Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 7. júní 1991 • 7 Active Lifestyle keeps this Senior on the go *>y Joyce Langerak The Young and The Restless is one hot soap, but even it won't be allowed to intrude on a snappy card game. An eager, "use it or lose it" philoso- phy has kept Anna Arnason of Kelowna on the go for 94 years and she sees no reason to change things now. Sure, she loves to sit and watch a good soap opera — if she hasn't got anything else planned. "I'm not that hooked on them," she says. "I'll catch h up." When she does watch her soaps, she keeps her hands busy with crochet work, knitting, or grooming her little dog. The eldest of 14 children, Arnason didn'thaveastorybookchildhood. She learned the meaning of hard work early. "I had all these smaller children to look after." And five younger brothers didn't make it any easier. Her mother died in the flu epidemic °f 1919 leaving Arnason's father with 13 children. One boy had died of pneu- rnonia at age three, and of the 14 chil- dren, only six are alive today — and they're all "girls". A lifetime member of the Unitarian ^hurch, Arnason believes in a gentle God — no hellfire and damnation for her — just responsibility, cause and effect. She's always taken good care of her Anna Arnason with pet and companion Lóa. activities around her health, and continues to reap rich re- wards. "I have never smoked. I never drank liquor of any kind. That's why my health is so good. I believe that, whether it's true or not," she says with a lifted eyebrow and a shrug. She uses an exercixe bike and can't wait to get out into the vegetable and flower gardens surrounding her mo- bile home. Widowed almost 30 years ago, Arnason lived alone when she began drawing her pension in 1962. "When I first started getting a pension, it was THE FAIREST FARES OFALLTO... w ÍckuvNp 1Ihe very center of the worttU) ^C^ Your European holiday, centered around breathtakingly beautiful lceland, not only puts you in the very heart of things but saves you a nice bit of change, too. • Eurobargain and Soper Bar- gairt fares on direct flights from New York and Qrlando, ^ta. to Luxernbourg. -¦• low co$tround trip serv'tce to Þarie. Frankf urt, London and Stockholm, Copenhagen, Qato, Hateinki, Gothenburg, fiergen. IŒLANDAIR THEQR16(NALU)WC0Sr AIRUNETO EOPOPE CALL YOUR TRAVEL AÖENT ORICELANDAIR 1,800^23^00 • Bar$ain stopover toors of lcetend. • Super Saver car rentals fn Luxerribourfc. • FREE bu* sarvíce from Lux- émbourg to crtSos ln Germany. • Reduced train fares to Switzeriand and France. At 94, Anna keeps busy with a variety of home and church. $67 a month. I had to pay $72 for my apartment. How could I live on that?" She started babysitting at 65 and continued until she was 80. She boarded an elderly disabled woman in her home, caring for her until the woman entered a nursing home. Arnason knows what's involved in institutional life. For many years she was matron of a nursing home in Win- nipeg. She realizes she may one day need to be taken care of, too. "I would go to a home of my own choice — if I had to. I hope it will not happen, but you can never tell." For now, she does all her own house- work — cooking, cleaning, everything without help. "What for? No way! I don't need a housekeeper." "I came to be her chauffeur," puts in her 70-year-old daughter, Margaret, who's visiting from Ontario. Mom wanted to get out of the house — play cards, go shopping, "this and that". "I can do all these things because I'm so fortunate," says Arnason. "Margaret knows the city—she learned it in a few days. So she takes me wher- ever I want to go." Heryoungestson, Harold, haslived with her on and off over the years, and a loving companion is her little Mal- tese dog, Lóa. Prancing on her hind legs, the small dog paws the air, asking Arnason to pick her up. "It would be an empty place without her," says Arnason, scooping the pooch into her arms. "I would miss her terribly if I didn't have her." Still, a pet ties you down some, she admits, and she'd travel more if she didn't have Lóa to worry about. "I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. Two or three years ago I almost went on my own, but I chickened out. I would go to Iceland again if I had a companion to go with." She moved from Manitoba to Kelowna three years ago. "I wanted to get away from cold weather." Arnason seems a little puzzled about the documents, as if she wonders what all the fuss is about. "I never think about aging. I don't even believe that I'm 94 myself, because there's nothing I can't do. If I put my mind to it, I can do it." No rocking chair for this lady. And forget the numbers — she's still young, still restless. Courtesy of Okanagan Sunday The Poet's Corner ToYouManitoba by Albina Razma The first settlers pioneered the paths, They planned and built the homes, Scoured the fields, Harrowed and plowed and planted the grains. They founded and built houses of culture, MESSUBOD Fyrsta Lúterska Kirkja Pastor Ingthor I. Isfeld 10:30 a.pi. The Service followed by Sumlay School & Coffce bour. First Lutheran Church 580 Victor St., Winnipeg MB R3G 1R2 Ph. 772-7444 Nurtured and taught their children, Fought and defended the land from the enemy, They suffered hardships for us all. Let us build a memorial to these settlers, And honor our fallen heroes of the battlefields, Let us pursue the paths which they blazed for us, And work and sow the broad fields. May today's virtuous children Tread these beaten paths. May they beautify the land with admirable deeds— The spirit of Manitoba will eternally protect them. "To You Manitoba"is a poem com- posed for Manitoba's centenial which was in 1970. My feelings are strong for Manitoba. Donations to Lögberg-Heimskringla Inc. In memory of Kjartan Olafson, Winnipeg from Nanna Olafson.....................S25. Mrs. Herdis Maddin, Winnipeg, MB...............................S20.
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