Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! And today is "Leap Day" in a leap year(2024), so we kind of get a BONUS DAY in our lives....don't we? It means if you are 64, you get one extra day of living before you turn 65 and officially become a "senior". So why is today so special? According to CBS News, "Leap years exist because while the world follows a 365-day Gregorian calendar, it actually takes the planet a little bit more than a year to orbit the sun. It takes Earth 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to orbit the sun, according to NASA — and while that is rounded down to the 365 days we recognize as a typical year, those nearly six extra hours don't disappear. Instead, leap years are added to account for the difference. The extra day keeps calendars and seasons from gradually falling out of sync." There you go. It is also special because it is one more day to do something meaningful or active in our lives: a ski day, a family reunion, an extra ...

Today is your day Boomer! As we near the end of winter, it is time to start thinking about fishin' Boomers. Yup, I did last week and was able to snag some new insulated hip waders for $100 off! You can get deals at this time of year on stuff that didn't sell last summer. Shop around and check it out. As well, now is the time to buy fishing lures before they sell out...especially the popular salmon and trout spinners, flies, and spoons. Speaking of salmon, I am headed into a phase of a more "serious" attitude as we spend more time near the ocean in retirement. An annual seniors license for tidal waters is only about 19 bucks and a fresh-water license is a real bargain at 6$. You can easily buy them on-line. And don't forget to get the annual regulations as fishing/catching restrictions and openings are taken very seriously by all participants. Mostly, I fish for fun...sport fish with unbarbed hooks for "catch and release". However, I may keep a f...

Today is your day Boomer! Winter is hanging on....and we have to remind ourselves of this Boomers. Roads, especially mountain highways, and all roads in the early morning hours can be extremely slippery because of left-over frozen snow, slush, and black ice. And it is this black ice that is so hard to predict and so hard to see. According to ICBC, "When temperatures are near freezing, be more aware. If you notice ice build-up on your windshield, there's likely black ice on the road. Black ice is commonly found in shaded areas, bridges, overpasses and intersections. Slow down and increase your following distance in these slippery areas." For example, Abbotsford B.C. had one day with 22 vehicle accidents last week, all due to icy conditions. Good winter tires are not enough. Boomers, we need to, perhaps, consider staying home on bad driving days. Ice is not nice....

Today is your day Boomer! It was a great day for Boomers....actually, all age groups were represented and having fun at the annual One World Multi-Cultural Festival in Penticton, BC yesterday. My friend and I kept an "eye" and ear on the many performers(including cute little dancers) and tasted ethnic foods from as many as 35 nations particpating in the festival! My wife checked out the clothes, books, jewelry, and other cultural items in the numerous displays. It was a great time had by all as South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services organized and ran its 11th event! Organizer Cherry Fernandez says her "favourite part of the event is seeing everyone connecting with each other." And she is right. This is what Canada is all about: diversity, inclusiveness, understanding, and a broad sense of community. My only criticism...a few more chairs for the aging Boomers and Seniors would be a nice addition for next year! Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! When I go to my local fitness centre 2-3 times a week, I often see exercising seniors in the pool. There is a large viewing window, so I can watching master swimmers doing laps or 40-50 seniors in the Recope Program. What is that, you ask? "Recope is a non-profit organization that has been serving the District of Summerland since 1976. It provides medically designed and supervised therapeutic exercise programs for adults with medical challenges."(Summerland.ca) I admire these men and women, most of whom are beyond Boomer age...well into their late 70's, 80's, and 90's. They go hard for over an hour! I watch, and I wonder how I can avoid a similar fate. The health experts say continue regular exercise(moderate cardio every day with light weight training twice a week), good balanced meals, small amounts of alchol, no smoking, regular doctor checkups, and a good, positive life outlook. Did I miss anything? Don't think so, but I k...

Today is your day Boomer! Are you getting sick of this whole Taylor Swift thing? I wake up this morning to multiple stories about the mega star....from increased BC Ferries sailings next December for her three Vancouver concerts, to lightning strikes cancelling her gig last night in Australia, to her love life with a football player, and how much money she gave to a family after a tragic death at a Superbowl celebration-turned riot. Blah...blah...too much Taylor! I know she is worth a billion dollars, I know she is young and beautiful, and I know she is great singer...but too much is too much. For Boomers, let's follow our guys and gals. How about Rod Stewart, turning 79 and still going strong: "he continues full-throttle with a busy year. Highlights in 2024 include his 200th show at his Las Vegas residency, an ongoing world tour and a new swing album." (The Associated Press) How about cranking up some of our old-time songs and dancing around the living room? A li...

Today is your day Boomer! Baby Boomers will have vivid memories of him...perhaps the greatest hockey player of all time, the young man who revolutionized the game! Yup, Number Four, Bobby Orr and according to hocky writer Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun....we are in danger of forgetting his accomplishments: "Orr won his first NHL scoring title in 1970 — as the first, then later the second, defenceman in hockey history to win an Art Ross Trophy. The first came 54 years ago. At the height of his brilliance, in an unmatched six-year period, Orr scored 734 points,finished first in NHL scoring twice, second three times, third once. Most of that coming more than 50 years ago." And the article, published two days ago, goes on to list his other "team" accomplishments like two Stanley Cups! But why talk about this? Young people know the current star athletes like Connor McDavid, but do they really know and recognize the greatness of past stars like Wayne Gretzky, Pele, ...