RE MATURING NOT AGING "How old are you going to be on your next birth- day?" said Valerie to me the other day, with a quizzical look and an amused tone that told you she knew the answer to the minute. "WOW, I didn't realize you were that old" she fibbed and added that old saw " I've never lived with someone that old before". We do age, as you know, some gracefully and some not so gracefully and there do seem to be milestone ages - 16 when you can try for your car license - 18 when you can join the army and also vote - 19 (in my youth it was 21) when you can shop for yourself in the beer and liquor stores - 40 when life is supposed to begin and 65 when the government officially recognizes you are a senior. I've lived through all these and am not sure what the next milestone age is but I'm determined to reach and pass it. This whole question of age caused Valerie and I to remember that we will celebrate our 10™ Anniversary to moving to Milford in September.. We began to reminisce. It is amazing the changes that have occurred in those ten years. I have a friend who always says to me when we meet "What's happening in Milford - nothing as usual I guess" and I usually just nod and agree. It's not so! This commu- nity is in constant change - think about it. When we arrived in 1993 the Miller's House was a B & B run by Robert Simpson (who was also the chef at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston) and his partner Brian Stratton. It has gone through two sets of owners since then and is no longer a B & B. Roger and Irene Lenney lived where Bill & Joanna Brearley live and Betty-Ann lived in a little weekend cabin with an outhouse before she retired and Yeas to build the ry RE Country Shears Family Hairstyling 2058 COUNTY ROAD 17 1/2 KM. FROM MILFORD By appointment only. Coll Linda at 476-2170 CLOSED TUESDAY & SUNDAY ee ie gi -- tower nie millpond. We used to olny ation with her as we walked our dog and her two border collies would gradually herd us into a tight knit group so that they could keep an eye onus. I must admit I thought her house Just appeared piece by piece with no evidence of a plan. Peter Allen and his wife Jane live there now and continue to make significant changes. It was the 'downtown' of Milford that provided our fondest memories. Karl Moore made our acquaintance early on and every morning, except in winter, I or both of us and our dog would sit and discuss anything and everything and solve most of the problems of the world which admit- tedly don't seem that significant in the village. Karl's passing was a deep loss to us and we miss his friendship although Jessie has livened up the days with her friendly smile and willingness to stop and chat, let alone participate in the activities at St. Philip's. She has sold her house and will move into Picton soon. We'll miss her very much. Other changes to downtown - when we arrived we went to Clifford and Bev Walker's house to pay our taxes with Bev doing the necessary paperwork on the dining room table. An addition to the Town Hall gave Clifford an office. It was a great spot to drop in and chat about this and that. Never gossip mind you just updating yourself on the activities of everyone else. The Emporium was operated by Don Ross with antiques on display. We often dropped in for a chocolate milkshake for me and a sundae for Valerie. I suppose the Bistro has gone through the most changes. The Coffee Gallery under Deborah Dacombe, then the Belanger-Taylors, Pat & Danya Larkin and now Cheryl who renamed it the Milford Bistro and is making it a place to visit. Despite the changes I've mentioned they are in no way a complete listing of comings and going of people. Come to think of it Fred Spice used to operate his antique business out of the barn where Video Variables is now until he built his own shop on the other side of the road. Despite the changes one thing has remained the same for us - the friendliness and helpfulness of the resi- dents. We were made to feel part of the community and look upon Milford and the County as our town. We have made many warm friends, found a church home, found fulfilment as volunteers on various boards and agencies and generally have a feeling of place in an otherwise tumultuous world. This being the case, I may be the oldest man Valerie has lived with but I don't mind 'maturing' in the marvellous environment of the County - especially South Marysburgh - John A. Jackson