8 - Sunday, December 30, 1990 ~ North Shore News An interesting New Year to all! A NEW year. No matter how many you’ve got logged, there’s still a bit of shine on a brand new one. You still come to this date with optimism. [t's another chance, however artificial. Another chance to do a betier job, live a better life, understand the terms a fittle better. This may be the year we finally get it right. At our age, we don't anticipate a lot of change. We've had our fill of change, to tell you the truth. When you come right down to it, what’s stayed the same? Men’s vests come to mind, and doughnuts, they haven’t changed. Tea is pretty much what it always was, and teapots, and toothbrushes, unless you're into the kind that go 6zzz. Bigots and bores and snobs are still recogniz- able for the same reasons as always. They havent been re- designed or phased out or been overcome by protesters. Never will. Is that a comfort? Canes are still canes, and so are safety pins, and rowboats. Socks, though made of strange stuff, do the same old job the same old way. No one’s revolutionized pa- jamas, and a chocolate sundae is still a treat. No one says ‘‘eh?’’ when you order gin-and-tonic. But when you think through our accumulated years, the rich immensity of our shared experi- ence, our special senior generation must hold the biggest store of any ever seen on earth. We've come from the crank-up Victrola all the way to the com- pact disc, leaping from the Red Label records with one smooth side over 78s, the 455, the 33s, and those cardboard jobs we had for a while. We've had Gaallicurci, whose name [| forget how to_ spell, through John McCormack and Harry Lauder to entire stage musicals and massed choirs plus Placido to boot, not to cloud his performance with mention of the Doors and the Beatles aad Bing Crosby crooning. Think of the evolution we've observed from magic-lantern shows through the Brownie to someone’s idea he could bring them to movement and give Mary Pickford her big start. it wasn't enough — we soon had to hear what was happening when Charles Farrel romanced Janet Gaynor. It blossomed into color, and the piano in the pit of the movie- house is silent because now we simply press the channel chooser and get all we want from wherever in the world we want it. There are things we miss. Man- ners, for one. There have been rumors, occasional sightings, but no actual recorded incidents of anyone but ourselves using the words we used to take for granted. Hats are pretty passe, and the gesture of uncovering for a lady is as unusual as laying your best cloak over a mud-puddle to pro- tect a dainty foot. The dainty feet in these days are most likely shod in sturdy athletic track-shoes. And the lady might well swing her saddie-bag at you for being a rag- EY ONE 3: Eleanor THE VINTAGE YEARS ng sexist. We weren't quite early enough for the message in the cleft stick, most of us, but it is certainly in my recollection that ladies called on newcomers and left their cards, indicating acceptance into the up- per circles. We did certainly have typewrit- ers, great ponderous things that clacked, and telegraph operators in green eye-shades who sent our desperate messages to far places. The telephone in the front hall was none of our business unless it rang three times, and sympathetic operators would actually try a series of numbers if one were try- ing to track down a traveller. Now we write it or type it or draw it or paint it and stick it in the fax machine for instant reception. My early years were spent in the bush, which meant a lot of what WHAT’S ON — SENIORS MONDAY Dec. 31-Ongoing program resumes Jan. 7: N.S. Neighbourhood House. Keep Well free drop-in program for adults over 50 yrs. Exercise, relaxa- tion, counselling 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Walking Club meets at 9 a.m. Lunch for small fee. TUESDAY Jan. t--Music lectures for sts. 11 a.m. at Van. Academy of Music. Continues as long as interest. Mr. Goldberg of Van. Academy co-ord. Info: 987-0670. eee Jan, 1--Ongoing. N.S. Carerpivers Support Soc. Weekly support for peo- ple caring for itl or aging relative. Meets every Tues. 1:15-3:15 p.m. at N. Lonsdale United Church. Info: 983- 2141. eee Jan. 1--Ongoing. N.S. Caregivers Support Society. Free drop-in mecting for anyone caring for ill or aged cela- tive. 1:15-3:15 p.m. at N. Lonsdale United Church. Info: 983-2141. WEDNESDAY Jan. 2--Ongoing: Silver Harbour Cen- tre. N.S. Keep Well. Free drop-in program for adults over 55. Exercise, relaxation. counsetling. 