Alice
Kalso asks, “Who is Ginger Kauffman, and why should we pay attention?”
I’m happy to introduce Ginger Kauffman, a writer who
has valuable things to say. For years Ginger has been fascinated with words and
the way they can touch people’s lives.
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.