Just Another Day

In spite of my sniffles and low energy yesterday I decided I needed to get outside for some fresh air and exercise. I walked as far as the railway tracks just before the hospital. On my return journey I stopped at Super A Foods to warm up and have a cup of coffee and a muffin. I had been sitting briefly when an elderly woman began to put her things on the table next to mine. When she saw me sitting by myself she asked if she could join me. On her white cardigan she wore a button which said "All kind words will be gratefully accepted." She had a $50 gift certificate from a family member for the grocery store. I discovered that both she and I had four children. Whereas I first had two son, then two daughters she had her daughters first followed by her sons. Her daughters were born before her husband went off to WWII. Her sons were born after the war. She said that she used to tease her husband that the war made a man of him. In those days people said you were a real man if you could produce sons! Three of her children are in B.C. and one in Calgary. She asked if I could guess her age. I was reluctant to try. She said she was 85 years old, and that her secret was to be mentally and physically active. We discovered that we both lived near Holy Family School. I offered to carry her groceries home for her. She guided our trip, knowing all the shortcuts and ice-free patches. I asked her about her plans for Christmas. She said it was just another day! (Due to winter conditions and distance she is not able to be with her family for Christmas.) Today my thoughts are with Anna Bachmeier and others like her who will spend Christmas alone.