me RTS SPINY The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - B1 TERRACE STANDARD 2 DUSTIN QUEZADA 638-7283 sei”. ee “Living n now 0 ing and an article by Abigail Pogrebin called “Recipe for a happy life.” The little blurb at the top of the page said, “Best-selling author Anna - Quindlen on savouring everyday, loving your kids, and learning’ to let go. Plus: a few choice words on ° ia a Paris Hilton! ; Since I’m always looking for new authors, and I love to read inspirational “how to live” pieces, and I generally identify with the:wish that Paris Hilton wasn’t a’cultural icon, I read on. Have you ever had the wonderful experience of reading something and thinking, Hey, that person ‘is just like me? it provides this amazing feeling of - connection, of being empathized with—Someone, despite any differences we might have if we met in person, understands something integral to why I am the way I am, why I think the way I do. Quindien was nineteen when her mom died of cancer, “and the effect, she saysy was to make her acutely aware of how easily life ean slip away.” “When you watch somebody die by inches, and they’re holding on by their fingernails to what is an absolutely humdrum, ordinary life, what you realize is that there must be something really great about humdrum, ordinary life or nobody would try that hard to stay in it.” In her book, A Short Guide to a Happy Life, she shares her “conviction that life must be relished, not wasted.” In Good Housekeeping, she continues on: this thought to Pogrebin, “I’m so sick of going to memorial services where somebody stands up and says, ‘You know, when Dave got sick, he sud- denly realized what mattered in life.’ And I want to stand up and shout: ‘You shouldn’t have to wait until you get sick to figure out that your kids mat- ter! That doing what you care about matters, that _Maybe taking it slow matters, that maybe chang- couple of weeks ago, I was perusing my stepmom’s fantastic array of magazines | _when I came across Good Housekeep- ~ TERRACE’ S Heather ‘Bellamy, kneeling back right, with | women workers involved with the Bamiyan Park Project. Some of their pay i is in ‘the: form of food, particularly beans to provide protein. 2 Bellamy talks Bamiyan Park FORMER TERR ACE resident Heather Bellamy, -now doing aid work among widows and orphans in Afghanistan, will give a presentation of her - work at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre Nov. 8. ‘Her connection to the Afghan people dates back to refugee relief in Pakistan before the fall of - the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. Ce She then moved to Kabul, the capital of Af- ghanistan, but is now located in the Bamiyan area where five acres have been secured under a 50-year lease to develop a market garden, family park and teahouse. By vehicle, Bamiyan is 10 hours over a rough road from Kabul-and the five acres are on the banks of the Bamiyan River. — Plans for the Bamiyan Park Project include Community band will need a new director — -bors, wheelchair accessible pathways, benches, gardens to grow vegetables for personal use and for sale and a commercial teahouse with a clay pizza oven. There's also a tourism component in that or- phaned boys will be trained to lead paid tours to the néarby ancient citadel city of Shar-e-Zohak. - The park setting itself will include'a high stone security wall, a-formal Persian garden with ar- a children’s Playground, flower beds and shade gazebos. ° } The overall intent is twofold — to provide a safe and welcoming place and to provide people who will receive training and staff the park, with a way to earn income. The project has caught the interest of both the FILE PHOTO _ "American and New: Zealand military provincial ‘ reconstruction teams in the Bamiyan area... Private Canadian donations to date have been used in the beginning phase — building the stone © wall around the horticultural training centre part of the park. - Bellamy: isin Terrace to visit friends and fam- ily as part of an annual furlough. She’s also made. - presentations on her Project throughout Western Canada. | In addition to the Nov. 8 presentation at ‘the. R.E.M. Lee Theatre, which begins at 7:30 p.m., - Bellamy is also speaking Sunday night, Nov. 12, at the Terrace Alliance Church (4923 Agar). That begins at 7 p.m. and is also open to everyone. There is no charge to attend either presentation. _ Around Town. Give for a sweet cause ing course matters.’ And yet that’s what happens _By DUSTIN QUEZADA ° + S Diab ‘ae . 0 people : NOVE BER I iabetes’ month and volunteers in Amen! Her words.sum up what I believe, how REMEMBRANCE: - DAY Terrace have already. started going door-to-door collecting . I try to live. And while I was siiting there on the comfortable couch on that lovely fall day, coffee in hand, feeling both affirmed and challenged, my son came up to me and asked if I'd like to go pick blackberries with him. — “Not right now, Sweetie. In a bit though, or “Next time we visit, | promise,’ * | responded. He asked again..