On the home front, September is quickly slipping away. So far, the weather has been nice but that could end abruptly. It’s all in the control of the Big Guy. Lots of grain bags all over the place so I assume that in this little area, yields have been decent. I wish everyone a good harvest, no breakdowns and don’t get too tired. Hurry hard, my fellow farmer friends, hurry hard!!!

            On the May long week end we had a granddaughter come for a sleepover. She had a cold, by Monday my wife Bev had caught it and then she shared it with me. While I was sick, I lost my hearing. I called the hearing aid place to check out some prices. They told me that for $6,000 to $7,000 I could get a good pair! I was not impressed! I immediately looked on Amazon after that shocker and can you believe it a hearing aid was worth $51.00!! I thought to myself, what’s there to lose, and I ordered two! They work perfectly except the background noise was terrible. I was told the expensive ones can also have the same problem. When they first came, I used both and then several weeks later like magic the hearing started coming back in my right ear, so I went to only wearing one for the left ear. I think my hearing has mostly come back. Three and a half months and I’m still waiting to see the specialist!!! Lord love a DUCK!!!

            On August 27^th Bev and I attended the birthday party for Vernon Marlatt which was held at the Lashburn Golf course. He was 101 on that actual day! He did all the planning for the birthday party from his hospital bed. He got an afternoon pass from the hospital because he had a bout of pneumonia. The family thought they should cancel but oh no! There was “no plan of cancelling such a celebration in Vernon’s mind!” He told his family, his doctors, and the nurses he was going and that was that! Last year when he was 100, I said to him, “See you next year” and he said, “You bet!” This year I made the same comment and he replied, “We will see.” I’ve never known anybody to reach the age of 101! He has a sharp mind, quick wit and is the friendliest caring gentleman ever!

He is well known for his gardening skills and sharing all of it. At one time he had two gardens…one at the farm and one at his granddaughter’s farm and drove himself to both reaping the benefits of planting, weeding and harvesting all on his own! During covid lockdown he was living at Pioneer Lodge and he had his car parked by the back door, he would just slip out quietly and away he would go to look after his gardens.  He would always return by suppertime and no one was any the wiser!

He is also known for his golfing skills and travels to many, many places over the summer with his buddies. I believe someone said the youngest was seventy five and Vernon is a mature 101, and still going! My hat is off to you Mr. Vernon Marlatt, you are definitely “one of a kind!”

Victor Hult