The Brussels Post, 1976-01-28, Page 6Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley
Random
Some random observations this week on
a variety of topics, none of them
world-shaking. If you are short of either
time or patience, turn to the classified ads
for some real entertainment.
For about 10 days over the holidays I had
my grandson. Or rather, he had me. At his
beck and call. For about 12 hours a day.
He's at the very interesting stage where
he's learning to talk, fast. You know,
putting phrases together,
repeating everything he hears, under-
standing most of what you say, but not yet
quite ready to carry on a conversation.
Two phrases ; however, he has down pat.
The first is: "Come on!" delivered in a
peremptory tone and accompanied by a
' firm grasp of a chubby fist on my index
finger. This comes immediately after I
have settled down with my paper and a
beer and lighted a cigarette. It means he
wants assistance in building a pyramid or
getting his glass of "dooce" (anything
from milk to orange juice) or letting the
"ky-cat" in for another session of-torture.
What it really means, of course, is that
he has a distinct aversion to Grandad
retiring from the action.
The second phrase, delivered in a
piteous tone, is "Help me" accompanied
by a forlorn look and a tug at any portion of
my anatomy available. This means he
wants me to plug in the tree lights, or hold
him up so he can watch the record twirling
on the turntable or reach something he
can't and wants to break.
* * * *
WHY DON'T the Conservatives make their
leadership race just that? Put the entire 18
or 36 or whatever of them on a track at the
summer Olympics, send them off, •and the
last man to fall flat on his face becomes
their leader. It would make just as much
sense as choosing them by ballot, which is
also a process of finding the guy or gal with
the best wind
Personally, I'd like to see. Flora
MacDonald have a shot at it. The result
might be worse than the massacre of
Glencoe, but if 50 per cent of the voters are
women, it would give them a chance to
stand up and be counted. And I think it
would terrify Pierre T.
One guy I 'would hate to see win the
leadership would be Paul H ellyer. if he
won it, the Tories could kiss their hopes
goodbye for another decade. Here's his
record. Liberal cabinet minister; ran for
Liberal leadership, lost, sulked, resigned
as minister; formed his own rightist Action
Canada party, a total flop; joined
Conservative party; undistinguished Tory
MP; lost his seat in 1974. If the Tories
chose him as leader, it would illustrate
nothing more than their unquenchable
thoughts
belief in the infallible powers of snake oil
as a remedy.
Still on politcs, I was sorry to see DaVe
Barrett lose in B.C. He has 'ode of those
qualities so carefully hidden by most
politicians — a sense of humor. Maybe he
went too far too fast, but he added a ,lot of
zest to the national political scene.
And speaking of the Olympics, I learn
without horror and, sadly, without
surprise, that the Quebec government has
,diverted some 400 million dollars from the
James Bay project to bail out the 1976
Olympics. How does that grab you? And
that's only a drop in the big bucket with the
bigger hole in the bottom.
* * * *
SOMETHING that rather shook me was the
widespread ,hatred of teachers that
emerged when Toronto high school
teachers went on strike. I don't think the
word is too strong.
At a time when doctors were noisily
demanding more money, teachers were
accused, virulently, violently, and
viciously, of being "unprofessional' in
going on strike. The strike was perfectly
legal, yet the teachers were called
everything but child-molesters.
Letters to the editor ran about 90 per
cent against teachers. Columnists and
editorial writers made no attempt to be
objective, and used warped figures, arrant
sentimentality, personal vindictiveness
and appeals to the emotions to turn the
public against teachers: Strange.
I can understand some of it as pure
resesntrnent.. I pity the mother whose
entire social life is disrupted by a couple of
hulking teenagers hanging around the
house when they should be in school.
Students, heading for higher education,
who lost a couple of months. And for the
working parents who have to go out and
leave the house at the mercy of that
16-year-old lump lying in :bed. •
But I can't quite understand the sheer,
naked hatred that emerged. I went through
school, and I didn't then, and don't now,
hate any of my teachers.
:I felt sorry for some of them. We could
make Miss Graydon, our French teacher,
cry at the drop of a chapeau. Poor Dr.
Wheatly, with a Ph.D. in science, couldn't
keep, order. But I admired some of them,
like Old Flem, with whom I still
communicate, and who has challenged me
to ski cross-country race. And. I almost'
loved some. Old Mary Walker, who used to
strap me three times a week. Laura
Walker, my first-grade teacher, gentle,
kind, bright. Katie Johnston, who instilled
in me a love of literature.
Not a sadist or a bully or a sneak among
the lot of them. Strange, that hatred.
