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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-05-06, Page 3PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987 I have to give my mother a great deal of credit. Afterall, the woman merely survived life for 30 plus years (I'm not saying how many) with me for a son which is something of an accomplishment, I would boldly submit. Life with this kid, morns and dads, wasn't all prompt, courteous responses, good manners and broccoli munching without a stiff fight. Now I know what you're thinking. But yes, my youthful good looks, my winsome smile, my boyish charm and my angelic nature belie the fact that there was enough of a hint of mischief in my de- meanor to stir up a little trouble in my life. A.ctually, given the right conditions and the right frame of mind, I could stir up enough trouble to make my life miserable. But mothers can overlook all that stuff DAVE SYKES when prodigal, truculent sons offer semimental, er sentimental, cards and garishly ornate gifts on Mother's Day. It tends to smooth over all the rough spots that have cropped up over the years. While mothers,. and this correspon- dent's is no exception in this department, are big enough people to overlook minor character deficiencies and flaws in their offspring, they have an innate ability to recall the most obscure incidents. My son is of the firm belief his mother has eyes in the back of her head and her ability to read the child's complex mind has him mystified. Mothers seem to develop and hone those kinds of super- natural skills. While time has the ability to heal, it 'doesn't seem to make much of an impact on a mother's memory. My own mother can recite chapter and verse on this scribbler and is fond of reconstructing the events around certain misdemeanors allegedly perpetrated by myself. Most kids would just as soon tuck away five or ten years of their life, but parents take great delight in•regurgitating almost every single event in a child's life bet- ween the ages of eight and 18. It can be rather embarassing. But it's one of the few avenues of recourse av- bailable to parents. Just when you think your life is on course, parents can reduce you to rubble by recalling a few wayward moments in your life you'd wished the world would have forgotten about. It's called a 'otcha and it's one way in which parents can get even for all those anxious moments and sleepless nights. But, while parents are somewhat profi- cient at recalling the generalities of such incidents, time has eroded their ability to quote the truth with any great clarity and much of what is offered is embellished. It tends to turn meaningless incidents into humorous and entertaining stories. But then, I:'ve been accused of doing the same thing by my life partner. And so, on Mother's Day this Sunday, mother will lovingly reflect on the time her son accidentally broke that expensive crystal bowl and attempted to glue it back together, or the time I fed putty to the dog, broke the windows playing golf and baseball, tied some younger neighbourhood children to the verhanda pillars, cut the cord on the electric hedge trimmer, and the number of times the landwaping was virtually obliterated because I had the immediate world on the front lawn engaged in some kind of sport. It's kind of a Mother's Day ritual and I believe it's therapeutic. Mother is starting to come around, but after 30 plus years she still doesn't understand her kid. And the fact I am gainfully employed on a full-time basis is a source of amazement. But then there are some things mothers just don't understand. Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE VMS the EST ALL POUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA ‘. k<<er Nr wh,Alf l':u„i„e Lt.an 1yd4 SIGNAL -STAR semsainffiew ,P.87 '20 HUCKINS ST. INOUSTRIAL PARK OOOERICP-A, ONT. ANA 4B6, PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 11348 and published every Wednesday of Oodeprich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA end OCNA. B.obecriptfone payable In advance 888.00, (Senior CItIiane 818.00 privilege card number required] In Canada, 880.00 to U.B.A., 880.00 to ell other countries, Bingle apple. BOC. Display, National and Clesailied edvertl.ing restos avellsble on request. 2l000e ask for Rete Cord No. 113. October 1, 1885. AdvertloIng lc accepted an the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the orroneoue Item, together with the roaooneble allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of ea. typogrephicel error advertising good. or eervlceo et a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold: . Advertlaing fa merely en offer to sell, and may be withdrawn et any time. The Bignel-Star Ie not responelble for the loos or damage. of pnsoltclted menuecripte, photoo or other materials need for reproducing purpo.es. .. . General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor LAVE SYKES- Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR !BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...Please phone [5'891524-2E14 .Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: +CNA CCNA Here's to you, mom �lil.tl,;li L 11161;W. I iliU • The following text was submitted -by a reader. In a way, mom, your job is done. ti I grew up and you managed to survive it. Lately, however, when I think back on those terrible= wonderful years when I was growing up, I realize how many times I should have told you this: "I'm sorry, I'm grateful, I forgive you, I love you." Now that I'm a, mother:myself, I understand how important the words are. So now, while' there's time, let me say them. First; a few belated thank you's. ,Thank you, mom for: Giving me tap dancing lessons when the rest of the world was laughing at my knobby knees. Listening to my spelling words every Thursday evening. Telling me the facts of life, even the ones you weren't too sure of yourself. , The drum majorette costume you made when I was 10, the felt skirt with 33 yards of pet-' ticoat when I was 13 and the car on Sunday afternoons when I was 17. Telling me I was pretty when the mirror wouldn't. Buying me black chinos with a belt in the back and an angel blouse so I could express my individuality by looking exactly like everybody else in school. I would also like to say, since I'm sure I never have before, that I am eternally grateful to you for: Not laughing at me in my white lipstick or in my first pair of stockings hitched up so tight I couldn't bend my knees. Having three children and so giving me the two best friends a person could ever have. Not smothering me with your expectations. Your faith in God and me. , Saying, "What pimples? I don't see any pimples." I must also tell you, mom, that I forgive you once and for all for: Trimming my bangs till they were perfectly even and one- uarter inch long. Month after month after month of butterscotch oatmeal okies. I,iver, kidney stew, duck soup. . Giving my fur hat with the puff ball on top to cousin Patty. I Yes, I still remember that hat Sending me upstairs for your bobby pins every night when we both knew monsters lived under your bed. And finally, mom, I love you dearly, so dearly, for: Giving me room to grow, to make mistakes and to find out who I was. Your pride in me, warranted or not. Letting me, even now, be somebody's baby. Your openness and your honesty. Believing in me, accepting me, loving me without conditions. 011 yes, there is one more childhood gift I must acknowledge at last. I took the offering, nochalantly and selfishly. But I know now that your final gift was the most difficult a mother can give -you let go. • You realized that there is a time to bind and a time to loose. 1 hope I'can do the same some- day, because in letting go you permitted me to build a new, mature relationship withry u - one built on mutual respect, admiration, and caring rather than guilt, indebtedness, id duty. You have become both my mother and my friend. For all these gifts mom, and for all the ones I'll never know about, happy, happy Mother's I)ay. „ Maitld1::;d clubhouse construction o be completed by mid -summer 2,5 YEARS AGO May 3, 1962; Construction started Wednesday on the new clubhouse at 'Maitland Golf course. With the contract let to Ken Hutchins Con- struction Company of Goderich, completion of the modern building is expected by. mid- July. An "open -house" will be announced later, during which the public will be invited to inspect the spacious premises. The two- storey building will be of cement block con- struction to a height of six feet above ground with the remaining 'portion finished in red- wood clapboard. A roomy, full-length porch off the main lounge will overlook the river and seventh green. Feature of the main floor is a lounge with 'an adjacent boar- droom or private dining room and a com- plete, kitchen. The lower floor will contain the working area. Designed by architect Charles E. Volker of Waterloo, the new clubhouse will cost about $30,0'00. • The unanimods nomination of Elston Car- . diff for the Progressive Conservative can- didacy in Huron is confidently expected by local officials of the 'Huron County Pro- gressive Conservative Association. The nomination meeting will be held ,Wednes- - day, May 9 in the Legion Hall, Clinton. Guest speaker for the`occassion will be the Honorable George Hees, MP, Federal Minister of Trade and Commerce. Asked as to the probability of opposing nominations at the Wednesday meeting, Mr. James Don- nelly said "I can foresee only one nomina- tion at the moment. Of course, these,things are not prearran ed and there always is the possibility that e or more nominations may turn up at the meeting but I truly don't think so." Mr. Car f is the present sitting LOOKING BACK member for Huron in the federal house. Wednesday's meeting will commence at '8 p.m. ' 50 YEARS AGO , May 7, 1937: The opening of the trout fishing season on Saturday was closely followed by a "believe it or not" story brought back from the Markdale region by Jim Lowry and Joe Mutch. They caught their first trout, a beauty, ,by hand and used it asea "teaser". hIt worker too, for they hooked 15 fine trout during their stay. ' The men were near a wharf, in ,shallow water, when they saw a good looking trout nosing around with about three feet of line'trailing from a hook in it mouth. Sneaking towards it with extreme caution, one snagged the line with an oar blade and the other plunged his arms in the water to grasp the fish. The line was attach- ed to Jim's line, the fish' attracted others and the successful day began. At the meeting of the Old Home Week committee on Monday evening, a note was received from the Goderich Salt Company stating that the company purposed erecting an arch of salt barrels as its contribution to the decoration of the town. It is hoped that other firms, as well as lodges and societies, will make plans at an early date for their part in the reunion decorations and pro- ceedings. .' delegate from the Stratford Boys Band waited upon the committee and,, communications were, received from other bands which are prepared to come and "assist in the celebration. These and other matters were transferred to committees for consideration and report. 