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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1975-05-07, Page 2(C ecre esigi ccep ork( ut fe th( Cot elp treet exit; R. Medic 4 c( rant Frar roup itizen errni; Tc I I C De Di; of be Ma Na wil are Flo by the Ho] of a Ho] tele A the We nur, chit wor toer hay, is sl the Rota g Brussels Post BRUSSELS WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1975 ONTARIO Serving Brussels and the surrounding community. Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario by McLean Bros.Publishers, Limited. Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave Robb - Advertising Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association. Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $6.00 a year, Others CCNA $8.00 a year, Single Copies 15 cents each. Pi.IEL1 ATION On booze "Mix some thinking with your drinking -- that's one of the themes of a new alcohol information campaign that's been launched by Ontario's Health Minister Frank Miller. Posters, pamphlets, films and ads have been made up to tell us about.the pressures to drink, the damage alcohol can do and 'the costs that drinking add on to all of us. It's not an axe swinging temperance campaign, it's a mild, low key information program and we are all for it. It is absolutely amazing how much alcohol has become a major part of our lives in the past twenty years or so. Booze is now served at bridge clubs, bridal showers, service club dinners and in many many homes as matter of course. We often drink liquor at functions where 'coffee, tea or a non-alcoholic punch would have been the norm a few years ago. The profit from the bar, not from the admission tickets, is what most clubs who sponsor dances look for in their fund raising budgets. Social drinking in moderation is just fine, the Ontario government campaign points out, but the fact that we are drinking more liquor than ever before also has its costs. Many of the health problems that make our health budget go up so alarmingly, are related to alcohol. Alcohol is also involved in many of the car accidents that cause financial loss and personal suffering. Broken families, job loss 'and wasted lives can all be attributed to alcohol in many instances. , Liquor is , here to stay. As the government pamphlets point out, how 'often do we say "Come over for a drink" instead of "Come over for a visit"? Too often, probably. We're not knocking booze. But we're saying. that the increasing consumption of liquor in our province is exacting a heavy price. In Ontario today 300,000 people of all ages drink enough alcohol every day to endanger their health. Think about the hidden costs of alcohol at your next party. Are they really worth that expensive and temporary high? Brussels kids applauded Last week. Huron County Council Chambers was visited by 'a group of students from Brussels. The fact that young people take time to visit county council is not unusual; many students file in and out, of the chimbers to hear the deliberations of Huron's elected representatives. What is unusual about the Brussels group is that every boy who was present wore a shirt, tie and jacket; all the young ladie8 wore dresses. It was a joy to see these young people out of blue jeans, sweaters and sneakers for their visit to the pourt house, Their attire showed their respect for the Workings of government in this county, and several county councillors remarked approvingly on it. In a day when denim is the most popular fabric among the younger crowd, it is worthy of editorial comment when an entire classroom of students make8 its appearance in dressier garb. Such examples of youthful decorUm are appreciated - and noted - by others. (Goderich Signal Star' Amen by Karl Schuessler • "You're a good looking cat, Pepper," I said as I stroked her long black fur. Now you would think that would please any lady cat, wouldn't you?, But• did it? Not at all. All she did was walk away. Tail up in the air. Head held high. Now what did I do wrong? What did I say wrong? All my good • intentions - my well meaning compliment -- meeting with scorn and rebuke. Some of iny compliments go over about the same way with my two footed' friends. When I tell a lady she looks especially good today, she says, "Oh, you're putting me on." Or "Didn't you like the way I looked yesterday?" Or "Okay, what do you want now Money?" And she grabs for her purse and starts to hand me a quarter. But I don't want quarters. I don't want anything. I.'m sincerely trying to pay a compliment. To say I notice you. I appreciate you. It's just my way of expanding a thank-you. I could see that my compliments were suspect. Like most compliments are. So I determined to do a little homework. Some compliment homework. And find out what makes a compliment go. To be sincere is one thing. But to sound sincere is quite another. - I practiced on Pepper. Because if I can do alright with Lady Pepper, then it's a cinch I'll do alright with the other ladies I know. "Come here, Pepper, you gorgeous cat. You're absolutely fabulous." She yawned. Lay down. Closed •her eyes. She didn't believe a word I said. I sure didn't do anything right there, Okay. So I did overstate my feelings. That's lesson on number one. Cut down on the superlatives. Nothing kills a compliment more than gush.Said in a rush. I slowed down. Took my time and said, "Pepper, r think you're wonderful.." She didn't move. Not even an eyelid. Well at least she didn't yawn right in my face. It's getting a little better. But I could see. I really didn't tell her much in that compliment. What I said could apply to any cat. Every cat. That's a wash-out. I need a firmer compliment. Something more specific. Personal. Something that's nc distitively Pepper. "Pepper, that white mark on your left paw really give you a streak of class." Her eyes opened. She looked up at Me. She' jumped straight into my lap. She purred and snuggled up close. Rested her head on her front pawS.With that left paw — that white paW-, sticking way out for me to tiotice. Right on, I'm learning: I'm getting the knack, I'M getting a good thing going. DoIt't stop now. I rubbed her on top of her head. I petted her paws. "Pepper, darling, I think you're a good mouser." • She stopped purring. Now what did I do wrong? That's not fair, Pepper. You think I said that just ,to put an idea into your head. To make you become what I want you to be. Forcing you to come up to my high expectations of cat. And you think I like. you for what y ou do. Not for what,you are. For you, yoUrself alone. I'm- degrading you, Pepper, taking away your sense of dignity and self-worth. Pepper meowed. her ears went back. She's mad alright. She's insulted. I've gone too far. I should know. If there's anything Pepper hates it's pressure. Squeeze play in compliments. She started to stretch. Ready to jump down. I held her down. "I'm sorry, Pepper, I won't do that again," I promised. And besides I learned that a good compliment shouldn't raise all sorts of questions. Like what makes a good mouser? What's my standard? compared to what? How many mouse pouncers have I checked on ? Maybe my opinion's way off. Am I an expert? A good compliment shouldn't be argu able. Debatable. "Pepper," I said, "Give me another chance. Let me give you one of my best ever compliments. One that's specific. Not overstated. or understated,No pressure. No arguments, No questions. It says simply how I feel about you. What you do to me. "Pepper; you raise my spirits whenever you climb into my lap." It worked. I had let my hand go of her too. And she didn't jump down. She stayed right there in my lap. Of her own free will! She started to lick my hand. Her sandpaper tongue washed over my fingers. She was saying "thank you". And she was doing the right thing. No back talk. No denials. Just thank-yOu. No more. No less: That's all.• I Wanted to say more to Pepper., I wanted to Compliment her again. My emotions were racing ahead of Me. I hit thy tongtie.haat'S enough,. Stop. WhoU ahead. I patted her head instead: And kept my thoughts' to myself:, What a eat! There's. no other cat like you, Pepperiltbiete a Million dollar cat. There's no . One' like you in the Whole world.