I’ve been spending a lot of time in nursing homes of late and I’m seeing so many folks aided by walkers. Whether it’s the four straight legs, stop-and-go model or the wheeled “Rollator”, they allow those with trouble walking to maintain some level of independence. In years past you would’ve carried a walking stick.

I suppose the modern, lightweight, aluminum devices are a great advance, but they just don’t have the character of the old wooden sticks. A cane used to be something of a symbol of authority and a status symbol – whether status of age or money, I’m not entirely sure because they were certainly serviceable.

Canes differed based on your station in life, with the more affluent class carrying polished wood with gold handles.

Winston Churchill always carried a cane, as did many gentlemen of his era– and before. In fact, a walking stick was once a standard part of a gentleman’s attire – right along with a hat and gloves.

Ladies also had their canes. Please remember that if she survived her child-bearing years, a woman was more likely than a man to live to an age that might require a walking stick. And, canes were made in heights to accommodate her smaller frame, or stooped shoulders.

Many of us remember grandfathers, great grandfathers, or just little ole’ men among the community who carried a cane. Just as staffs were originally used for guiding and separating stock, that cane could be used to direct a wayward child, create a loud noise to gain attention, or pop the backside of a mis-behaving child. My mother-in-law’s only memory of her great grandfather was his cane because he used it for all of those purposes.

People collect canes now – when I sat down to share these thoughts with you, I found numerous blogs and websites devoted to canes and their history. And of course we’re still using something like those canes; whether hiking or working stock their usefulness has not diminished.

I have a cane that my Grandpa bought – long before he had any need of a walking aid. And, I don’t think I recall him ever using it. Now, I wonder if he bought it because he thought he might one day need to lean on it or if he thought he’d take up carrying it for his image.

I do wish y’uns would tell me about your memories of walking sticks.