ontario where I was the new guy, having 

moved from Port Lambton when I was 16 years old. I knew very few people, but Rhonda 

was one of them and she was as kind as kind can be. Rhonda went on to greater things but 

is the type of person, and I’m sure you’ll recognize this, that you could see aer 20 or 30 

years and pick up right where you le off. So, to make a long story longer, Rhonda sent me 

the following words in an email, with a photo of herself and her father, Ron McEwen. 

Ron McEwen & Rhonda Stephenson-Read 

Hi Mark! 

Not sure you are aware, but The Royaleigh at the end of Erie St. across from 

Wyoming Legion, was a brainchild of my Dad, Ron McEwen. Inially, the thinking was 

to set it up for folks like he and my mom; their aging chums/fellow Legion comrades - 

many of them farmers who had large farmsteads or rerees in Wyoming and area, 

who wanted to downsize, as they entered their golden years. The baseline age 

requirement is 55. Mom and Dad decided to implement a life-lease program with 

operang costs being reduced by their own tenants. Everyone has a job to do e.g. 

garden, sweep the stairs, maintain the hobby room, library, etc. They all pitch in. 

For this, the reward is that they can age graciously in a community within a 

community - play cards, go on bus trips, exercise, garden, etc. and stay healthy 

and independent for many years! 

Dad was under tremendous stress for about seven years selling the concept 

to his fellow constuents off a blueprint. The first half of the complex had to 

be built to sasfy the first contracts, with the remainder of the build in 

somewhat of a lurch, unl the majority of the units were sold. The day they 

cut the ribbon, Dad cried. That's a big moment for a brave Scosh farmer, 

who served as a pilot in WWII. He's turning 100 this Friday on December 

11th. I've aached a shot of he and I, when he was a lile younger. We are 

not going to be able to celebrate now as we would have, due to the 

pandemic. 

Best Wishes, Rhonda 

Her email was heartwarming, maybe a new bridge-building 

moment between two old friends, and it was exactly the type of thing 

I was hoping readers would send in. A few others submissions 

followed aer that and it was very encouraging to say the very least. 

I wrote back to Rhonda to suggest that she re-write this simple 

note she had sent and make it more of an arcle, which she was 

certainly capable of doing, and that was the plan. 

That was on Monday, December 7th. Ron McEwen passed 

away a few hours later, four days before what would have been 

his 100th birthday. It may be ironic, and it may make us think 

it’s unfair that he was so close to the century mark, but that 

passing thought doesn’t come close to the conversaon 

about the life he lived. 

Brought home in a horse drawn buggy in 1920, Ron went 

on to be a pilot in WWII, a founding member of the Royal 

Canadian Legion in Wyoming, a farmer and conservaonist, 

a school board trustee, a husband and father who 

travelled the world and also lived to be 99! Nothing to cry 

about here folks. His obituary is on the Needham-Jay 

website and is worth reading in its enrety. 

I can’t say that I ‘knew’ Ron McEwen. I had met him, 

but that’s almost impossible not to do when you live 

in a town of 2000 people and he is as involved as he 

was for so many years. My heart goes out to my 

friend Rhonda, and to all of his family and friends. 

Thank you for allowing me to share this story with 

our readers. 

Winter 2021 Unwillingness easily finds an excuse. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 33



Sometimes, no news really is good news. 

The Old Elm Tree 

By Laurie BurrowsBreakey, Southampton from Daytripping July-August 2020 


Winter 2021 

Life is Better 

When 

You’re Home 

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independently, 

comfortably & happily. 

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when you’re home. There’s a deep comfort that comes 

from being in familiar surroundings, sleeping in your own 

bed, and living under a roof that belongs to you. 

Established in 2010, Shine at Home serves seniors who 

wish to live in full independence. Since our earliest 

beginnings we have learned that with just a little help, 

people can remain in thier homes for many years safe 

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Call today and find out how 

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a retirement home! 

There was a tree that excelled beyond 

all others on the farm where I grew up. It 

stood outside the hedge that surrounded 

the garden and the old farm home. It 

was an elm, proudly stretching its one 

hundred feet of maturity above all the 

other trees in the farming community. 

The elm’s growth was unparalleled 

by the old maples marching in a row 

along the fence line, across the road. 

As a youngster, I would climb upon the 

fence and hoist myself up into the leafy 

seclusion of the maples, but the elm was 

as unattainable as my thoughts of ever 

climbing it. The rough, greyish-brown 

trunk of the elm stretched branchless, 

skyward, from its broad reaching rooted 

level, spreading vast limbs some twenty 

feet above ground. 

