Older adults in Sudbury share triumphs and trials of aging in new book

Older adults in Sudbury are sharing stories about their lives in a new book called ‘Adventures In Aging An Anthology.’

It features stories about some of the tough challenges contributors have faced and also stories about pursuing happiness and triumphs in life.

Roger Spielmann, 72, has been a professor at Laurentian University for more than 30 years and shares his story of overcoming hard drug addiction and poor mental health.

“Happy to be alive at this point and I found that the key for me Alana was being positive,” Spielmann said.

“You know learning to be positive. It’s all about a way of thinking and being around positive people.”

Mike McDonough, 81, shares his story of discovering he was gay in his early 50s -- and meeting his partner at a Sudbury bar called Zigs more than 20 years ago.

“I think that there is the peace and harmony that happens in old age between a couple and our focus on each other as opposed to our careers and all the other areas we were involved in earlier in life,” said McDonough.

The editor shared what he hopes readers take away from the book.

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“Examples of heroism. Some of the people in this book have really suffered a lot, you know, through disability, through fires, through other kinds of trials and tribulations. So I hope that people get a sense of it’s all worthwhile, you know.”

The book was a project led by Northern Initiative for Social Action and was made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.

An official book launch is planned for Nov. 7 at 1:30 at the Parkside Centre.