Marmora matters to me

Article content

Marmora Matters

Article content

On Dec. 2nd, Council considered motions made by Councillor Lakatos, one regarding the Lions Club, the other re the Library. Councillor Lakatos requested a recorded vote. Both motions failed. The next Council meeting is Dec. 16th. Significant items are the Asset Management Plan and the Village Transit Service announcement. Municipal Offices will close from Dec. 24th at noon to Jan. 6th 2026.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

My last article reported on a Mah Jongg-athon held in support of Campbellford Memorial Hospital. The print edition missed the news that hundreds of dollars were raised. There are plans to do it again, this time in support of the library, which hosts Mah Jongg lessons for all on Thursdays from 3 to 5 pm.

On Dec. 20th at 12:30 the Library is holding a Grinch afternoon. Enjoy the classic animated film How the Grinch Stole Christmas and a fun craft. The Library will be closed on Dec. 24th through Dec. 29th and on Dec. 31st and Jan. 1st.

Article content

‘Tis the season, the time of year when we are inspired to be a little kinder, more patient, more generous, to be GOOD! Of course there’s the icky Hallmark gloss which can be tiresomely trite and saccharine, and commercialism and gimmicky new traditions can generate cynicism. However, given the season and my current circumstances, I feel compelled to risk sentimentality and say plainly how I feel about life here in Marmora.

A brief background: we bought property here in 2008 as a weekend escape. We DID NOT choose Marmora. We chose a property that ticked all the boxes and it happened to be here. I knew Marmora only as the may fly capital of the world… stopping here once, our vehicle was blanketed in flies that surely outnumbered residents a million to one. Finally, after stalling retirement to save enough to live modestly we made Marmora our permanent home. Perfect timing. In 2020. In the midst of Covid.

Article content

Foolishly, we’d been so focused on financial planning for retirement that we totally forgot to plan for living in retirement. Naively we imagined it would be grand to have nothing to do. The honeymoon with nothing-to-do didn’t last long. Quiet we previously craved became deafening, solitude turned to loneliness. The bottom of the barrel was in sight when I screwed up my courage and asked the library if I could volunteer.

Fast forward to 2025. I am now connected to a large network of extraordinary women (and some men). I am fortunate to call them friends, dear friends, more friends than I’ve ever had. The remarkable thing about this group is its diversity. We are conservative, left-wing, apolitical, Catholic, atheist, straight, gay, a former principal, librarian, teacher, artist, waitress, brick-layer, lawyer, administrator, tailor, professor, we are introverted, extroverted, with children and without, grandmothers, locals and transplants, high school grads, grad school grads, in our 50’s, 60’s, 70’s. We are so very different yet we were able to connect because of the warm welcoming atmosphere of the Marmora and Lake Public Library. I am – we are – so grateful for that special place.

Article content

My circle grew with wonderful neighbours and yoga friends. Developing so many friendships later in life is not something I anticipated, nor do I think it is common. Is there something special here, or does it happen in all small towns?

Recently, my husband and I faced a number of life challenges. We were both over-whelmed by the outpouring of offers and actions of support. As the husband of one friend said “if you cut your finger on one side of town, by the time you get to the other side, someone has a bandaid ready for you.”

That sums it up. I am truly glad that we live here now, when life is tough because I believe we can weather the storm with the help of the good people of Marmora.

Thank you Marmora.

Article content