SENIOR SCAPE: Let’s Go Blue Jays!

September 30, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jim L. Abram

Seniors in Aurora are never really “seniors” at the core of their physical well-being.
We are all still 18 in spirit if not in health. We never get old when it comes to sport. Seniors are actively supporting Canadians Sport for Life (CS4L) to ensure that Aurora is the healthiest community in Canada for persons of all ages. Never give up. Keep on keeping on. We, from 55 years of age to 105+ years of age continue to play many sports, from badminton to carpet bowling to tennis to pickle ball to bocce ball to table tennis to golf to curling and everything else you might imagine that you never would say is a “seniors sport.”
We may not be able to get 24 people together to play football. We may not be able to tie our own skate laces anymore. We may have misplaced our boxing gloves, our dueling pistols or our epee swords, so we can’t do as much damage as you might think.
I don’t think anyone is going to get hurt, but watch your back. We are a tough demographic.
But, when we play Bid Euchre, or when we participate at the Friday night dances at the Seniors’ Centre, you constantly hear someone call out “What’s the score?” Of course, they are referring to the on-fire Toronto Blue Jays.
Seniors love their Blue Jays. Especially now that they are winning and are in contention for the pennant. It keeps us young.
So, now I’ll tell you my five favourite Blue Jays stories whether you want to hear them or not.
Back when the Jays played at Exhibition Stadium, they didn’t serve beer in those formative years. So, we smuggled in a rope in a backpack, threw it over the back of the stadium and pulled up a case of beer. True story.
I held a corporate conference at the SkyDome and had them shag fly balls from the ball machine. It is impossible to catch a fly ball at 300 feet from the plate. You get a real appreciation for the talent of the professionals when you try it yourself.
I was going to rent the SkyDome for a conference so we were invited as guests at a playoff game against the Oakland “A”s. The noise was overwhelming. The Jays won that game. Lost the rest. We got thrown out when we were asked for the $50,000 rental deposit and didn’t have it. Fun while it lasted.
Fly ball to Jesse Barfield. He throws a bullet from the warning track and Ernie Whitt tags out the runner tagging from third base. I didn’t think that was possible. I’ve never seen anything like it. He defied physics.
This is my favourite. Dave Winfield throws a ball at seagull parked in the outfield. He kills it. There was media uproar and he was charged with animal cruelty. But the funny part is …Manager Billy Martin said after the game: “That’s the first time he hit the cut-off man.” I like that kind of quick humour.

SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE
A gentle reminder, the Christmas Charity for 2015 is coming. Starting Thursday, October 1 we will be asking our members, family and friends to donate cash to make “Fidget Kits”. Many children/youth/adults with AUTISM have trouble regulating sensory input. Fidget toys can help stimulate or calm the nervous system. We will be making the bags, filling them, and giving them to Kerry’s Place Autism Services in Aurora. We are hoping to make 50 bags or more. There will be a sample bag at the front desk with the jar for donations starting October 1.
Jimmy’s last word: Let’s go Blue Jays!

For more information on the Aurora Seniors’ Centre and all it has to offer, drop by 90 John West Way, visit the web site www.auroraseniors.ca, email auroraseniors@rogers.com or call 905-726-4767 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.