ICEBREAKER: WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE PLACE YOU GREW UP?
I don’t know that there is much remarkable about the place I grew up. I lived in a big yellow brick house on a corner lot in a lovely neighbourhood in mid-town Toronto. We were the family that built the pool so that we didn’t have to suffer the long slog north to the cottage every weekend of the summer. I suppose the most unique thing about that house was that we had a full-sized snooker table in the basement. My dad used to tell us that they built the house (in 1913) around it since it was so huge. Not like the basement tables of today it was a full regulation 12 feet by 6 feet – with the signature snooker pockets off of the table. Over the years, I became a very good player and spent many hours using my skills in the local pool hall by my high school hustling their clients in order to buy either my beloved cigarettes or french fries with gravy at the local diner.
GOING DEEPER: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE AGE SO FAR? WHY?
My favourite age is always the one I’m currently experiencing. The good years and the challenging years, I always enjoy where I am – at least in retrospect! I had a lot of fun in my 20’s; grew up and became responsible in my 30’s; sad, sick and burdened in my 40’s; liberated in my 50’s.
Now I’m 56. I get better and better (stronger, braver, more content, patient and calm) every day while enjoying all the universe has in store – I’m staying open to everything. I’m no longer “in charge,” but doing my best to go with the flow and allow myself to experience people, places and things that are new to me. I have become a believer that life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
