15 Questions with Peter Worthington
FF's Peter Worthington answers County and Quinte Living magazine's Gravitas Quotient: fifteen questions measuring one’s reserves of inner wisdom.
FrumForum's Peter Worthington answers County and Quinte Living magazine's Gravitas Quotient: fifteen questions measuring one’s reserves of inner wisdom.
Peter Worthington joined the Navy in WWII at age 17, and served as a platoon commander in the Korean War with the Princess Patricia’s. He graduated from UBC, got a journalism degree from Carleton University and for 15 years, covered mostly wars and foreign crises for the Toronto Telegram (1956-71). He opened the first Canadian newspaper bureau in Moscow (1964-67) and was the founding editor of the Toronto Sun (1971-83) and the Ottawa Sun (1988). Ever since he’s been a Sun columnist, except for a brief flirtation with federal politics. He has won four National Newspaper Awards and one Citation. He and his wife Yvonne have had a home in Wellington since 1988, which they share with three grown kids, five grandkids, and four family dogs.
Give one example of life’s absurdities?
Canada’s Hate Laws
What is it about being on the cusp that is so great?
It makes life exciting.
We all hope there will be one more time. One more time for what?
A final tennis game.
If you were overcome with exuberance, what would you do?
Take a cold shower.
What makes your soul tremble?
Nothing.
How do you decipher what God is trying to tell you?
Listen to your conscience.
How do you know turbulence is coming?
When news reports are taken seriously.
What is the best way to grow up fast?
Join the Army.
When do your demons slip their leash?
When I listen to socialist nonsense.
What keeps you sane?
Not listening to socialist nonsense.
When do you switch off your moral code?
I don’t.
How does the supernatural work for you?
I don’t see ghosts but my father did.
Why is it that only our ears keep growing as we age?
They do? I thought it was noses that grew bigger with age.
Why do animals not worry about going to heaven?
They’re already in heaven if they live with me.
What is the first piece of equipment you would install in a Seniors’ Playground?
A high jump.
Originally published in County and Quinte Living.