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Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley
Perhaps, with Thanksgiving in the air,
it's as good a time as any to make a
personal inventory of what we have to be
thankful for, if anything. Maybe you'd like
to join me, substituting your minuses for
mine, your pluses for .mine.
On second thought, I haven't really a
si n gle minus. Oh, there are a lot of little
nuisances: arthritis in my foot; rambling
bursitis in shoulders,, knees and neck;
dewlaps; a few less teeth than I'd like.
But everybody has these things. If we
didn't, we vvouldn't appreciate how great it
is when the pains clear up for a few days,
or the fact that there's always plenty of
good grub to mumble with those ancient
molars.
I do have some negative thankfuls. I'm
glad I am, by choice, not living in a city,
with everything that entails in the line of
human harassment: dirt, traffic, crowds,
coldness. Especially when I can, as right
now, look out my window and see the
yellow October sun blazing into the gaudy
flamboyance of the maples, and a little
further off, the blue of clean, unpolluted
water, and know that if I st epped outside,
the air would be champagne, not cheap,
scented wine.
I'm glad I don't have six children. Two of
them almost brought the Old Lady and me
to our knees, economically and
emotionally.
I'm grateful that I haven't got stuck into
some job that I loathe, as so many men
have. What could be more soul-destroying
than hating to go to work every morning?
I'm glad I'm not sick, or feeble, pr
pot-bellied, or ham-handed, or tight-fisted,
even though I am bow-legged, forgetful
and sometimes, after a sharp exchange
with my wife, have a ringing in my ears.
Those are just a few of the negative
thankfuls. They are vastly outweighed, to
the point where it is no contest, by the
positive thankfuls.
I couldn't begin to list them in this
space, but.. will touch on a few of the
highlights.
I'm extremely grat eful, even though it
should last only a few more years, that,
despite the machinations of the oil
companies and the stupidity and short-
sightedness of our "leaders," I can still
turn up the thermostat on a cold morning
and know that I and mine will not shiver
through the day.
I am extremely thankful that I am not a
young man, recently married, mortgaged
to the ears for life, in an effort to provide a
roof and food for a family.
It's taken 30 years of slaving on the old
plantation, toting many a barage and
lifting many a bale, btit I own my own
house and don't owe anybody a nickel, and
I'm grateful.
Another thing to be thankful for is the
fatherly benevolence of Pierre Trudeau
and his gang (I use the word gang
advisedly). They and their provincial and
municipal henchmen are content with
separating me from only about half of very
dollar I make, and there is no indication yet
that they will shortly want an' arm and a
leg each year as additional tribute. Only a
few toes and fingers.
I'm very thankful. that I live in Canada,
It's a magnificent country; a people who
could be magnificent, but refuse; and they
don't throw you in jail for speaking
disparagingly of the gang in power,(They
haven't got enough jails, and who would
pay the rent?)
I'm happy with my immediate family ,
though thousands wouldn't be. My son is a
failure, in the ordinary middle-class sense.
He has never made more than $2,000 a
year, has no home, except ours, and
couldn't produce the proverbial pot. But he
is working with ultra-poor peasants in a
South American country, trying to make a
better life for them, eating their food,
catching their diseases, and I'm proud of
him.
My daughter, after adventures in the
sub-culture that makes me shudder still,
knocked them dead with, her writing in a
university course, got her degree, is in
fourth y ear of a second degree in music,
has had a baby, and is about to produce a
sister for Pokey, my grand-baby, who is a
whipper-dipper, like all grandbabies.Not
bad for a rotten kid.
My wife (careful now, Buster, watch it)
is still a smashing looking woman, though
a granny, an excellent cook, great
company, and is becoming virtually
serene. She hasn't thrown anything at me
for nearly two years, except a wet dishcloth
or something like that.It used to be plates
of food, telephones. Eaton's catalogue, you
name it.She did, actually, throw my
typeweriter downstairs last year, when I
made some mild remark about, the bad
temper she used to have, but she didn't
throw it at me. That's progress.
I like my job, working with kids, who are
at least alive, not just going through the
motions, like so many of their elders.
I have a few friends, whom I cherish, a
few enemies, chiefly the town engineer,
who does not cherish me, and a host of
likeable contemporaries and
acquaintances.
My blood p ressure is great, I don't wear
glasses, my heart hasn't given me a bad
knock, I'm chipper as the average
eighty-year-old woman and I'm already at
work on the book I didn't get around to
writing last summer, or the one before, or
It's just great to be alive, and I offer my
sincere thanks to God or Whoever is
responsible for it. How about you?
Walkers go for Olympics
BRUSSELS
Stop in at the
TEXAN GRILL
& GAS BAR
Try Our_
Shrimp Dinner
$1.60
or
c.
Chicken & Chips
f•i%
Also Special of The Day
$1.50
Wingham Memorial Shop
- QUALITY SERVICE CRAFTMANSHIP
Open Every Weekday
Your Guarantee for Over 35 Years of
CEMETERY LETTERING
Box 158, WINGHAM JOHN MALLICK
A Ministry of
Housing
Ontario Housing Corporation
Invites appl ications
from Senior Citizens
to rent units in Brussels
Reni geared to income
Applications available from
Town Clerk,
or write
Mrs. Jean Allen,
Housing Manager,
275 Lawrence Avenue,
P'O. Box 1061,
Kitchener, Ontario.