70 YEARS AGO May 3, 1917: In recognitipn of the stressful times and the call forfood production, in both town and country, demanding that all should devote their energies to necessary work, it has been decided not to hold the summer school which was planned for Goderich this sum:- mer um=mer under the auspices of the Presbyterian church. In order to meet the peculiar conditions existing this year, it has been arranged that the jury and the non -jury sittings of the cir- cuit courts in Ontario shall be combined, and most of these sittings have been ar- rangd to take place after harvest. The date for Goderich is November 5 with Mr. Justice Sutherland as the presiding judge. Mrs, Jou,athan Miller, who has for some time been living with her sister in Detroit, is in town making arrangements for the disposal of her hotel property at Carlow. An auction sale will be held at the premises on Wednesday, May 16 when the hotle building and all contents will be.offered for sale. The building, which is known as the Carlow hotel, is a solid brick structure and has been kept in good repair. The contents also in- clude some valuable articles and the sale should be of general interest. It's getting so a guy is afraid to "flick his Bic" in the privacy of his own home anymore. What with the government banning smoking in public places, government of- fices and just about everywhere except your Uncle Jack's back yard, nicotine ad- dicts must be getting more nervous and fidgety then they already were. What's next? A complete ban on tob- bacco product advertising? Sorry, that's already in the works. The government is' now in the hypocritcal position of allow- ing a product to be cultivated, processed and sold relatively unrestricted, while at the same time denying the producers the right to market their product in the same manner as everyone else. The City of Toronto has even gone so far as to consider a ban on smoking even in outdoor sports stadiums, such as Ex- hibition Stadium, where a non-smoker ".would have to inhale very hard indeed in order to noticably blacken his lungs with nicotine. Since the postion of the smoker, the tobacco grower and everyone else ' associated with the production of coffin nails, is practically indefensible – they pollute the air, cause cancer and heart disease, and are mean to small children and animals – I won't even try to make a case in their favor. Or, should I say our favor, as I am still unfortunately numbered among the defilers of atmosphere. Instead, I am going to suggest the government go all the way – make it outright illegal to smoke, fume, combust, or even get a little hot around the collar. Of course such a drastic measure would require an equally drastic means of enforcement. We would need to create a Whole new law enforcement agency. The RCMT (Reduction of Cigarette Misuse Team), better know as "The Weed Police," would be charged with the apprehending and extinguishing those _apprehending of-felofyto'ba'cco posession--and- distribution. Armed with high Compression water pistols andtruncheohs, the Weed Cops would wear white uniforms, ride in non- polluting electric -powered vehicles and carry badges displaying a picture a a perfect set of pink little lungs. They would be trained to spot carriers of con- cealed stogies by the tell-tale yellowish stains on their fingertips and heaven help the innocent bystander who's'fingers are yellow only due to honest neglect of good petsonal hygiene. Naturally, with tobacco unavailable through legal channels, a black market will spring up. But the Weed police will be prepared for this eventuality. People who look suspiciously like Don Johnston will be enlisted to attend clandestine meetings with suspected smoke dealers. When the blackguards produce their secret stash of Matinee Ex- tra Mild they will be immediately. pounc- -ecLupon_by the SWAP (Smoking Without a Permit) squad and be carted off to from this angle Patrick Raftis languish through fits of withdraw] in their cells. In order to get the suspects to name their confederates, the RLMT will employ the latest in subtle interogation techniques. They will be questioned over cup after cup of weak coffee, which they will be obliged to drink without the benefit of an accompanying duMaurier, even though one will be casually left bur- ning in a nearby ashtry. (The Weed Cops will of course be wearing gas masks throughout this rather hazardous proceedure.) Once convicted, punishment of of- fenders will be swift and harsh. For- tunately, execution of offenders is out, as tradition would require the authorities to offer anyone facing a firing squad a last cigarette, which would make them ac- cessories to an ignition. Once smoking is finally eradicated from the face of Ontario. The morality squads could then crack down on the other vices which afflict the good people of this province. Next we would form the Liquor Police, or the, "Booze Brigade." Armed with with black coffee and trun- cheons, they, would....