The Rural Voice, 1987-12, Page 806-
BERN
F� KNIUES
RE -FORGED
Pre Christmas offer:
Get 6 knives re -forged
but only pay for 5
SHARP'S CREEK FORGE
The modern "Smithy"
R.R. 4, Goderich
519-524-8096
inegia
Home Appliances
CHRISTMAS
APPLIANCE
SALE
Inglis Dryers -starting
at $355
Inglis Washers -starting
at $555*
'while supplies last
Come and see our full line of
freezers, microwaves, stoves,
fridges and dishwashers.
-L3t b
Jim)clack2,
Cen cna
WATSON FARM
ENTERPRISES
Hwy. 6 N. Mount Forest
519-323-2755
1FIE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
IN HOME A,JPLIANCES
6 THE RURAL VOICE
SOME KIND OF MAGIC
When you're about to have one
of "those days," you never get any
warning. It just happens. My latest
one of "those days" began when I
picked up an object propped beside
the fridge: a broken hockey stick. I
had errands to run, and the rest of the
family had things they wanted me to
get since I was "going that way
anyway." One of those things was a
replacement for the crippled stick.
There was only one vehicle left in
the yard to drive. As I turned the key,
both the oil and gas lights gave me
suggestive leers. I drove to the shed
to do what had to be done. I was
standing with the gas hose, my foot
tapping in time to the gas dial's whir-
ring, when the dog decided that the
time had come to show the cat who
was boss. Both got tangled in the gas
hose during the melee.
As the pair disappeared behind the
barn, I was left with enough gas on my
person to illuminate an evening sky
had anyone cared to light up in my
vicinity.
The oil was easily found. The
funnel was not. I know there are
about a half dozen of them in the shop,
but right then they were about as easy
to locate as a safety pin when you've
broken a bra strap. I poured the oil in,
minus the funnel, which was not as
easy as it sounds.
I had just got to the house to repair
the damages to my person when the
phone rang. I answered a mellow -
voiced man from Stats Canada about
estimated crop yields in our area while
stripping my clothes off into an untidy
pile. When he asked if we had any rye
in our area, I told him I wished we
had, because I could certainly use a
good shot of it.
When I finished with him, I
showered as the clock ticked away. I
had my hair all lathered when I real-
ized I was still wearing running shoes
and socks!
The hockey stick haunted me all
day. Not just any old replacement
was wanted. This one had to have the
blade curve just so, and the numbers
on the handle had to match. The
mandate seemed impossible. When
the third person instructed me to "have
a nice day," he was in danger of
spending his in intensive care.
But in a small village hardware
store I met my match. Carrying the
mangled stick, I was down to the wire
and meant business. An elderly
gentleman seemed to be the only one
in the store, and he was lovingly bent
over a display of Christmas orna-
ments, totally ignoring the jangling
of the entrance bell. I thumped the
stick on the floor. He looked over a
shoulder at me and smiled. In no
hurry whatsoever, he slowly straight-
ened up and stood back to admire his
handiwork. Row upon row of glitter-
ing ornaments lined the wall and
counter. I advanced, clutching the
stick.
"Did you ever see a more beautiful
sight than these ornaments?" he asked.
"No, I haven't," I mumbled, "but
I'm here for one of these. I thrust the
stick forward, its broken blade dang-
ling under his nose from a few chunks
of black tape.
"Sure doesn't look like he'll score
a goal with this one, does it?" he
chuckled. "When was the last time
you bought new ornaments for your
Christmas tree?"
"I'm not sure," I replied dazedly.
"At least seven or eight years ago."
(cont'd on following page)
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.