‘I’m excited’: Dundas couple celebrates 80th birthdays with 2021’s hottest gift — the COVID-19 vaccine

Janet and Mike Parker will have two reasons to celebrate Monday.

The Dundas seniors, who have been married for nearly 60 years, will be marking their shared 80th birthdays. They were both born in England on March 22, 1941.

The icing on the cake?

They'll also both be getting their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine - just a little over an hour apart - at the mass vaccination clinic inside the FirstOntario Centre in downtown Hamilton.

It means a lot to me," said Janet on Sunday. Every time I think about it, we're the group that's dying more than everybody else."

Since the pandemic hit Hamilton last March, more than 200 Hamiltonians over the age of 80 have died due to COVID-19. Across the province, they represent nearly a quarter of all COVID-related deaths - totalling 4,881, as of Sunday.

Vaccinations for that age group in Hamilton opened up earlier this month.

Janet said the last year hasn't been terribly" different for the pair, but like many flights in the world, they too have been grounded.

The retirees love to travel - they've visited 60 countries and all seven continents, including Antarctica. They even took one last cruise around the southern coast of Australia just as COVID was starting to ramp up last February.

But now, the furthest they've really been from their home is the Dundas Driving Park for their daily walk.

You have to do something to keep your sanity," said Janet.

They were also unable to see their only daughter, Sarah Simpson, who is a front-line worker. Janet's second home, the Dundas Valley School of Art, was closed for a number of months, too.

Luckily, Janet said, they have a spacious yard for outdoor visits when the weather co-operates and a pretty large" garden that has kept them occupied.

She joked that one of the toughest things about isolation has been being stuck in the house with Mike at all times. They're both independent" people and in the before times, they'd normally only spend their evenings together.

The pair moved to Canada from Britain in 1969. Mike had been offered a 20-month contract at Westinghouse and they decided to make the jump. They hadn't planned on staying, but they fell in love with Dundas - and the rest is history.

Normally, you'd find Janet at the art school four days a week, while Mike would be out playing golf with friends at the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club.

It's been a bit taxing at times," said Janet, noting their fellow retirees have shared the same sentiment.

Janet said once they both have their two shots - their second dose is already booked for July - they'll feel more secure.

Mike is hoping he'll be able meet up with his buddies for trips to Home Depot and Janet is excited to get back to painting without disruption.

Travelling is also on their post-vaccine bucket list. They already have a trip to Greece on their minds, as it's one of the few places they've never been to.

Janet said it's merely a coincidence the shots were booked on their birthdays - and despite the momentous occasion, she just wants to forget" the age she's turning. She joked that she'd instructed her daughter not to mention it again."

I don't feel that old," said Janet.

And at the end of the day, their first shots give them something to look forward to.

I'm excited, and really happy that we're getting it," said Janet. We're just really hoping that it's going to be the answer."

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com