Santina Cross plans to live until she’s at least 97, and although she has more than 50 years to go before she gets there, she’s determined to do it.
“I plan on being old,” she said with a grin. “I say it all the time. I think people will themselves to death everyday: they say, I’m never going to live past 70 and their body listens to that shit.”
Cross views aging as a strength, not as a burden. That’s why she’s spent the last year devoting her life to the stories of seniors.
With the help of local seniors, she’s been working on a play called Seniors Monologues, inspired by Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues.
Vagina Monologues is a book and play based on interviews Ensler conducted with 200 women, delving into the feminine experience. The book includes long form monologues, as well as vagina facts and short anecdotes to explore the taboo subject.
Using Ensler’s book as a guide, Cross started Seniors Monologues, speaking with seniors from Jasper, as well as her father and friends from Nova Scotia, about growing old. Her hope is to turn their stories and anecdotes into a play that will premiere on National Seniors Day, Oct. 1, as well as a book that will be available for purchase that evening.
Both the book and the play will be based on 12 simple questions—addressing everything from faith to childhood—showcasing the wealth of knowledge seniors hold, as well as the reason people should stop lying about their age and just embrace it.
In an effort to drum up interest, as well as to celebrate World Storytelling Day, Cross has partnered with Jasper Habitat for the Arts for a sneak preview of the play, Friday, March 20, at the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge.
“Wishes” is this year’s theme for storytelling day, so Cross asked a group of seniors to share their thoughts on the topic. A few of those thoughts will be shared that evening, as well as one monologue and the story of how, through this project, Cross’ own wish is coming true.
So far, Cross has interviewed about 20 seniors. She said she’s hoping to increase that number to at least 25, if not 30 before all is said and done.
She keeps her interview notes in a purple notebook. Inside, the stories and wisdom of our elders are scribbled out in large scrawling blue ink. Flipping through it, March 17, Cross stopped on a page filled with quotes about faith.
“That’s one of the questions I ask, what are a few words on your faith?” she explained.
When she reached her favourite quote, she smiled as she read it aloud: “Listen to what others have to say about God and then go back to believing what you want.”
“Isn’t that great?” she asked, beaming with contagious enthusiasm.
Cross first started volunteering with Jasper’s seniors when a friend asked her to read tarot cards at the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge.
She thought it was a ridiculous idea at the time, thinking there was no way a senior would be interested in a reading. But, after her friend convinced her to open her mind, she gave it a shot and 12 people showed up.
Then she taught a spirituality class, advising her students to listen to their spirit instead of their egos.
“I’m a spiritual person and that’s what I was seeking out: spirit. I thought I was teaching them, but really they were teaching me.”
Seniors interested in adding their voice to the project are encouraged to visit Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge on Thursdays between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Cross is there every week, either asking questions or asking for feedback on the monologues that she’s already written. She also encourages the whole community to attend the sneak preview March 20. “This is just a trailer for the movie,” she said.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
