Back Stories

Years ago I used to play Dominoes at my friend Veronica’s house and there was always a pot roast in the bargain. The Sunbeam electric-red frying pan sat on the countertop where caramelized onions bathed in rich gravy.

Our hard day’s work well behind us, we settled into comfy chairs in the warm kitchen. Grabbing two cokes and ice cubes from the freezer, the red & blue insulated cups were set before us.

On the stereo played some original artist recordings collected through Readers Digest. One, from the American composer and conductor;John Philip Sousa held a back-story that was legendary. If I close my eyes, I can imagine my friend in the summer of her life, pouncing from chair cushion to chair cushion, marching to the beat of Stars and Stripes Forever.

From Sousa’s patriotic spirit to the musical productions of Fiddler on the roof and The man from La Mancha; finding my own favourites among Montavani and a 3-pack of war-time music included a Glenn Miller CD found at the local pawn shop.

After making copies of The War Years Collection, a bygone generation of music opened up for me. Being on a first name basis with several hundred seniors through my work, I began asking questions akin to the storytelling formula currently in use for these Good Seed articles.
I learned that if you asked a retired serviceman about their experience during the war; their reply often came in one-word answers followed by a long pause. They weren’t being rude – it’s just the way it was.

Within 6 years, those lucky enough to make it home alive- left more than their innocence behind.

Between the bombings, horrific injuries and lost comrades, stood a cacophony of rich music that no amount of pot-roast could blanket.

At one time, various local stores offered a senior discount on specific days of the month. At one point, my employer created a seniors event on the first Tuesday of every month. Using flyers, signage and word-of-mouth marketing, our Seniors Day grew to mammoth proportions thanks to the collaborative effort of many friends and relatives.

From the stereo we heard The War Year’s Collection, Glenn Miller, The Andrews Sisters and many, many others for 11.5 hours straight.

Played loud, the little old ladies and gentlemen who were maybe hard of hearing would meander in, stop in their tracks and try to figure it out. Their bodies relaxed while some would lift their arms and dance down aisles rubbing shoulders with their ‘comrades’. Others would simply close their eyes and listen. I wish we’d had a movie camera.

Transported as they were, it was very hard to get any work done. From the back stories being shared amongst everyone, all we needed was a coffee pot. Honestly.

One time senior’s day landed on Remembrance Day. In typical fashion, it was a cold, wet one. The mall was dark for that hour of the morning yet still the seniors poured in for their monthly dose of camaraderie. Working at 11:30 that morning, I popped in a CD of the Very Best of Vera Lynn.
Being it was a federal holiday; several public servants used this day to do their pre-Christmas shopping. The noon hour rush was very busy, as Vera sang We’ll Meet Again with the Fron Male Voice Choir singing chorus.

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

In their own moment of silence, customers began singing along with the choir to the iconic song. People coming in were quieted and still. Looking down aisles toward the body of the shop; everyone was singing along, wiping their eyes and hugging one another.

In that space in that moment, we all shared a lived experience. Out came the Kleenex and Werther’s for those with a tickle. There was no need for anyone to show their Seniors ID that day as everyone floated on home to brighter shores and a warm cuppa.

~ Till we meet again

Lisa Gray Copyright © September 2025