20 - Sunday. December 14. 1997 - North Shore News north shore news S Winter warmth in ‘funnies’ WHEN I was a child in the lonesome North, there was a dearth of what you could call entertainment. The schools Christmas concert could be thus deseribed, J suppose, but it lasted at most fora couple of hours and came only once a year. Tt was rare that anyone came for dinner. Lean recall only one occa- sion when the Red Cross nurse who looked after the whole Peace River Block cane for dinner. She brought her violin, and she and the stepfather played some duets. HStaNCES Were JUST TOO daunting for anything frivo lous, as Were the temperatures for months on end. Most of our evenings were short, anyway. The two heaters got “banked” for the night, one upstairs, one down, certainly by § o'clock, so there wasn’t a lot of time benveen supper and home- work to Jook for entertain: ment. We had some few books, mostly represented by a set of the Books of Knowledge, published about the turn of the century but still fill of wonders to us. Also our father’s cousin in Princes Edward Island wrote books for girls. We received the new one each Christmas. We read them over and over. Montgomery gave us another idea of the world. We got a clutch of news- Papers, once a week. The advertisements were tant as the columns of print, to me and my sister. The biggest attraction of alt was the “funnies,” of course. We would Katz and Jammer Kids for anything in the world, nor Barney Hooligan, the skinny guy who wore a tin can tied under his chin. ft was his idea ofa hat. And Maggie and liggs, of course, were a special treat. You'll recall, Maggie was 3 Stephen Wong Pharmacist CAPSULE COMMENTS Keeping a “mini-inedical history” in our waller or parse cat be potentially life-saving an emergency sitnanon you can’t speak for vourself. This mini-history should answer thice questions for emergency personnel: 1) what drugs are vou currently caking? do vou hase any known allergies? 3) do you have any significant im ca! conditions diabetes, hypertension, asthina ote}? Phe people who work in cur pharmacy are aur greatest assct Let one of us serve you suon. Free Parking Free Delivery for Pharmacy Prescriptions DAVIES PHARMACY 1401 St. Georges 985-8771 vintage years keen social clintber, bent on moving up in the world, and was ashamed that Jiggs sull clung to his taste for corned beef and cabbaye. Pte used to bring it home ina bucket with a lid on it, Evervbody knew what it was, and Maggie was always in a sweat to hide it, since it broughne them down in the world. Then there was Little Orphan Annic, whose eves had no pupils, do vou t end af the suck She had adog, what the ens was his name? Sandy? think so, and she got comfort tram him, thank goodness. Vhere were long days berween funnies, but we had the solace of EF Mlon’s cata logue other re look at eve hing w shen the new catalogue came. There was one for fall and winter and another tor spring and summer. We logked at every page, even the ones with the har: rows and mowers on them, And the horses. We loved the pictures of them showing off the horse collars. They were handsome heavy beasts — we liked the way they arched their necks. Our parents would send a winter order around September, and it was very exciting when the parce! Swing sisters arrived with our new tong wear tor the winter. When we fist pat it on it wits fitting to the body, bat by the time it had been washed once or twice the snap went out of the ankles, and for the rest of the season we had these thick overlaps, Didn't do a darn thing for te really didn’t mauer — everyone suffered the same The trap door, as we called the buttoned flap behind, was the final injustice. It brought one’s cold hands inte pliy and quickened the trip to the outdoor loo. Vhe pages of dalis were my favorites. | never did have one of the Eaton's Beauty dolls, which Pd have given an arm for, but they cost far too much. L suppose they've dis- appeared now, inthis much more exciting world of com- puters. NEWS photo Terry Peters THE Sugar Plums Pattie Allan (left), Lori Valleau and Ellen Kennedy (not shown) held a special Christmas concert for seniors at Presentation House Dec. 8. The singers performed swing tunes from the '40s and Christmas favorites. 0: busload of passengers takes 40 vehicles of the road, saves 70,000 litres of fuel and avoids 9 tonnes . of air pollutants o year. Try transit! estival of Lights at VanDusen Garden Fire! Drama! Mystery! * « * Ps, ‘ ‘ a age & Prery Puplic Drearns Society Introducing a Journey of Wishes in the Garden filled with Lights December 12 - January 1 5 - 9:30 pm Tickets on Sale Here Adults $5, Seniors/Youth $2.50, Family $10, Members $3. 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