Despite the fact that my woeful Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup for over four decades and the rest of our Canadian teams are out of the playoffs this time around, I will still be cheering loudly for the Montreal Canadiens to win it all in 2008!
No, I am not a bandwagon jumper, but I have always had a strong loyalty to all of our Canadian teams, no matter what the sport or the odds. In all the hype of the exciting playoff action it is a real shame that some of those avid Hab fans are over-celebrating by causing riots and destruction after the games and hopefully they will come to their senses and enjoy the spirit of the game avidly, but sensibly.
Whenever I see a Canadian team or group of any age wearing our marvelous Maple Leaf colours, or singing the anthem, I actually get goose bumps and enthusiastically join in with the hype, even at my age. After just returning from a holiday in the American state of Hawaii, it is quite obvious of how proud they are of their heritage; and we as proud Canucks must always salute our soldiers and celebrate the champions that we are and have been for many decades.
Spring will survive…. I promise
Whether March went out like a lamb or a lion, April is now blessing us with the biggest weather bite of the winter. Ho-hum, just our annual spring storm and how great is the moisture and how green it will be once our little buddies finally make there way through the snow?
No matter what the date of our final spring arrival will be, it is now the time for clean-up, yard work, golf and all other outdoor fun; all somehow to be accomplished between playoff games. A couple of my roving reporters called me last week with some hot news tips and to expand on my knowledge of history.
Dave offered a bouquet to Ponoka Town Councilor Doug Gill for setting a great example while out on his daily walks with his wife. Doug takes along a stick and a garbage bag and faithfully picks up the paper and junk that gets blown and thrown around on a regular basis. Just a little tidy up effort in all of our yards and around the community will help to keep our town clean and green for all to see, enjoy and be proud of. Neil also reminded me that the car in the Brulhart Garage picture in Remember When last week was a classic Studebaker and not a Pontiac.
Thanks to everyone for your super interest and contributions to our weekly Reflections and Remember When features in the Ponoka News. If you have stories, ideas, or old photos please drop them off at the Ponoka News, give me a call at 341-5750, or email jrainone@telus.net.
The wonderfully honest humour of our kids
*An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting in mischief, finally asked him, “How to you expect to get into heaven?” The boy thought it over and finally replied, “Well, I’ll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, ‘For heaven’s sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!”
*One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?” The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t dear,” she said. “I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.” A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice uttering, “The big sissy!”
*It was that time during the Sunday morning service for the children’s sermon. All the children were invited to come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as she sat down, the pastor leaned over and said, “That is a very pretty dress, is it your Easter dress?” The little girl replied, speaking directly into the pastor’s clip-on microphone, “Yes, and my Mommy says it’s a pain to iron!”
*Mother: “How can you be so rude and tell your sister she’s stupid? Tell her you’re sorry.” Boy: “Sis, I’m sorry you’re stupid!”
*On his first visit to the zoo a little duffer stared at the caged stork for a long while. Then he turned to his father and exclaimed, “Gee, Dad, he doesn’t recognize me.”
*Father: “Son, do you realize that when Lincoln was your age he was already studying hard to be a lawyer?” Son: “Right, Pop and when he was your age, he was already the President of the United States!”
I recently spied a very timely bumper sticker that was definitely intended for the cell-phone fanatics…. ‘Hang up and drive!’ Don’t forget to take a few last moments to complete your income tax and have a great week, all of you!