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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 20, 2013 | Ferndale Record
ncore E Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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Ferndale Record
A GUIDE TO A FULFILLING SENIOR LIFE IN WHATCOM COUNTY
A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record
Group of women keep up morning exercise/coffee routine for 35 years Walkers do their two miles in all seasons, all weather; others indoors By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com
LYNDEN — Talk about fast friends. First for some exercise at 7 a.m. and then coffee together at a different eatery each weekday — a group of Lynden women has been keeping their bonds strong for about 35 years now (they’re not exactly sure how long). It all started with a desire to stay fit and active by doing two miles of walking each morning, ending up at the Fairway Cafe. Shirley DeBoer and Peggy Vellema were a part of that original plan — and Vellema remembers that they met for their walk halfway between their houses at the Lynden cemeteries. Mari Vanderpol and Margaret Baron were also involved, and, a little later, Kitty Van Ry and Myrna Brune. Marie Timmer was an early participant who has since passed away. Several happened to be members of Bethel Christian Reformed Church. And
at least three in the bunch lay claim to being in the class of 1949 (“49ers”) at either Lynden or Lynden Christian high schools. But the motivation is pretty basic otherwise. “It’s a good thing to start off the day with friends,” DeBoer said. “And I don’t know of anyone else walking for 35 years.” They have a special breakfast together on each other’s birthdays, at a place of the birthday girl’s choice. Last week brought Peggy Vellema’s special day, so they met to celebrate at Dutch Mothers Restaurant. Peggy actually is making it out now only about two days a week, as those birthdays march on. What do they talk about? Their families. Travels. Churches. Whatever they’ve been up to. What’s in the local or national news. “We were talking about that cruise ship this morning,” Vellema said Friday. “We all add our part.” “We are kind of a diverse group. That keeps it interesting,” she said. It could even be politics, although “we’re all on the same fence on that one,” DeBoer said. Those keeping up the walking, about 30 minutes worth, no matter the weather or time of year, are Brune, DeBoer and
From left, Margaret Baron, Kitty VanRy, Shirley DeBoer and Mari Vanderpol have been keeping up their daily exercise routine and then sitting together for coffee for about 35 years now. On Tuesday, their gathering spot is the Fairway Cafe. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune) VanRy. Their route on two days is along Front Street from Fairway to downtown and back. On another day it’s around the fairgrounds, ending up at McDonald’s. Wednesday is their venturesome day, out on Birch Bay-Lynden and Tromp roads with coffee at Burger King.
“If it’s icy, we walk around the Fairway Center, but we still get in our two miles,” DeBoer said. Margaret Baron and Mari Vanderpol have shifted their exercise routine over to the Fairsquare Fitness center in recent years. See WALKERS on C4