This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
I chose to write this story in first person to have it sound like the main character is telling her own story. In doing so, I hope it is more believable. I feel every life has a story, and every story should be heard.
I worked for more than twenty years in long-term care. I have had the privilege of caring for the sons, daughters, and grandchildren of many of our northern pioneers. Those early pioneering families endured great hardships that most of us will never be able to comprehend. I have always admired the determination, motivation, and great strength our forefathers put forth to settle this “Great White North”, and turn it into the land of dreams and opportunities that we have been able to enjoy our whole lives. Because of their hard work and perseverance, we have the privilege of enjoying all the luxuries that today’s world has to offer.
I was raised in a time when we respected our elders and looked up to them as being a very important part of our society. Their experience and wisdom was embraced and highly valued. They were a very important part of the family unit. I had the luxury of knowing my grandparents, and I had a very special bond with them, especially with my grandmother.
In today’s society, youth, beauty, and materialism have overshadowed these traditional ideas. The elderly have become the “Forgotten Generation’’. They are placed in long-term care facilities to spend their last days. In writing this book I wanted people to have an insight into what it is like for a person to have lived their whole life being a contributing part of society only to end up dying in a nursing home. I hope my words will help eliminate the negative stigmatism society places on growing old and encourage readers to embrace old age as a valuable part of life. We must all remember Mother Nature brings us beauty during each season of life, and we need to appreciate every aspect of it.
Peggy Smith