September 4, 2000
Last night when we were young - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- Well, it’s Labour Day and as I did one year ago in this space, I asked aloud why we can’t wear white after today? Suffice to say, I’ve received no answer yet.
You know the school season is starting when Jerry Lewis warbles “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” in his finale to his Labour Day telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
As I type, there’s a box of See’s chocolates about a couple of arms lengths from where I sit. That’s the second box we’ve been given this summer as a couple of the California relatives came. One in July and one in August. A box in July and a box in August. The August ones are about half done. When the box is empty, I know that summer is too.
I didn’t travel this summer. The farthest south I’ve been was White Rock. No regrets and or complaints. I wouldn’t want it any other way. We had one of those California relatives stay at our house in July. She was alone, off to an Alaskan cruise, she stayed the night before leaving and a night after coming back. Nice lady. We packed her off two salmons and we got a note just yesterday telling us they were good.
My old pal at 19th, May Chan has been in touch often over the last two months. She, alongside Philip Ly and Leona Lin were fine companions to movies a few nights over the summer holiday. May was with me at my new favourite restaurant Kaplan’s, a couple weeks back when while having the same dish she asked me if I ate the fat trimmings that accompany the brisket. I said, without missing a beat, “I paid for it.” She laughed and I had my Club Soda and she picked up the check. I guess at Passover I’ve got to invite her for Seder.
I’ve been keeping up with the volunteer gig at the home. I’m into my second year at the Louis Brier and they themselves have been going through some public battles of their own. Their expansion project, which would see the boosting of resident capacity was met with the dark, dank and horrified ejaculations from residents in the neighbourhood of 41st and Oak. NIMBYites joined that much lamented Pamela Sauder, who complained earlier in the season about the Arbutus corridor’s possible use for SkyTrain extension. Vancouver at it’s finest I tell you.
Last Friday the delightful Barbara Yaffe, who David Dougall will be glad to know, I now know, had in her Sun column the political winners of the summer doldrums. Hands down, Stockwell Day’s surprising win over Preston Manning for leadership of the Alliance dominated. Jean Chrétien is in a fighting mood and Joe Clark slides over to New Brunswick for a by-election campaign. The summer wasn’t that exciting, but it paves the way for a terrific fall.
Margaret Tse, Tupper’s gem of cheeriness, I have learned is packed and off to our province’s capital, Victoria. Margaret is a regular patron of a certain column, so I thought I’d note her departure to those who didn’t get her e-mail. This town’s a little more drab without her sunny disposition.
I have it on good authority that Maneesh Puri has left BC to peruse his post-secondary in Manitoba, the land of Ed Schreyer. The man, was so bored when he was Governor General that he attempted to read Rideau Hall’s copy of The World Book, cover to cover to cover - all 26 volumes.
Maneesh left Winnipeg to escape Peter Warren, and then Warren came round over here. Mr. Puri has moved again. I’ve known Maneesh for a while, not too closely, but I’ve known of him and had the delight of working alongside him on the Convention project. He’s a hard working fellow who has an equally working sense of humour. It was a pleasure to know him and I wish him well.
The biggest event of the summer was bar none - Survivor. I did not give a damn.
And as Mike and Fiona take down their booth at the PNE, I’m pleased to say I missed it too this year. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it, but alas never got around to it.
Those of you going back to Tupper tomorrow, my regards. I had a relatively wonderful time for the five years I spent there. I could tell you I wish I were back again tomorrow for another year, but I don’t. It’ll be different as it always is with the beginning of a year. I never believed them when they told me it would go by so fast. Damnit, they were right.
Even if I had failed and had to be set back a year, it wouldn’t be the same without the folks that seem to grow on you after 5 years. Tupper was an interesting place and I hope it only gets better.
It’s funny because five years can be a long time, but on this side of the screen, it’s amazing how it flew and how it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be.
If the next five years will be as fruitful and interesting as the last five - we’ll be fine. Fret not.
To those pursuing further worlds of education or worlds of employment, my compliments regardless. Stay happy, folks.
Thanks for reading and I’ll do my best to keep up this gig. It started out on June 29, 1999 as a forum for discussion. Hopefully it’ll be a forum for us to keep in touch. I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing and I’ll keep up this facade of a crusty curmudgeon. Thanks for playing along, kids.
Here’s to us.
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