HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-25, Page 5SAVE SYKES
Traveller appreciates assistance
Dear Editor:
After dark during the first snow ,storm
this year (November 20th), while enroute
to visit my brother-in-law who resides in
Ridgewood Park, I became blinded by a
whiteout and became stuck on the edge of
Mill Road.
Because I am disabled, this became a
particularly desperate situation. For-
tunately, six young persons, travelling in
two separate cars, stopped and pushed me
back onto the road.
I am very grateful for this unsolicited
LETTERS
act of kindness and wish to (names
unknown) pass on my sincere
appreciation.
Yours truly,
G.F, Tuttle
London, Ont.
Life seemed so simple and un-
complicated in the days when this
fossilized scribbler was growing up. My
children are of the opinion that I was
born and raised in the period somewhere
between the disappearance of the
dinosaur and the invention of the motoriz-
ed vehicle.
In fact, my six-year-old still gets wide-
eyed at the notion that his father is not
older than the wheel, fire and other
modern conveniences. Despite my pleas
to the contrary, he still gives me that sar-
donic smile and knowing look.
But parents of today's children know
full well how much more complicated life
is for young people, and, of course, how
much more complicated life is for the
parent of the '80s.
As children, our wants and needs were
simple and basic, especially at
Christmas. We didn't have to worry
about Masters of the Universe creatures,
Slime, talking dolls of both sexes, com-
puters,
omputers, WWF action figures and toys that
require the direct hookup to a 750 KV line
at the Bruce Generating Stion.
These days, never mind the initial cost
of the toys, it's the 853 batteries required
to operate and propel the Droids and
space vehicles that resemble the after-
math of a three -car pileup, that really hit
the pocketbook.
Remember the days when it was a real
big deal if your sister had a doll that
could drink. A bottle was inserted in a
hole in the doll's mouth and the liquid
would immediately run out another small
opening somewhere. Today dolls are
more anatomically correct, talk and
blink.
Now when my children -begin talking
about their Christmas wish list, I first
check the battery requirements of the
toy. Anything requiring more voltage
than a car battery can deliver is stricken
from the list and the child is instructed to
restrict his or her needs to something
that can be powered by Niagara Falls.
My children have already formulated,
• written and sent off their letters to Santa,
reasoning that the jolly old fella may
give them extra gifts for efficiency in
avoiding the rush. My son, totally ig-
norant of Canada Post affairs, also
believes it takes months for a letter to
reach the North Pole.
While we have taken desperate
measures to trim the gift list, I fear that
I have failed miserably in perpetuating
the Santa Claus myth. My son's queries
are too deep, involved and logical for me
to lie about. In short, the kid's got more
smarts than his father and has the ability
to turn me inside -out with his line of
questioning.
Christmas presents an annual problem
and this year we're focusing on the origin
of Santa's job and how a young man of,
say six or seven, could aspire to the
position.
So this week I've faced the following
lines of questions: "How did Santa get to
be Sanata?' 'Did he go to college to learn
to be Santa and, if so, can I got to college
for that next year? (what, and forget the
forklift career)' 'Was his dad Santa and
he just took over the job?' 'Was he just
born as Santa?' and 'If he's been Santa
since you were a child he's pretty old."
Do you remember how trusting we
were as children and tended to just ac-
cept the totally incongruous story despite
its obvious inconsistencies? Why do
children today have to be so inquisitive
and suspicious? Why couldn't they just be
trusting ninnies like their parents.
Safe Driving Week
The National Safe Driving Week (Dec. 1
- 7) campaign theme "YOU CAN IM-
PROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY" addresses
the question of what each one of us can do
to reduce the incidence of traffic accidents
and protect ourselves and other road users
from injuries and fatalities.
Driving a motor vehicle on a public
highway is a public act and must be under-
taken with due regard to the safety of all
road users. Responsible motorists have an
obligation to take every possible precau-
tion to help ensure our own safety, the
safety of passengers and the safety of
other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Eighty-five percent of all collisions
result from human error, excessive speed,
failure to yield and driver inattention are
Marlin
The Travel
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recurring factors. Considering fatalities
only, almost 50 percent involve alcohol im-
pairment; between 20 percent - 40 percent
could be prevented by proper seat belt
use; another 3 percent - 5 percent could be
prevented by using daytime running
lights.
There are many things individuals, can
do to improve highway safety, For exam-
ple, not driving when impaired by alcohol,
medication or other substances; wearing
seat belts; using daytime running lights;
and slowing down when poor road or
weather conditions prevail. All of these
precautions are part of "defensive driv-
ing", i.e. driving to prevent collisions in
spite of the actions of others and the condi-
tions around you.
524-7335
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47 Church St., Goderich
524-9603
ooth-LAw
vel .lockers
Sale ends
Saturday, Nov. 28, 1987
or while quantities last.
00
"Two Levels of
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Dec
Bed - Bath Shop
Lighting
Fine Furnishings
Decorative Consultant,
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r
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Goderich
5244400
GO, ; ERICH SIGNMAT" WVDisiEsDAY, NOVEMBFB 25, 1987 PAGE 5
BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS
ISTM/R<S RA►RTY NOW
Free Bungee, facilities when you have your party here.
SENIOR CITIZENS 10% off (Mon.-Thurs.)
-WY ONE DINNER (from menu - over $6) GET 2ND ONE FOR
HALF PRICE after 4 ppm. Monday - Thwack,
HARBOUR LIGHTS. RESTAURANT & TAVERN
OPEN. 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 A.M.. 1 A.M.
HIGHWAY 21 • BAYFIELD 565-2554
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76 COURTHOUSE SQUARE
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