The Rural Voice, 1987-11, Page 10TRANSFER PUMPS
Quality
• Galvanized, formed for greater
efficiency
• Rubber seals
- Agitation door
Durability
• Grease lines and grease gun installed
Performance
•Pumps liquid manure fast
& efficiently,with greater agitation
Contact:
J. Spanjer
Liquid Manure Equipment
Tavistock
519-655.2678
after 4 p.m.
Take Advantage of
The Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture and Food
80to
Farm
Safety
Grant
featuring ...
NC)
Protective
Helmets
Models for:
• Poultry Farms
• Field Spraying
• Green Houses
• Tractor Work
ALSO:
* Spray Suits
* Chemical Cartridge
Respirators
* Rubber Gloves
* Sed Electronic Sprayer
Monitors
* Nardi — Ground Level
Chemical Adding Devices
— Fresh Water Containers
(sprayer mounted)
Contact:
MILTON J.
DIETZ LTD.
R.R. 4, Seaforth
519-527-0608
8 THE RURAL VOICE
"SYMPATHY FOR
THE LOSER RULES"
The ink on our car loan had barely
dried before some worried soul was
asking me, "How are you going to pay
for a new car?"
Momentarily taken aback, I tried to
explain that the car was five years old,
not new. We really needed something
to drive that would have all four
wheels going in the same direction. A
parting shot, "It certainly looks new to
me," ended the conversation.
The concern over the purchase of
the car soon became hilarious. By the
fifth time that question was asked, we
had stopped explaining and just grin-
ned. Super Wrench breathed a sigh of
relief. Instead of him having to worry
about the monthly payments, others
were doing it for him!
A few days later, at our local fair, I
met a friend who had left farming via
the bankruptcy route three years back.
I mentioned the "car" debate during
our conversation. She shed some light
on the concern others were showing.
"You're not playing by the rules,"
she told me.
"What rules?" I asked.
"The Sympathy for the Loser
Rules," she said. "When you have
suffered financial losses, people want
to feel sorry for you, and when you
don't follow the rules, they find it hard
to handle."
The rules as explained to me are as
follows:
1. Appear penitent for your bad
management in the loss. Penitence
can be displayed by bowed shoulders,
shuffling steps, and haggard features.
2. When directly asked a question
in town, be sure to lift your eyes from
the cracks in the sidewalk and answer
in dull tones. Don't say you are
feeling fine. Have trouble sleeping, or
digestive problems or something. It
would really be great if there were a
divorce pending, or if one of the kids
ran away from home.
3. When shopping where commu-
nity members might see you, don't go
anywhere that isn't having a half-price
sale. Don't even think of buying the
gas barbecue, lawn chairs, or a toaster
oven at the local hardware store.
4. Don't be caught in a pricey
restaurant with family or friends. If
it's unavoidable, be prepared to whip
the tablecloth off, wrap it around your
waist, and pretend you're the waiter or
waitress. It is acceptable to be seen
munching a burger and fries in the car
at the local drive-in.
5. Give the people a chance to
discuss your situation at length among
themselves. This means avoiding
dances and local functions for a while
so they don't have to stop every time
you appear within earshot.
6. Never buy large -ticket items
that people are sure to see. Specula-
tion will be rife about how much you
had socked away before all the mess
was settled.
There was no indication of how
long these rules must be followed to
stay within the sympathy guidelines.
If, like myself, you find rules hard to
follow, just keep smiling and let them
wonder what you're up to.0
GISELE IRELAND, FROM THE COUNTY
OF BRUCE, BEGAN HER SERIES OF
HUMOROUS COLUMNS WITH THE
RURAL VOICE. HER MOST RECENT
BOOK, BRACE YOURSELF, IS AVAIL-
ABLE FOR $7 FROM BUMPS BOOKS,
TEESWATER, ONTARIO, NOG 2S0.
Were you involved in The
New Canada Movement?
Do you have any
recollections of meetings or
the people involved?
Gisele Ireland is looking for
information for a book on
the subject. See The Rural
Voice "Feedback"
department in this issue.