““Oh c’mon, Mom. Please? . It’s really nice out and you should see the bushes. » They're loaded!” I declined again, encouraging him to go and _have fun. He shrugged and was down the hallway before it hit me: how ridiculous and hypocritical wasI? - Here [ was, being touched by words extolling a “life of embracing relationships and cherishing mo- ments and I had just declined an invitation to pick -berries with my son. T called him back and told him that r d changed ‘my mind. You should’ve seen his face. It never fails to amaze me how kids never tire of spending time with people that they love, even when that loved one is as obtuse as a parent can often be. We picked-a gorgeous bucket full of the big- gest, darkest blackberries I’ve seen Terrace grow in a long time and as I listened to him chat about his plans for the week and for next year (“We can pick a lot-more, Mom, if we just start earlier in the season’’), my heart was very full. The wisdom in» his words can be applied to more general things— We can have a lot more wonderful moments if we just start choosing to earlier in life. Quindlen went onto say, “[I] made every effort . to be physically present when they [her children] were growing up, because there was that sense of, mortality breathing down my neck.” ~ Susan Brouwer - wer. “I love working with all ‘Brouwer, who was just the ‘third director in the band’s is one dedicated to. ‘the memories of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. . This year, it'll also be re- membered as the last time is at the helm of the Terrace Com- munity Band. ; After three years as the band’s director, Brouwer is leaving her post. “ve really enjoyed it and will miss it,” said Brou- the people in the group.” Wayne Jones, a_ past president with the band and current euphonium player, says Brouwer has continued a strong legacy of premier. conductors. “She's been a tremen- dous leader,” said Jones of 22-year history. Her tenure included a number of good public per- formances but the perfor- mance peak came when the: band won gold under her di- rection at MusicFest Canada in 2005. - Brouwer’s decision to. stop directing the band was an issue of time commit- SUSAN Brouwer is in the Halloween spirit last week as she prepares her Skeena Junior Grade 9/10 concert band for a Nov 9 show. | donations. Diabetes is a serious disease with serious 1s complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, heart failure and amputa- 7 tions. The money, collected will be going to research, eduéation, children’ s camps and support. mo Please. give generously to find a cure. DUSTIN QUEZADA PHOTO 1 CARRIE McCallum gets a flu vaccine last year from ' public health nurse Caterine Chapman..Free clinics ‘start early next week at the public heaith unit. FILE PHOTO Take a shot at health FLU SEASON i is imminent and that means flu shot season | is upon us. Flu vaccines are free and recommended for. people with chronic health conditions, for children aged six to 23 months and people 65 years or older. The shot is also encouraged for Mortality is a fact, but it doesn’t have to be a ment. — ~ curse. It can be a challenge—A challenge to live “It’s a matter of time directing commitments with Without her directing household contacts of newborn children to 23 months and our best lives now. To put our passion and time ~I’dlike to spend more time an Autumn Extravaganza work, Brouwer said she People 65 years and older. into our relationships now. To enjoy the work | with family,” said Brouwer, concert Saturday, Nov. 4 might be re-joining the band To ensure people qualify for the free vaccine, call Public we're doing (or take the scary leap into something else) now. Perhaps that is the recipe for a happy life: Feel occasional pain, confusion, angst and the Jones says: he under- parade. position is still available for If you do not qualify for free vaccine and want one, call a . damage of past hurts, but don’t allow those things } stands. Jones. says she will be . someone with a passion for local pharmacy. to keep you from seeing beauty, challenge, and ex- “The individual band missed. ° music that is able to direct a Flu vaccine drop-in clinics will be administered at: the quisite moments of happiness. Live now. teachers in the city put a lot “Everyone appreciates concert band, said Jones. health unit auditorium on the following dates and times: And as for Paris Hilton? Well, you'll have to track down the article to read Quindlen’s thoughts about her. , who teaches band at Skeena Junior Secondary School. followed by the Nov. 11 performance for the holiday as a bass trombone player. The soon-to-be vacant . Health at 638-2200. The health unit will not be selling flu vaccines this year. back (into the community’s musical scene),” he added. Brouwer will finish her her enthusiasm — she’s a gifted musician and instruc- tor,” Jones said. The band plays three concerts a year plus a spring fling cabaret. Nov. 6-10 and 14-17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Evening clinics are also offered Nov. 8, 14 and 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.