Wednesday, Sepiémber'3, i986 - North shore News Bob Hunter ——————— © strictly personal « ABOUT a month ago, I became a four-eyes. 1 could see it coming, $0 to speak. | realized one day I was holding the newspaper about two feet away. My reflex, when I tried to focus on the printed word, was to back my head up about six in- ches, then nose forward slowly, as though [ could sneak up on the page. Even then, | pretended it wasn't happening. I have been in the habit since [ was a kid of reading myself to sleep. When I was supposed to be getting to bed early so I would do better in schoo} the next day, I us- ed to read science fiction under the covers with the aid of a flashlight. So ingrained is the habit of reading before nodding off that even if I have had a nightcap or two, I have to scan a few pages of SOMETHING to get myself in the mood for unconsciousness. I will read anything. Standing in line-ups, I’m generally okay as long as I can grab at least an advertising brochure to keep me distracted from the hor- ror of my predicament. Every once in a while { find myself in an unexpected situation without even a pamphlet at hand. In these cases, | hungrily read billboards, licence plates, neon signs, coupons left on the sidewalk. Triple Chair To “The Peak’?! Now, Whistler Mountain brings you the peak ski choice. This season’s installation of a new triple chair to the very peak of Whistler Mountain will feature two unload stations that will lift 1,100 skiers per hour to the heights of sensational skiing. Intermediate skiers will be encouraged to If worse comes to warse, | take outmy own 1D and read such items as my birth certificate and BCAA card over and over again. [ can survive the inevitable claustrophobia that comes ftom climbing on board a bus or subway or ferry or plane — as iong as bam supplicd with enough reading material to last the duration of the trip. What I[ really resent about driv- ing acar is the fact that | can’t read and drive at the same time, although, actually, in traffic jams I have been known to do so, and I often grab a few paragraphs dur- ing red lights. I was caught in a living nightmare not long ago when I got stuck, wide-awake, in a train cross- ing the plain in Spain a: night with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO READ: My travelling companion had only one book of his own. I final- ly had to ask if I could borrow it for just a few pages. Otherwise | was going to have to kil! him. By passing the book back and forth, he kept me from a complete nervous breakdown before morn- ing. It was like somgone giving you a toke on their cigarette. Reading is like cating to me. In fact, | would much rather read Vv Hancat. “albsighe tar the vtke ot asiinaation. Podon i send dura supper, bosemretines de durin: lunch and adtesareg: Breoahtast. bwohtert hanes tee tor cat broukbast without a newspaper, esen a dumb otic When Twas in Grade $s tale the other ids were out rom cach other with skates, Fused to voaser fo trends drouse tnd we'd spend the das (vane around resdiy Har dy Hoss boobs ustialis twa, often three, SOMETIMES fou volumes ata time. Phat was que idea of a territic Saturday. The Jone and the short of at is that lam oa compulsive reader, a print junkie, So, recently, when J found mysell putting dawn a book after only a few minutes of squinting at its pages while trying to get to sleep at night, | naturally ateriouted this change in behavior to senility. In due course, though, ! com- plained aloud. My wife lined me up immediately to go to the eye doc- tor. | muttered darkly about this being the beginning of the end for the old existential hero. Breezily, the eye doctor explain- ed that as you get older your eyes don’t work as well. You can't see at the same close range as you do when you're a kid. A quick battery of tests, and the next thing I know I’m picking out a black-rimmed pair of goggles to go with my mood. I brooded deeply. But was I in for a pleasant surprise! Getting home and grudgingly slipping the glasses on, I discovered, lo and behdttt-ar-cn— tire universe of exquisite detail. The printed page was magnified. For the first few days, I found myself examining everything close- u abwarss da p. What a fantastic invention, reading glasses. 540° until Sept. 8." For peak ski savings buy your Whistler Season's Pass n You'll get over 150 days of choice skiing at our Early Bird special prices. Plus. to sweeten the deal. there's a new 10% family discount, applicable to these prices. To qualify, your family must consist of a minimum of one adult (max. 2) anda minimum of one youth or child. (Note: Adult Day Tickets will be $29.00, Senior $20, Child $12). 1986/87 SEASON'S PASS PRICES: “8 E LARGEST AND BEST EQUIPPED | FITNESS FACILITY ON THE NORTH SHORE. ! “WE HAVE MORE TO OFFER” « Etnpire Fitness oo — Type | Age _ _ Early Bird until Sept. 8 Regular $540.00 $650.00 $290.00 $135.00 $220.00 off-load at Billy Goat Rock for exceptional Ben | SO . ee : : 5 . ‘outh 13-18 alpine skiing in Whistler’s Glacier Bowl. “Ghia aa 8110.00 While advanced skiers can continue on to : Senior | 65+ | - _ $220.00 $290.00 : Whistler Peak for breathtaking 360 degree Tot} 0-6 | No Gharge | No Charge views, over 15 choice runs, and over Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to save. Order your ; } ij Pass by calling 685-0521. Or drop in to our Vancouver office at 3,000 vertical feet of spectacular skiing. #1011409 West Pender Street. Jim McConkey Sports Shop at _.~ Test your skill down these all new peak runs the Gondola Base. or in the Brandywine Building in VAS or choose from over 70 different runs for unmatched variety. All in all, Whistler is this Whistler Village. Cheques and credit cards accepted. season's peak ski choice. Payments not processed by Whistler until Sept. 9, 1986. * Note: Aiso available at Woodward’s Sports Downtown, Oakridge, Lansdowne and Park Royal from Sept. 3-8/86.