If you think you're too old to roll with it, think again. And if you're looking for inspiration at any age, look no farther than Carol Lalonde.
The White Rock senior is in the midst of "90 days of 90 years," a series of events and adventures organized for her by her family to mark her 90th birthday – an occasion they understandably concluded was well-worth upping the game for.
Launched in September by three her daughters – Debra, Dawn and Nicole – festivities so far have already run the gamut: from phone calls and visits with friends, to cruising on the back of a Harley Davidson with members of the Throttle Sistas (a local women’s riding group empowering other women to ride) and Langley HOG (Harley Owners Group).
"Every day, either a phone call, a visit, a special token or an adventure," said Nicole, Lalonde's youngest daughter and a Langley resident.
While there's still weeks of fun ahead – her actual birthday is Dec. 22 – it'd be fair to say the height of the celebrations so far just might cap them all: skydiving.
Lalonde and two of her nieces took the leap of faith through Abbotsford's SkyDive Vancouver in early October, plummeting at 200-plus km/h in a tandem freefall high above the Fraser Valley, before transitioning into a gentle descent that offered time to take in a small corner of the Earth from a whole new perspective.
The activity checked a big to-do off of her mom's bucket list, Nicole noted.
Lalonde has led a far from sedentary life. As the wife of a Canadian Air Force veteran, she made friends and relatives around the world, and always enjoyed staying active. Just within the last decade, she's been ziplining, cycled tandem around the sea wall and gone horseback riding. As well, she remained active in a bowling league until just a few years ago – despite being legally blind.
Nicole said the 90-day series was planned in place of large parties of years past, where "doing keg stands and shooting tequila" was not unheard of. In 2020, the family organized a parade for the big day, with friends and family participating in their cars or via Zoom.
This year, it felt appropriate to scale back the noise and spread out the celebration, she said.
Contrary to what some may imagine, organizing 90 straight days of celebratory events, adventures and moments was not complicated.
"With social media, not at all," said Nicole. "Made a group chat, and voila!"
The birthday countdown officially kicked off on Sept. 24, with the arrival of Lalonde's eldest daughter from Cape Breton Island, N.S. The pair went for lunch and spent time together everyday after – including on a three-day, multi-generational family camping trip to Vancouver Island – for the duration of Debra's West Coast visit.
"We take her every year," Nicole said of the island trip, explaining that the family lived for a time in the Courtenay and Comox area.
The Harley ride, on Day 85, was organized by Nicole, who is an avid motorcyclist herself. Lalonde, who was picked up and geared up out front of White Rock Seniors Village on Maple Street, enjoyed it surrounded by her daughters, son-in-law, a few grandkids and numerous friends.
WRSV general manager Si Cussen described the 90-day plan as "an amazing family tribute to Carol," who has lived at the residence since September 2018.
Other plans still to come for the mom, grandma and great-grandma include High Tea and a surprise visit. An intimate family affair will wrap up the revelry.
"Shooting tequila is still open!" Nicole quipped.