Through harsh winter storms the 

elm creaked and groaned. The elm, as 

all trees, suffered greatly when an ice 

storm hit the area. 

Limbs would crack 

and break, falling 

with the weight of 

the ice build up, 

plummeting to pile 

scattered on the 

earth, or leaving 

the splintered and 

hanging limb precariously balanced 

on the remaining branches. Every 

spring with the nourishing drops of 

rain it sprouted green leaf buds, and as 

the sun warmed the new growth, the 

heavily veined toothed leaves unfurled 

toward the heavens, filling in the gap 

of lost limbs with abundant foliage 

while creating a canopy of shade for the 

ground below. We falsely assumed that 

the greatest threat to the elm would be 

lightning. Due to the fact that lightning 

usually struck the tallest obstacle, in its 

zig zagging path of destruction, the elm 

would be a direct hit. I don’t ever recall 

the elm being struck, however the lone 

fir tree that towered beside the house 

was decapitated in a violent thunder 

storm one summer evening. It was my 

father’s habit to awaken and keep watch 

over the homestead during extreme 

electrical blasts and in the morning, as 

we gathered around the top six foot of 

the fir lying upon the ground, it’s pine 

cones still intact, he related how the hair 

stood up on his neck as he watched from 

his bedroom window as the great 

flash of lightning burned 

into the tree’s towering 

top. We all gazed 

up in amazement 

at the beheaded 

fir, resuming its 

stately existence 

beside the stone 

house, albeit a little 

off balance. My sister 

brought our focus 

back to the tree top lying 

spent upon the ground, when she 

exclaimed that it was 

a shame Christmas 

was too far away to use the top 

As the seasons marched on 

through the years, the elm 

withstood all that ‘mother 

nature’ bestowed upon it. 

as our Christmas tree. 

I imagine the elm tree waving its 

rain soaked leaves in great relief after 

each battering of the elements left it 

unscathed. Perhaps it was a bit too smug. 

Spring brought to life a goose berry 

shrub that grew at the base of the elm. 

In June, Mother would beckon me with 

pail in hand, to help her pick the berries 

before they became too ripe. There was 

only one goose berry shrub, so it was 

slim pickins’, but the few jars of jam 

and jellies that where preserved from its 

scant offering were delectable. 

Long and hot the summers ruled the 

land creating growth in all things. The 

elm had become a family symbol. Tall, 

majestic, strong and seemingly very 

healthy, it continued on, turning its leaves 

of rich green to golden yellow when the 

days became short and autumn brought 

nights of cold temperatures. Golden 

leaves cascaded to 

the ground, turning 

brown and crisp, 

swirling in the 

fall breeze. As the 

seasons marched on 

through the years, 

the elm withstood all 

that ‘mother nature’ 

bestowed upon it. 

Dutch elm disease hit our eastern 

shores sometime during World War II. 

We learned at school about the terrible 

disease that would devastate our forests, 

killing our giant elms as the sac fungi 

was spread by the elm bark beetle. My 

father remained proudly protective of 

our family elm, claiming its strength 

would overcome the disease, and he 

would point it out to anyone that was 

interested as to how tall and strong 

it was. Dutch elm disease was only 

beginning in Canada, and it worked its 

way from the east and upward from the 

south, claiming the lofty elms growing in 

its path. By 1967 it was hugely evident 

in Ontario. 

My father died in 1969, the farm was 

sold, all my siblings and myself had 

moved on to lives of our own. I returned 

as we all do, to the old homestead for 

a brush with my past in 1970 and as I 

drove up the old road, scanning the 

horizon for the familiar landmark, stark 

reality settled over me. I stopped my car 

and tears filled my eyes and my 

heart as I looked upward into 

the leafless elm that had 

finally succumbed to the 

Dutch elm disease. 

Today as I travel the 

southern Ontario 

roads, I find great 

satisfaction in being 

able to still see the 

elm trees stretching 

skyward. There may not 

be as many of them, but 

at least the few remaining 

ones soldier on and I think my 

father would be very happy 

indeed, to hear of their survival. 

P A G E 

34 

Who gossips with you will gossip of you. (Irish Proverb)

Thanks again - keep this copy or pass it on to a friend please. 



Winter 2021 Life is a strange lad. (Irish Proverb) 

P A G E 35

Welcome to the Club - Volume 1, Issue 1

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Welcome to the Club - Volume 1, Issue 1

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