Right in the Centre Ken Waddell

Afew weeks ago one of the channels, featuring the sportsperson of the week, highlighted Marilyn Redekop, my first cousin on my father’s side. The recognition was for her still playing volleyball at the age of 80. Well, the clip was of her playing volleyball, but she excels at tennis, skiing, golf and almost any other sport one could mention. That is the athletic side of her. My memories flitted to scenes of our childhood playing in the loft of our grandfathers workshop, family bonfires in August celebrating our grandmother’s birthday the year the headless chicken raced around us..

Marilyn is musically gifted. Her husband, Ted, took a position as a family doctor in Thompson and Marilyn embraced life there. She started the Aurora Singers, a women’s a cappella choir, that won awards, and earned them a tour of Wales. Back in Winnipeg after almost 18 years up north, she became a music teacher, and again, started singing groups. Lots of jazz. Eight to the Bar, Five of a Kind, Those Guys – are just some of those groups. She served as rehearsal pianist with the Winnipeg Singers for many years and still sits on a committee that visits and evaluates high school productions competing for a Rainbow Stage scholarship. Marilyn has directed the Westman Youth Choir. She has been a mentor to many. Here again, memories of our shared childhood. Family meals always include the singing of the Doxology. Our family was so musically gifted…that one missed me, sadly. The hymn of praise was sung in four -part harmony, with sincerity and depth.

Marilyn is family oriented. Close friends with her younger sister, first to embrace a family gathering of any generation, relishing and reveling in the family ski trip to the mountains. The death from cancer of one of their young family was more than difficult and even years later there is a beach volleyball tournament to celebrate Nikki’s legacy. Back in the day, when we were kids, her parents became teachers before my father returned to teaching. So, she was the city mouse, and I was the country mouse. And I got her hand me downs! We were both slender, tall for our age group, and I loved wearing the clothes she had outgrown, long before there were worn out.

many others as idiots. When all the weight of past troubles, losses and anger came to bear, he cracked and actively decides to end his own life to join his wife on the other side.

Without giving away the whole story, there are people who, through their daily life, intervene, lift each other up and find a solution.

There weren’t a lot of dry eyes in the theatre and in all my years, I don’t recall people actually shouting out in shock during a movie. I also don’t recall ever seeing so many people remaining in their seats after a movie with tears flowing and in shocked silence.

The message is powerful, but if you can’t attend the movie, remember we can always care about each other and intervene with kind intentions. When we reach out to others, we never know how much difference we can make.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the Banner & Press staff.

Marilyn, Little Marilyn, as she was known for most of her childhood and youth for she is named after our Aunt, Marilyn, shared many of the same attributes. Aunt Marilyn loved music. Became a teacher while her children were young, and also loves and serves her family and community. Aunt Marilyn, when almost 90, still served as a substitute teacher and didn’t care what class she needed to fill, as comfortable in gym class and in music class. And, the, just-over-90, Aunt Marilyn still took her keyboard to senior complexes to play for ‘the elderly’!

There is much for me to still learn from the Marilyn’s. Keep loving, keep active, keep having a purpose for getting up every day. Accept the highs and lows of life, for there will be both. Breathe deeply, look for beauty and serve. Live life fully.