Alice Kalso asks, “Who is Ginger Kauffman, and why should we pay attention?”
Both of us write for Boomers. Her blog is called Salt and Pepper: Life and Faith for Boomers and Beyond Mine is A Boomer’s Guide to Eldercare. My first published book, Elder Care SOS: Facing Hard Choices with Hope, will be released during the first half of 2021.
We first met in 1968 during our first year of college. I had moved from northern California to Seattle. I was getting used to rain, rain, and more rain. Ginger had lived in Washington all her life, and knew all about rain. We lived in a dorm on the same floor. Often our conversations started at night in the washroom and continued for hours. Our subjects: the world, the universe and Jesus.
Later Ginger and I connected soon after she and her husband Tom started publishing a magazine. Tom was an excellent photographer and graphic artist. Ginger enjoyed her role as writer and editor. I became involved when they asked me to interview a family caring for their 100-year-old great-grandma in their home. Watching this family working together showed me how much love and compassion the younger generations can give their elders. To them, Great-Grandma was not a burden. She was a blessing. As a bonus, my husband took this lady’s picture.
Ginger and I both share a love for seniors. Hers was developed soon after college when she worked three years in a church and met many older people. “I love the older people,” she says. Now as we both approach the “senior years,” we have definite ideas about God and the things he wants us to do at this stage of life.
“In my blog, I want to encourage, challenge, and bless my readers,” she says. “I want to grow in the things the Lord wants me, and all of us, to do. I want to be faithful in what I write.” Biblical truth and joy permeate her blog. She uses stories, both from Scripture and from the present and recent past. She shares favorite Bible verses and gorgeous photos. Together the blog’s content demonstrates a love of life that can brighten the lives of people whatever their age.
As for me, I agree with Ginger’s goals. I want my writing to be filled with the goodness of the Lord. Like Ginger, I’m writing for Boomers. Yet my blog is specifically geared for adult children who are dealing with issues relating to their aging loved ones.
My themes are understanding our parents and ourselves, tackling tough issues such as driving, moving and more, and advocating for our parents through the end of life. These are huge tasks that can be done only with the help of others and especially with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’m so glad I am able to meet Ginger again, and again and again on life’s road. I see her often in in our writer’s group, Northwest Christian Writer’s Association. The last time I spoke with Ginger was yesterday. And no, we didn’t talk into the wee hours. But this conversation reminds me of other talks in the past. Then and now we speak of Jesus and his love for us. No matter our ages, that truth still holds and is certainly worth writing about.
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