9:30 a.m.- noon, Lunch for small fee. Walking Club meets at 9:30 a.m. Program tesumes Jan. 7.. . ose Jan. 2--Ongoing. N.S. Neighbourhood House. Srs. Bingo. 1-3 p.m. Refresh- ments. Info: 987-8138. THURSDAY Jan. 3--Ongoing. N. Shore Chapter of North American Chronic Pain Association (NACPAC}. Regular meetings for support and self-help. In- fo: 985-8304, loan. FRIDAY Jan.4--Ongoing: N.S. Neighbourhood House. Srs. Craft Circle, 1-3 p.m. Refreshments. Donations of craft supplies welcome. Info: 987-8138. SATURDAY Jan. 5--Chip A Christmas Tree With Dave's Tree Care. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Super-Valu, 17th & Lonsdale Ave., N.V. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society Info: 980-3768. CS SUNDAY Jan.6--Ongoing. M.S. Society self-help groups for varying needs. Info: 437- 3244 or 926-6453. For more Coming Events see first page of Classifieds. For arts and entertainment ‘istings see the Around Town column in Wednes- day’s North Shore Now section. PLEASE HELP US... to provide milk, bread, fruits and vegetables, etc. FEED THE HUNGRY IN CUR COMMUNITY * $20 helps us buy a weekly bag of groceries for one family © $60 helps sustain a family for one month © $720 assists that same family for a year Please help those in need. All donations are tax deductible. CLIP AND MAIL WITH YOUR_GIFT TODAY — Name > Address Province Coe City, Postal - YES! | want to provide food for the hungry. F O $26 © $60 0$720 (Other $ +1 THE FOOD BANK 1650 Quebec Street, Vancouver, 8 BC. V6A 3L6 aU! 689-366: em was going on elsewhere was tardy in reaching me. But because it was remote we were amongst the first to become familiar with Wop May and his flimsy aircraft. We were thrilled when Grant McConachie showed up on the Saturday night dance-floor in his mukluks. Such unlikely vehicles they manned, those daring men in a brand new element. It’s a long time since we all rushed outside to crane our necks to watch the passage of an aeroplane. Another thing that’s had a total make-over is dancing. From being a genteel gloved public exercise in decorum it has mutated into what looks like demonic possession. Jerks, kicks, slides, all are includ- ed by crashing repetitive noise that threatens to destroy all partici- pants. One thinks of the dance-floors we once knew, knots of men out- side having a smoke, other knots covertly scouting the women and girls lined up on the chairs around the edge of the room. We females sat trapped, out- wardly docile, longing for one of the knot-makers to present himself and ask for our company for a waltz or a polka. If invited, we must comply no matter how unat- tractive or clumsy the silly fellow might be. We were allowed to refuse only if he was obviously impaired. What agonies we endured while we tried to vamp the chap we re- ally longed to dance with. Tribal mores. Now we can face a New Year without trying to tie our faltering intentions down with resolutions. We know they wouldn't be kept past Tuesday, anyway, and we're really just grateful to have made it this far without more serious damage. All that stuff in our memories reminds us that the world goes on, and that it’s a lot of fun to be here on the sidelines. No one ex- pects us to change anything, not even our minds, and so we can coast, now, with time for silent amusement. As long as we live we'll keep on comparing and remembering and boggling. It’s a wonderful life. We can’t count on happy, but we surely count on interesting. An interesting New Year to us all. Davis & Compan: y BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS Davis & Company is a major Canadian law firm based in Vancouver whose 100 lawyers provide a full range of legal services. including personal injury. We have offices in Vancouver and New Westminster. 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