Today is your day Boomer! You know, it is a dreadful thing to talk about....but necessary, I think, at times in a Baby Boomer blog like this. It is death...and life expectancy rates. Well, the latest numbers from Stats Canada are not good and really it is no surprise. COVID, in the last two years, has taken its toll on all age groups in our nation....especially, vulnerable seniors. Canada has suffered through almost 3 million cases and 33,000 deaths, many of these coming about in senior care facilities. It means the life expectancy rate has dropped from 82.3 to 81.7, the biggest decline in our nation since 1921! COVID accounted for the third most deaths last year and some were younger people. Youth were also greatly affected by two other categories that are on the rise: drug overdoses and alcohol-related deaths. By the way, the decline was greater for men, at 0.7 years, than women, who saw the average life expectancy fall by 0.4 years. On the positive side, other countries--like the US, Spain, and Italy--saw their rates drop by much more....about a year and half, and Canada's life expectancy is still amongst the highest in the world! Boomers, if we look at averages, it means most of us have about two more decades to live! So, let's make the most of it. Have a great, active day! Cheers!
Today is your day Boomer! Relaxing in my hot tub this morning, I had reflections of the 1970 CCR song "Lookin' out my Back Door". Yes, that kind of druggy, but catchy song, about the view of your backyard. Mine is spectacular: colourful sunrises, big ponderosa pines, cheer, apple, fir, and weeping willow trees, two mountains, sheep and chickens next door, two frolicking golden retrievers, beautiful green grass and what seems like a thousand birds...including quail, pheasant, chickadees, woodpeckers, and blue jays. And what else? Well....the quiet, the solitude, and the chance for reflection with no sirens, car noise, yelling people, or neighbours invading your privacy. It was...is...just beautiful, and I am so blessed to live in a rural area in BC's Okanagan Valley. Boomers, what's out your back door? John Fogerty's "tangerines and elephants" or something like my cheeries and coyotes? Check it out and appreciate the little things in life. Cheers...
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