BOY did I catch hell at the supermarket the other day. Tov as standing in line at the checkout counter nund ing ay awn business. when aneiderh lady dropped a turmp on the floor beside me. Naturally P bent over and picked it up tor her. As] rolled it onto her section of the vrocery convever belt | commented, “E didn’t know people Me those things anymore. The woman, clearly upset, arched her evebrows at me and shook her head. “You voung people, vowre so spoiled vourve for- gotten what's good for vou,” she said, wagging her finger at me. She may be right, bur turmips are a hard sell these days when we have access ty so many varicties of produce all year long. And, as 1 used to tell. my mother, they're ugly, they taste bad, and they really stink when thev're cooking. Sdll, T should have known better than to Jook down on the old girl’s turnip; Pve wit- nessed this kind of emotional reaction to turnip slamming before. My grandpa loved turnips. Whenever Papa, as we called him, came to stay with us my mother boiled turnips, mashed them and served them with butter and salt. One night when my Nana and Papa were over for din- ner, ] made some rude teenaged noise and pointed at his turnips. He stood up from his chair with his fists clenched and shouted: “You ought to have more respect for turnips. They got me through the war!” I was stunned by his reac- tion. “Sit down, Hayward,” Close to home warned aw Nana, “vou ll die ofa heart attick Gver a turnip.” Laver that evening. after T had brushed bis white hair and loved bim up a fittle. he calmed down and told me about the Second World War. Of course, he had pone over his old war stories a hundred times with my brothers and me, bat we never tired of hearing them, He was areal live here, our Papa. and though he was a man of few words, we hang an every one of them: when he was ulking about the war. (In fact, for che longest time we kids were disap- pointed in our own father because he hadn't fought in the war. The fact that he was Ho owhen it broke out didn’t seem like a good enough excuse for us.) My Papa drove an army tank in Europe, and it seems the humble turnip was a sta- ple in his diet while he was EWE ag & Loss of youth leader Dear Editor: Re: Oct. 25 North Shore News: Loss of youth leader hits home. As a member of several volunteer groups in the Deep Cove area, 1 am appalled that someone of Craig Johnstons’ calibre and his He and his army bud dies dag them our ot the farmers’ fields in she wanier and bored them in por ever open fires They ate them wath a hittle salty thinking thoughts of warn kitchens and loved ones back heme. My Papa told me cat cat ing teriups helped hum stay strong and brave through the war. and he claimed that chessing the carntips raw cleaned his teeth. fle didn’t always have a toothbrush and floss handy in the ward My Nana told me that my Papa fost bis two best friends and the hearing in bis right car inthe war, but he never lost his taste tor turnips. He insisted on cating them at least once a week during the winters until the dav he died. The lady who bawled me out atthe grocery store made me think of my Papa. Remembrance Day was the biggest dav af the vear tor him, In addition to mark- ing the end of the worst nightmare in history, Noventber EL was his birth- day and his wedding. anniver- sare. When my Papa was ative he really looked forward to marching in the kkemembrance Day Parade. He dressed up in a starched white shirt that practically dazzled it was so bright, a there, years of caring service for the youth of the Deep Cove and Seymour areas, should be barred from helping these young people. His years of dedication to youth programs have made him well known and respeet- ed for the wonderful work he “After seeing Dr. Zhong, ny right shoulder which Wa was painful all the time and ached all day long - is fine, no pain, no stiffness. Lcan now use my shoulder without experiencing any pain. I feel fine and satisfied. also had treatment for weight loss und lost 9Ibs." B. Budz, Vancouver “The night sweats have completely disappeared. My energy is more than [ can ever remember having. J. Peebles, Richmond “The sciatic pain is 100% gone, which to me is a miracle since I've experienced this pain for 25 years.” P. Trueman, Vancouver How to Cure Muscle &. Tissue Pain/ Gancer/Allergies: Saturday Nov. 7th 2:00 pm Ann McDonald Halil, Pres. 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Hs old bhick army boots were butted to a sheen thar you coud almost see veur face inf vou bent down to look, My Papa spent heurs pol ishing the medals he pinned on his bhiver pocket, and they eleamed and tinkled ay he marched proudly and teartully in the parade with the New Westminster Regiment. “Me Nana tokd me he cried dike a brby through the Remembrance Dav services. After the ceremonies my Papa always went to the Army and Navy Chib to tip a few pints with the other old soldiers whe had marched. Sometimes he tipped more than. a few, and he and his pals would sing ald songs and cry for their los: mates. This Remenibtanee Dav | am going to make boiled turnips for dioner. T know, I know, the kids are going to kick up a fuss, but ['m going ro tell them all abour my Papa, and how turnips got him through the Great War, He was a real hero, my Papa, and P'm grateful for the opportunity to write abour him. —humpers@be sympaticoca lamented has dorie. We would all like to know just whose idea this was and the reasons for such actions, Diana McKay North Vancouver To celebrate nonesuch’s 30 years in business we are offering Selected items nonestuch "ie sere the ‘tore i 1968 - 1998 * All sales finat alterations exifa Timothy Renshaw: every Sunday on page seven in your North Shore News. |