Today is your day Boomer! In just two days time, I will join the "hip parade" in Canada...that large number of mostly Boomers that have undergone hip replacement surgery. How many? Well according to cihi.ca, "In 2021–2022, more than 117,000 hip and knee replacements were performed in Canada, which is 5.9% more compared with the previous year, but still lower than the annual number performed before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, more than $1.26 billion was spent on hospital costs." That's a lot of new metal, titanium, plastic and carbon injected into our bodies and a ton of money! Done in a private clinic, the cost is about 20,000-28,000 dollars. In public health, the wait list varies, but it is usually over a half year(I was seven months) and for many the pain is truly unbearable. Many are walking with canes, can't make it around the block, and are popping pills or getting injections to reduce their suffering. At one point last spring, I could hardly walk for about a month as my hip was collapsing. Monday is a BIG day for me. But many of us are in the same boat....er, hip ship.
Today is your day Boomer! Well, yesterday was my day! My long-awaited dream of building and opening a new high school gym in Summerland came true! 550 students watched, smiled and vigourously applauded as the SD67 school trustees officially cut the ribbon and opened the facility. The kids played in their new gym, in a so-called Rocket Rally, right after that and then 200 more mostly-Summerlanders attended a two-hour opening fundraiser that evening. There were people, young and old, every where: going on tours, eating food, watching volleyball and basketball, listening to speeches, and investing money in 30 community-donated silent auction items and a huge 50/50 raffle...organized by the school's Parent Advisory Council. The final fundraiser tally was about 7000$...made in only two hours! Congratulations students and staff of SSS. Your new gym is finally here, the first new one since 1951! Play on....
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