Paul Merkley
Bio
Co-Founder of Seniors Junction, a social enterprise working to prevent seniors isolation. Emeritus professor, U. of Ottawa. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Founder of Tower of Sound Waves. Author of Fiction.
Achievements (1)
Stories (51/0)
- Top Story - September 2021
Ironing, Piano, Nuns, a Psychic, and Coming of AgeTop Story - September 2021
I’ve had lots of turning points, but the one that marked my coming of age, I’d place that one when I was 18 and in my last year of high school. We moved a lot when I was a kid. My father was an engineer. He designed cranes, conveyors, and overhead highway says, mostly for small to medium sized companies all over southern Ontario. I usually felt like an outsider, but I don’t blame that on moving, more on being a misfit, and not trying hard enough to make friends.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Confessions
The 'Idea Cat' of Seniors Junction
My name is Winnie. It’s short for Winchester. My human, Paul, said Winchester sounded too serious. Paul, my sister Daisy, and I all work in our home office for Seniors Junction. It’s very important work, and I do my best to keep the team productive every day. Seniors Junction is a startup, whatever that means. I know that we have recorded a lot of podcasts, and I have made sure that I appear in every one! Sometimes I tried typing a bit on the computer keyboard, but Paul shouted, “No Winnie, don’t walk on the keyboard.” I also make sure the webcam gets a good view of me as I walk on the desk.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Petlife
- Top Story - September 2021
Working to give Purpose to Others
I never dreamt that, at age 65, having retired from a hardly known area of the university work, I would or could get a job enriching and saving lives and preventing dementia, but that’s what’s happened—here I am, and I love it! Let me explain.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Education
The Pear Mysteries and the Fairy Flag of Skye
I was despondent, and at the same time I was curious. To all of us in the school she was known simply as “The Anchoress.” No one had ever told me her name, and I had never seen her. She never left her cell. Cellach, her assistant, told me I had been summoned. There could be only one reason, I knew—I was being sent home. I failed the simple trial of following a path and two men saw me go the wrong way. All the other boys said that when you fail that, she sends you home. I felt I would be very sorry, but I would make the best of it. I missed my family, and I missed my cat, Pangor Ban.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Fiction
Mysterious Marigolds
My sister was impatient with my questions, but I needed her advice. I just had to know. "I don't see why you have to bring this up now. This is our weekly tennis game, and besides we're playing Paolo and his sister Francesca visiting from Italy. I want your head in the game. And can't you figure this out yourself?"
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Feast
Listening Sharks
Call me Sam. That’s my name. Simple, straightforward, one-syllable. That’s best for men, I think. Those four-syllable names sound fancy, but it takes longer to talk to a guy like that, doesn’t it? With me you just say “Do you want to go to the beach, Sam?” Try saying that to a Jedediah. You’ll see what I mean. Women, now that’s different. You’re going to take your time talking with a woman, so a three, four, or even a five-syllable name, that’s delightful. I think British names are especially good in a woman. I can say, “Why Ermelinda Chalmsleigh-Smythe, you are a sight for sore eyes!” That gives her a chance to smile, be pleased, and say “Thank you, Sam!” See what I mean?
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Fiction
Noah's Family
Noah was large for a nine-year old, and that was not always an advantage, he thought. Last year, when he had his tonsils taken out, the boy in the bed next to his weighed 48 pounds; Noah weighed 84. Since then, without his tonsils, he had grown at a terrific pace. The doctor had warned his parents that if he didn't slim down, he would soon have to be put on a diet, but not at age 9. He'd face that when he came to it, he reflected. He was tall, and his mother said maybe it would all even out in a year.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Families
Boxes and a Wall
It was the second Friday in June of 1989. I was working in D.C. My wife was doing research for her PhD thesis. I was called to meet business people at the Canadian Embassy. Some companies wanted to introduce their cuisine to America. Is there a Canadian cuisine? These guys thought so, and it was my job to consider what they said seriously. If they want to market something they call a “Beaver Tail,” I find out what that is and report back to my bosses.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Fiction
Bridge: a Bridge to Rich Retirement
What a great subject this challenge is! Full disclosure: I am a co-founder of Seniors Junction (www.seniorsjunction.com), a startup that advocates, researches, and delivers serious or purposeful leisure activities to prevent seniors isolation and to help those of us who are seniors to live richer, more rewarding, autonomous lives of purpose and social connectedness. As a retired widower, I am (or was) at high risk for social isolation and the consequences of it, known to be more dangerous to health than obesity or smoking. Add grief to the mix and look out! I’m a good example--after my wife died I had chronically high blood sugar and three major heart attacks, the third one almost fatal.
By Paul Merkley3 years ago in Longevity