Interviews and photos by Tiffny Rhodius
In keeping with observances for the Month of the Elderly, Stabroek News asked senior citizens to share with us what it is they have done to maintain their health. They also spoke of their past occupations and commented on the change in times.
Eric (the Viking) Phillips, 88 years old, Dharm Shala
There is really no secret or anything. It is not how you live but when your time comes… I am not doing anything just keeping with life. I was a soldier in the last war it had. I used to be a part of the ship’s guard unit. I guarded ships. I was disciplined and maybe that is what has helped me stay this way. I don’t do anything except work as usual. I think that things are different now than they were in my times. You can’t walk on the road at night anymore. Young people today are dangerous because they are stopping you and searching your pocket and taking your money. In British Guiana it was better than that.
Eileen Abrigo, 85 years, Uncle Eddie’s Home
I have to thank God that I know him. We can live as long as me when we make the right choice. We have to choose. Choose church first and know God, then we choose our friends and then seek a job. We must ask God to help us make right choices especially now that young people are wrecking their lives. This helped me and it will help young people too. A good education and social life helps us to be aware at my age. If you choose good you live long if not then you won’t. I used to like sewing and then I changed that and decided to be a housewife. I like children I have three girls. You know times now are complicated. If you don’t choose Jesus first and a good job and be determined then you wouldn’t have a good future and young people need to have a good future.
Lucille Duke, 82 years, Uncle Eddie’s Home
I have lived this long because I put my trust in God seeking the Lord at all times. My mother and father taught us that. If the Lord doesn’t hold us we cannot make it. I have one daughter and she’s so sweet a child. You know when you’re blessed by the Lord you’re really blessed. I used to be a seamstress and a hairdresser and I did like doing that but then the eye went bad. Times now, you see is hard but if we follow our parents footsteps …and then we have to set the example for those to follow. You can live long, as long as you want because God represents you; he meets your needs.
Claudia Williams, 99 years old, Uncle Eddie’s Home
I followed the commandments of the Lord that is how I lived this long and that is what you should do. If only parents will take the time and sit with their children…older time training is different than now. According to how you live with people then that is going to decide how things turn out. You have got to be kind. The Bible tells you to bear your brother’s burden and I help any way I can. I like to help. You see if people try to do something to help themselves then they could be easier off. I feel confused sitting here all day and doing nothing. I wish I was back home but the arthritis… but I pray and be thankful for the life that I have. And times now very hard with the expense it makes it difficult. I’m from Berbice and at first I was going to be a nurse but you know it turned me off certain things all the things you have to see. I left it eventually and one day when I went to the market I saw this real nice cow heel and I bought it and made some souse and that is when I decided that I am going to start my own business making things to sell. I used to knit but the glare affected my eyes and I can’t see. I like to read and write but now that the eye bad I can’t really do that much now.
Dorothy Rodrigues, 83 years old, Uncle Eddie’s Home
I was a teacher. I taught on an Amerindian reservation. I went as a missionary but at the time I went they had no church, no school, no captain or any such thing. I couldn’t sit like that so I ended up becoming the community developer. I helped to build the school and later taught there but as it grew it was passed on to others. I enjoyed my time up there. I eventually married the boat captain. I also like to write and I have been writing for a long time and I write poems. Well as far as I know I became a churchgoer at the age of 19. And it is my calling on God and working for him that has kept me this long. The young can live as long by reason of strength we can go on. I am reasoning now, I can’t ask too much. My dedication to the Lord has kept me as such until now I am not senile.
Lloyd DeFreitas, 85 years old, Uncle Eddie’s Home
I was a British soldier and fought in the ’39-’45 war. You see I have a Christian upbringing and I take care of myself but for the grace of God that is what is keeping me. It was a wonderful and tremendous experience as a soldier. I remember my battalion, the 1st Battalion Caribbean Regiment was the largest body of European soldiers to set foot on American soil since its Independence. I don’t cry about times gone, while we have grown in knowledge we have grown in lawlessness too. I always like to give young people a chance to develop and find their way. You got to take care of yourself to live as long as me.
Winston Wong, 82 years old, Uncle Eddie’s Home
I’ve been in active sports to a certain extent cricket. Sports have helped to keep me physically well and my parental upbringing is the main thing that has me this way today. They were strict back then and you got to keep on in that line even though you’re running out of time. It’s not easy to compare today with yesterday. I think every day carries its consequences…I don’t think a comparison of then and now would give you a realistic view. It’s easier to sit and say you could do this and that but things are different now, the world is different, our times are different. I grew up in Essequibo and I learnt Hindi and was the MC of the Hindi band. I did it because all my friends were taking the class so I did too. Once you like something you know it gets in the brain and you can’t get rid of it.
Daphne Dow, 80 years old, Holy Family
What you have to do is seek work, keep you hand employed and your mouth shut and you could live as long as me. I worked for years at the hospital since in the colonial days. Hard work has me here today. I am not married and I don’t have children but I am living by the grace of God. You have to keep your body fit, sleep early and don’t study hard and also keep your mind free and put your faith in the Lord and you’ll have long life. I worked as a maid at the hospital and bless the government because it is through them that I am getting my money. I am an old civil servant you know. As for time today, time today change. The people you are dwelling among are not as nice as people long ago. But God knows best and he sees everything.
Morris Chung, 84 years old, St Thomas More Men’s Homestead
I do things for myself and I look at the TV to keep me updated. I had a shop over on the West Coast and I had to keep track of everything and that has kept my mind sharp. Well the time today getting worse. You don’t have money to buy things. But to live as long as me you have to keep fit but then when your time comes you have got to go.
Francis Desaw, 84 years old, St Thomas More Men’s Homestead
Only God can answer why I am still here that or I have to ask my grandmother. I had my own business, I was a cabinet maker and I enjoyed it. I’ve done so many things in my younger days but now whatever comes I accept. What is happening today is the same to me I don’t fight life I just accept whatever comes. It’s up to God whether or not you live as long. Me, I followed the crowd. I’m a good bad boy. Like everybody else I misbehave but I do enough good to cover it.