In June, I wrote about Ken Pappas, a former McCauley resident and filmmaker. In that column, Ken’s experiences of growing up in McCauley were described. In this column, I am going to jump decades ahead and share his reflections on aging. Ken is 69 and in the liberation stage of aging.

But first, here is a short description of the journey from boy to senior. After years of kicking about in California, Vancouver, and Toronto engaged in a variety of occupations (film flunky, book store and film theatre manager, telephone technician), he returned to Edmonton and began his real occupation as a filmmaker. Ken was Director of the Department of Radio and Television at the University of Alberta for 10 years. During that time he made radio programs for CKUA, TV programs for ACCESS, and in-house videos for all the departments at the University of Alberta. He left when he felt his work was complete and he had run out of ideas. Many of the films he worked on were about the historical treatment of First Nations peoples, an issue which remains a passion of his.

He continues to participate in the film industry. His wife is also a filmmaker and he helps her as much as he can and whenever he is needed. His wife, Terri Wynnyk, has made films about HIV, harm reduction, and Hepatitis C, among many other topics. Terri was awarded the first harm reduction filmmaking award at the 2002 International Harm Reduction Conference in Australia. Ken has worked on many of these projects.

On the delights, dilemmas and difficulties of aging Ken had this to say: “I was ‘saved’ (from despair and isolation) because I continued to learn about computers and the digital age. In this process a reinvented world appeared before me and this kept my mind active. As a result I was reborn/retreaded/upgraded into the digital age and am now a resource to both the younger and older generations. This was extremely important.”

“In 2004 I had a massive heart attack and this forced me to pay attention to what is important. People are important; we are interdependent social beings and people in our lives are precious.”

Ken went on to say, “In 2004 I had a massive heart attack and this forced me to pay attention to what is important. People are important; we are interdependent social beings and people in our lives are precious. As I age, I am more able to sort out the real from the unreal. I suppose that is a kind of wisdom. I know when events around me are about me and when they aren’t; this enables me to ignore the irrelevant.

“I would also say that in the past, though not at the moment since both my parents are now deceased, I have been the ‘sandwich’ generation. In that period I felt people expected more and sometimes too much of me because of my age and experience. My children (in the largest extended family sense) needed me and my Mother needed me; this was a difficult time period from which I am just recovering.”

Finally Ken noted: “My body doesn’t work as well as it used to or doesn’t recover as quickly. I cycled the river valley (which everyone should do as the trails are terrific) and the next day I couldn’t move.”

Ken remains active both physically and intellectually and this enables his aging process to be dynamic and fulfilling. Like many seniors, he has to grapple with limitations and loss as friends too become limited in their activities or die. Recently a good friend of his, Malcolm Forsyth, died and this was a significant loss. That said, Ken’s life remains full with family and friends, the important things in his life.

Sherry lives in McCauley and is a block carrier for the paper.