Ethel
Travel hard on icy roads
LARRY'S
RADIO & T.V .
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Blyth , Ont.
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faster.. service
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If you require financing to start, modernize or
expand your business and are unable to
obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and
conditions or if you are interested in the
FBDB management services of counselling
and training or wish information on
government programs available for your
business, talk to our representative.
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
Today's Hecilth tells
how to • quit .smoking
cigarettes: The,likelihood of your
children smoking is much less if
you don't. And on the economic
front, a pack-a-day smoker who
quit will save enough in a year to
pay for. a winter break in the
Caribbean.
Oh, and tell people of your
plans. The fact that others 'know
you're quitting will help to
strengthen your will. When Q-day
comes, remove all temptation to
smoke. Throw out any remaining
cigarettes. Get rid of matches and
lighters. Retire the, ashtrays.
And then get busy so you won't
think about cigarettes. Read,
walk, swim. Do anything to take
y our mind off tobacco.
RemeMber! It takes but a
moment to place a Brussels Post
Want Ad and be money in-,pocket.
To advertise, just Dial Brussels
887-6641.
•••
• It was Mdrk Twain, I believe,
who said giving up smoking was
easy -- he'd done it hundreds of
times.
Not so much giving it up, but
giving it up forever. That's the
real problem for cigarette addicts.
I know. I've quit for as long as
one whole year. The physical
longing for a • deep draught of
comforting smoke goes away
within a few days; the smugness
over new-found virtue lasts a little,
longer. But then comes the false
sense of security with which, •
months later, you accept "just
one," cigarette because you
believe you can take it or leave it.
Before• you know it ,you're
hooked again. . •
That's why it's hard for me to
write this column. I have not
smoked a cigarette for' two
months. don't cough. I feel great.
Food tastes better.. And on top of
all that I've apparently added
about 10 days to my lifespan for
each month of not smoking -- and
abOut 10 dollars a week 'to my
bank account.
Each smoker 1-(as to decide
gradually, smoking fewer
cigarettes each day, or' to quit
outright, cold turkey.
Each has to decide how- to cope
with the vacuum created by
giving up Smoking. This may
mean chewing gum, or cutting
out (at least for a while) items
previously inseparable from
cigarette smoking, such as coffee.
But all would-be givers up• of
the cigarette habit -- those,
anyway, who want to stop
smoking forever -- have to psych
themselves up for Q-day. The
quitting date.
List the reasons , for your
decision, and -there ,are m any
compelling ones.Th'e chance of
contracting heart disease,
emphysema, lung cancer and a
whole series 'of other ills is
sharply reduced by abandoning
for this
folder
from our
representative,
Wayne Rounding
who will be at:
Blue Barn Motel & Restaurant
LISTOWEL
on the 1st Thursday of each
month
(February 5th).
Correspondent
Mrs. Cliff Bray
The annual meeting of the
Ethel United Church was held in
the Church basement on Thurs-
day afternoon, lunch was served.
The U.C.W. meeting was held
also.
Some folks found it difficult
getting to work on Monday,
morning with the icy roads.
Personals
Mr. and Mrs. George Pearson
and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bremner
visited at the home of Mr: and
Mrs. Orval Hughes of Bradford,
Ontario, and also attended the
Celebration Of their cousin Orval
Hughes, who is the new' Warden
of Simcoe County,
Mr, lerry Cardiff of Petrolia
BRUSSELS' POSt,
visited Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Cardiff and family.
Don Pearson of Oshawa, Cindy
Camp of London and Bob Pearson
of Toronto visited with Mr. and
Mrs. Geo • Pearson.
Mr. and Mrs. 'Garry Godden of
Listowel visited ith Mrs. Bert
Godden arid Bonnie'. Mr. and
Mrs. Donald Lloyd of Bramalea
and Miss Betty Lynn of Toronto
"--.
visited with Mr. and Mrs. Geo
Lynn on the Weekend.
Miss Kathy Bremner of London
spent the weekend at the home of.
her parents Mr. and Mrs.. Bob
Bremner. Mr. and Mrs. Robt
Bremner and girls, Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. Bremner and boys of
Oakville visited mi Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bremner
and Doris.
For prior information call 271 5650 or Virtitd
1036 Ontario Street Stratford:
Opening .new doors. -to small' bushiest,
JANUARY 28 1978
Wingham Memorial Shop .
QUALITY SitiVICE CRAtTMANSHIP
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Your Guaranies for Over 35 Years of
CEMETERY LETTERING
Box 1.580 WISIOIAM MALLICK