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Senior Writers have a lifetime to share

Herb Robertson says his ftather is his greatest inspiration when it comes to writing. Robertson won first place for his short story ‘Home by Another Way’ in the Okotoks library’s 50+ Writing Challenge. The story was inspired by musician Joe Williams.

Herb Robertson says his ftather is his greatest inspiration when it comes to writing.

Robertson won first place for his short story ‘Home by Another Way’ in the Okotoks library’s 50+ Writing Challenge.

The story was inspired by musician Joe Williams.

Robertson said he recalls reading or hearing a story about Williams checking out of a hospital on his own volition because he simply wanted to get back home.

“It’s just my imaginings of what happened on his way back home,” Robertson said of his story.

Robertson said as a civil servant he did lots of report writing and after he retired he wanted to write a book about his father, a successful Canadian musician.

“His favourite musician was Benny Goodman,” Robertson explained. “I self-published a book a couple years ago called ‘Bert’. That was my father’s name. It’s is about him having an idea about wanting to play in Benny Goodman’s band.”

This is Robertson’s second entry and win in the 50+ Writing Challenge. He won in 2015 in the contest’s first year.

Library program coordinator Lara Grunow said the writing challenge was created by the library board and the Write Away writing club to inspire these types of remembrances.

“We thought it was a good way for older people to capture their memories,” she said.

After the first challenge two years ago, the library applied for and received an $8,000 grant in 2016. In September, it began holding writing workshops and fireside chats in the library with members of the writing group.

It all culminated in the writing challenge.

Grunow said this year’s contest brought in 47 entries, more than double the 21 they saw in 2015.

The judges said the quality of the work was impressive, Grunow added.

She said the response from organizers and participants has been favourable for continuing the challenge in the future.

Norman Ross, 76, entered in every category and won for his poem that touches on a very personal topic.

“I am 76 and my wife is 72,,” he said. “Five years ago she was diagnosed with dementia.”

His poem, ‘Dreaming of Future Glory’ has a man telling a stranger in a coffee shop about the love story and a dream where he sees his declining wife as a 19-year-old dressed in a ball gown, dancing like she’s never danced before.

Ross said he’s never written poetry before, but has written songs. He also journals to create a record for his nine children and 27 grandchildren.

“I have a lot to tell them about, especially from my early life,” he said.

It was his newest daughter-in-law who encouraged him to enter the contest,

Ross said and he is giving her his winnings - a $100 gift card to the Okotoks Art Gallery.

Read all the winning entries from the 50+ Writing Challenge on page 22 and 23.

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