Vancouver Canucks Say Thanks But No Thanks

I wrote the Vancouver Canucks about six weeks ago, asking for an appearance at the Nursing Home where I consult. There was a woman there ( who has since died at age 96 or so), who had been a hockey fan all her life. She had never to a game . when she was married, her husband wouldn't take her. Now she was blind, and so couldn't see the game. She listened on the radio to each game--it was her lifeline to the outside and the community. There were no relatives in the area. Her situation was the impetus, but there are lots of folks in that home who are fans.

I thought it would give them a huge life to have a visit.

Well, the Vancouver Canucks didn't think so.

They said that their focus in on childern, which it does say on the website, where I downloaded the application. I have nothing against children. Both my siblings were children once. My friends were too.
But, in some ways, it is easy to be charitable towards and for children. They deserve it, too. It is hard for young people to cope with hard times, when they don't understand.

But older people are our history. They are our past, our memories, our mores and our values. They are maybe not so cute and cuddly at first thought.

Plus, figure this: 150 residents in a nursing home (more actually). An average of two children, so three hundred people. Those people would have an average of two children, say. 600. There are some great grandchildren. Add on anotehr 100. Now, maybe 30% live out of town. That would still leave close to 400 children who would potentially come out to meet a Canuck or two. So there is the kid connnection.

I understand the Canucks cannot accede to every request, but still, it kind of left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

And some sadness for a 96 year old lady who never saw a hockey game, but could have had a chance to shake the hand of a Vancouver Canuck.