THE BRUSSELS POST,. itittOBEFt 8, ititt
Moncrief teams win
(Continued from Page 1)
Clarence McCutcheon the last
few blocks in a wheelbarrow.
The actual amount raised from
the walk won't be known for a
couple of weeks yet but it is
estimated to be nearly $1,500,00.
Half of this amount will be sent to
the Canadian athletes and the
other half will remain in the
Brussels area to help sponsor our
local athletic programs.
The Walkers are urged to collect
their pledges as soon as-"possible
and turn the money over JiM
Prior by October Oth,
The people participating in the
walk, in the Order that they
finishted are; hey Adams, Jim
Scott, Terry Straeten, Barbara
Monti, Alfred Stangeri, Doug
Coutins, Tim Prior, John
111,00, Gary MeCtitcheen, Dairviin McCutcheon, batriti Watts, Rich ,
and Hayman, Darryl Hastings, PaYi0 Hastings; Michelle Yong,
Todd Wheeler, Terry MeCtiteh
ton, 'hot Bauer'; Patricia Have.
man, Cathy Cooney, Brenda
TenPas, Carolyn Brown, 'Teresa
Glanville, Betty Ann Brown,
Doug McArter, Roy Jacobs, Brian
James, Wayne Higgins, Donnie
Sholdice, Shery Heibein, Jim
Prior, Kim Bauer, Wendy Ward,
Brian Wheeler, Bob Pearson, Reg
McClory, PaulTenPas, Jeff Van-
der Staeten;
Brian TenPas, Ken Cousins,
Peter Exel, Mike Smith; Debbie
Prior, Janet Heibein, Teresa
Wierenga, Pam Wilson, David
Vandenberg, Erika Stangen, Lori
Moore; Alitiette notresehansker,
Chris King, Patti Mahan Janis
Van Vliet, Linda Heard,Debbie
Van Vlitt, Tommy Ward, Brenda.
Richmond; June Adams, Janice
Adams, Vickie Machan, Janice
Settlers, Tim Culbert, Steven
Knight;
Cathy Sholdice, Kevin McAr,
ter, Gwen James, Hank Eitel;
Suttarine MacPherson, Hope
Prim', Karen Hastings; Margie
Raymond, Michelle Vader; San-
dra tinether; Valerie Johnston,
Sharon Exel, Mike!' Vader, Matt
The Moncrief Midget Girls won
the tri-county trophy in a close
battle against the Brussels
Midget girls. The girls from
Moncrief and their coach expres-
sed their thanks to the girls from
Brussels for the good sportsman-
ship they displayed throughout
the series.
The scores in the five games
were: 22-4 for Moncrief, 22.17 for
Brussels, 20-10 for Moncrief, 8-7
for Brussels and 19-6 for Moncrief
the lawn bowlers took advan-
tage of the perfect weather last
Saturday. A jitney was held for
the members to determine a
winner for the Frank Carter
trophy. The high lady was. Viola
Kirkby, the high gent was Jas
McFarlane both winning three
games.
They were each awarded a
miniture trophy and will hold the
large trophy until next season.
Other prizes winners were, Ruth
Martin, Jas Smith, Lydia Turn-
bull, Jack Yuill, Evelyn Mair,
Gerald Gibson and Isobel Gib-
son. The day ended with a meal
served by the ladies and enjoyed
is some work to be done on the
greens and some walks to be laid.
It is hoped any member who can
spare some time will turn out
when ever they can.
Some drains are needed, there
Lady curlers'meet
The president, Mrs. Wilma
Rathwell, presided at a meeting
of the Brussels Ladies Curling
Club.
The meeting opened with the
reading of the minutes by Mrs.
Betty Cardiff. The treasurer's
report was given by Mrs. Kendra
Krauter. It was decided to hold a
Ladies Bonspiel on January 12th,
1976.
A prize committee, Leona
McDonald'and Barb Dunbar, was
appointed. The president
announced that curling pins are
on hand for any member who
wants one.
The MOncrief Bantam Boys,
won the tri-county trophy defeat,
ing Belgrave 3 games to 1,
Winding up a successful year,
this is the second year the
13antoins have won the trophy.
Members of the team were:
Allan Brogg, Rich De Ruiter, Paul
De Ruiter, Brad Knight, Brian
Cox, Bruce Cox, Chad Ward, Paul
Van Vien, Gerald Rathwell, Steve
Rathwell, and coach Doug Rath-
well.
renovation of the building,' and
the installing of the foundation,
moving building, and painting.
The interior is finished, with
some painting still to be done
outside. The request for dishes,.
etc. met with great success.
Thanks are due -to the many
contributors,
The Annual meeting will be
held shortly when full reports on
years activities will be made,It's
hoped more people can. be
induced to join next season.
When in
June and Ken
Webster
Your Hosts •
Exel, Nancy Exel, Kim Exel,
Gwen Cousins, Kim Ganner,
Karen McCutcheon, Debbie Hall;
Kathy Wierenga, Dianne Ber-
nard, Jill McCutcheon, Esther
McCutcheon, June Bremner,
Trina Watts, Tammy Seddon,
Patricia TenPas, Darlene Free • -
man, Shawn 'Bremner, Gerry
Exel , Wayne McCutcheon, Carla
Knight, Bruce Armstrong, Le-
anne Armstrong, Ethel Brewer,
Vera Hastings; Jim Armstrong,
Clarence McCuttheon, Donald
Hastings and John 'Lowe.
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Bowlers have jitney
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