My dad’s brother, Ken, turned 95 last Saturday. There was a gathering planned on Sunday for him but since the weather was threatening to derail my attending, I gave him a call on Saturday. Had to leave a message as he was out enjoying his birthday with his special lady, Jessie.
Finally Got A Car For His Birthday
He called when he got home and shared his day with me. He told me how he learned that a guy in England had reproduced a Little Tykes car that was legal to drive on the highway.
He shared with me how he’d often kidded his family that he’d always wanted a car for his birthday. After all, doesn’t every boy dream of a car for his birthday? Well, this year, he got one. Here it is:
How Many Have 95 Year Old Relatives?
He told me that he had such a great day for his 95th birthday that he figures he’ll just have another next year instead of being 96. I suggested he plan on doing that for the next five years and then just jump to 100. He liked that plan.
When Ken and I chat, which is every few weeks, we are usually on the phone for at least an hour. Two is more common. He asked me on Saturday how many people can say they have a relative that is 95? I countered by asking him how many can say they have a relative that is 95 and you can have a conversation with for more than 10 or 15 minutes?
A Recall Moment From His 90th
We had a surprise party for his 90th. My cousin took a look at the various era that her dad had lived through. Of course, the flapper era and the conga line had to be checked out and a demonstration was in order.
Yes, that is Ken in the center of the conga line.
Five Years Later Was a Bit Quieter
Five years later, we had a little quieter party. Several gathered at a restaurant in Whitby to enjoy a meal together and a lot of laughs. Of course there had to be a birthday cake and candles. No one had the heart to put 95 candles on a cake so it was done this way.
That is Ken cutting the cake. He hasn’t changed much has he?
One of the lights of Ken’s life is his lady, Jessie. My Aunt Gertrude who Ken married in 1943, passed away about 9 years ago. After a period of time, Ken reconnected with the widow of his cousin. Ken and Jessie have been together ever since.
The little guy in the picture is a great-grandson, Jesse. I’ve not actually met him but have seen enough pictures to know he’s a ray of sunshine and loves being around his great-grandparents.
Yes, We Share Legion Interest
Did you notice the Legion uniform and the medals? Something Ken and I have in common is Legion service. The major difference is, Ken is a veteran member and I’m not. Those medals on his left (your right)are for military service and the ones on his right are for Legion service.
Ken’s WW2 Story
Ken is a WW2 veteran. He joined up September 14, 1942. In spring of 1943 he was sent to Scotland on the ship Aquitania.
From the newsletter of the area he lives in:
The soldiers were crammed in like sardines. Their hammocks were strung up over one another five high. Ken’s berth was in the hull of the ship right near the propeller. He remembers the ship taking evasive courses from the German submarines and the vibrations of the depth charges exploding. In the fall of 1943, Ken’s company was sent to Northern Italy. The convoy took 13 days again trying to avoid the German submarines.
Ken’s unit was in the 11th Brigade which was in the Perth Regiment. The main object of the Allies was to keep as many of the German army occupied to prevent them from joining the Western Front. Ken, now promoted to Corporal, was assigned to a midnight attack. The platoon consisted of 20 soldiers in the front, then the Officers and Ken was at the back with two groups of 3 soldiers carrying Piat guns (mortars). The platoon was ambushed and the 20 up front were all killed, some of the Officers wounded. Ken was hit numerous times, one bullet through his right thigh, two bullets in his left forearm and one in the upper arm. Three more bullets scrape his spine. His platoon was dissolved that night. Ken was moved back from the front makeshift hospitals to a real hospital where 2 of the 3 doctors examined him wanted to cut his left arm off. The third doctor saved his arm. Many years later. Many years later, Ken hooked up with his doctor in Vancouver.
A Bit About His Earlier Life
Ken was born on November 19, 1921 in East York which is now a part of Metropolitan Toronto. My dad and two sisters were his siblings. My grandparents both served in the Salvation Army. Ken gave me a copy of their wedding picture on Sunday.
After the war, Ken returned to his bride he had married before leaving for overseas and his young daughter born after he’d left to go overseas. He had several successful jobs, even tried real estate for a while. By the end of his working life he had settled into running several Shell stations very successfully.
His Volunteer Activity
Ken served on the board of a nursing home for fourteen years and also became a Legion member. He served for several years on the executive. His service in the branch and the community earned him Life membership in the Legion. Life membership is a service award which can be given after ten years of service. Continued service for several years after earning the Life Membership makes a member eligible for the Meritorious Service Medal which Ken also earned.
Enjoying Life
Ken hasn’t really slowed down a lot from his active life. He’s left his work life and he doesn’t volunteer as much but he is anything but slowed down. One of the endearing passions in Ken’s life is doing photography. The technology changing as it has with cameras hasn’t hindered him in the least.
When film gave way to digital Ken told me he was going out to buy a printer so he could print his pictures. I figured since he didn’t mention getting a computer that he was getting one of the printers he could hook up to his camera and print from. Wasn’t long after I figured out, he bought a computer as well. Wasn’t long he was up on Facebook.
Was about 2-3 years ago during one of our phone calls Ken told me he’d bought a new camera, a new laptop and an iPad. He told me he’d got his laptop with a lit keyboard in case he was in a room with subdued lighting. Now, I thought I was a geek and I didn’t know they had keyboards like that. So, kudos to Ken for that and how cool, he was trying out an iPad.
A month or two later we’re chatting and I asked him how he was enjoying his iPad. He told me he hadn’t used it. Puzzled I asked why. He told me Jessie was really enjoying it. So, I wonder which one of those two is keeping the other young at heart?
Happy Birthday to both Ken & Jessie. (hers is this week)
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