Grandpa 's Journey

   Yesterday morning at Markville Mall, I had an unexpected conversation that later gave me much to think about. I was sitting at a table enjoying my coffee and biscuits when a gentleman sat nearby. We started chatting casually. As often happens among seniors, the conversation quickly moved to food, travel, and cultural experiences. We talked about Vietnamese cuisine and dim sum. I mentioned that I enjoy Vietnamese food very much and that my daughter’s mother-in-law, who came from Vietnam, often prepares delicious Vietnamese dishes for family gatherings. At that point, the atmosphere suddenly changed. The gentleman strongly objected to the term “Vietnamese.” He explained that although many people came from Vietnam , they were ethnically Chinese and should not be called Vietnamese. He spoke passionately about identity, heritage, and nationality. According to his view, people born Chinese remain Chinese regardless of where they live or what passport they hold. I understood that ...

  Yesterday, I went to Food Basics pharmacy to fill several new prescriptions after my recent blood test review with the doctor. Like many seniors, I have been taking some medications for years. Some were still brand-name drugs such as Crestor, Norvasc, and Mavik. Recently, the doctor also prescribed new medications for blood sugar and kidney protection. While talking with the pharmacist, I suddenly realized something practical. Why not switch all my medications from brand-name to generic versions? The pharmacist helped me review the list carefully: Crestor → Rosuvastatin Norvasc → Amlodipine Mavik → Trandolapril Forxiga → Dapagliflozin generic To my surprise, most generic medications are fully covered by OHIP for seniors, while brand-name medications may still require paying the price difference plus dispensing fees. That means changing to generics could save a meaningful amount of money every month. For retirees living on pensions or fixed incomes, every dollar matters. What I le...