A slice of Life is a collection of short stories of twenty-six older adults living in Burlington, Ontario. They are stories of overcoming hardships, refusing to give up, finding romance and realizing dreams. All of them full of hope.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Family Council Network 4 Advocacy Committee to help them continue to push for policies that ensure dignity and high quality care for those living in long-term-care homes.
To purchase a copy of A Slice of Life, email: Tom Carrothers at [email protected]
A tale of a woman volunteering as a nurse in a war zone and an account of a mother whose children were kidnapped by her husband are just a few of the stories Burlington seniors tell in the book A Slice of Life.
The book, which was written by local author Nikki Rottenberg features the true life stories of 26 Burlington seniors and is now available to the public.
Rottenberg, who has a background in social work and has been active on the City of Burlington Senior’s Advisory Committee, said the project got started just over a year ago when she approached Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) Halton Chair Tom Carrothers and asked if there was a project she could undertake for seniors, particularly seniors in nursing homes.
“He told me to run with whatever I want. I had no idea what to do, but I am a writer and I love stories,” said Rottenberg. “I decided to apply for a grant from the Province. I got that grant and I decided to interview 26 older adults all from Burlington so they could share a slice of their life’s story. I wanted to show people seniors have lives. That the older person you pass on the street has a story.”
Rottenberg approached numerous seniors on the street, at various cultural facilities and elsewhere and heard a variety of stories, which she catalogued in A Slice of Life.
She said one 85-year-old Burlington resident talked about how when she was younger her husband abducted her four children. “She shared the trauma of years of trying to get her kids back and not,” said Rottenberg. “Her life was just full of hope. Just an amazing story.”
One couple talked about the struggle they went through to have children; another talked about her experience of overcoming alcoholism; other shared stories of meeting the love of their life.