JENNIFER LANG 7 CHARLYNN TOEWS Nice work if you can get it HAVE just read, for the umpteenth time, that “marriage is work.” Well, umpteen dollars. If | had-another dollar for each time I've heard “marriage is HARD work,” I'd have yét more money. I struggle to understand the concept of work- ing hard on a relationship. I try to picture it. I have no doubt that all who talk about it mean it, but it doesn’t click with me. Because what I am “having is fun, enjoyment, pleasure. That seems like the opposite of hafd work, doesn’t it? I met a lot of odd people when living in Hali- | fax. One was a co-worker who was amazed my | husband and I were married. She thought surely we were just dating, were brand-new to each other. She asked, “Why are you so nice to him?” , Which was an odd question, I thought. She complained bitterly about her boyfriend, which I-also thought odd. If you don’t like him, why are you walking his dogs while he’s out of ~ town, or more to the point, why is he your boy- friend? If you don’t feel like walking two big dogs in the foggy cold of a Maritime ‘morning, . and you do it anyway, that sounds like work. ‘So far, | have moved my husband’s scuba tanks across the country three-times. It-is hi ghly — annoying because of what they are: big heavy — ‘tanks that hold air under pressure. Under signifi- cant pressure. Nobody likes them! A fine victory to solve the problem, as each and every time, I reign triumphant! They are moved. Now, see, I found that stimulating. Amusing, aggravating, challenging.. Makes a good story later. But never did I find it work. I wouldn’t call it work now. When my husband was a diver; interested per- sons would smile and nod at me and looking at him would ask me, “Are you taking diving les- sons?” ‘Duh, no. That would be work to me. | just laughed, say- ing, “Ha, ha, no, well, yeah, ha ha.” Then later when my husband was more known as a pilot, they would ask how much I flew or if I were a flight attendant. By then I knew myself enough’ to say, “Oh, no, ha ha, actually I'don’t like planes all that much, it’s just that I really like Dave.” One time Dave and his old Dad and I were somehow able to spend a lovely dinner at Papa George’s on Osborne in Winnipeg. Usually there were more siblings about, or Dave and his Dad would be off, or I would have Merrill to myself only for a few minutes. This one and only time, we three had leisurely late night pizza and beer. Merrill told a lengthy tale about a fella he knew, a story that started in the war. There was an update Dave was keenly interested in, as he had met the character involved, maybe three times over 30 years. Old whats-his-name had re- surfaced in a new and fascinating chapter. Dave's dad provided the latest news, which © was funny and/or ironic to the two men, Next,. Merrill thoughtfully filled me in on the back story: valour, camaraderie, loss, beautiful coin- cidence, the gifts life gives you, ultimately bad loans, ultimate victory, missed messages, fate- _cross‘t-times. Wow! I was trying to follow this - thread, all very interesting, and such a handsome, articulate man. Full head of hair. - I had one question I needed clarifying, I asked him, “So, why did you do all this for this guy?” Merrill looked at me: | had surprised him. He found the question surprising. He said, “Well, ] guess I kind of liked the fellow.” Now, that doesn’t sound like work to me. Aggravating at times; of course. We are talking humans here, right? Built-in aggravation. Dave _ says, “That? S an aggravant,” just like that. He ' figures that he can make up his own words: he figures that if an irritant,is irritating, .an aggra- vant is aggravating. He knows I hate singing in the morning, I prefer to nurture the dark storm clouds roiling over my head til 10 am or later, but "he figures he should do it anyway. For example, once he had me trapped in our truck on the old bridge between Dartmouth and Halifax. He was ' nicely driving me to work, then in the middle of the bridge, having meat his mercy, he began reciting Robert Service poetry in a John Wayne voice. “Well, pilgrim, you know what’s it’s like in the Yukon.. “No!” I shouted. “You know darn well no singing, and absolutely no Robert Service in. the morning! We discussed this!" ‘,..When it’s 69 below...” That’s not work. That’s fun, enjoyment, plea- sure, if you like the guy. Otherwise it would be too much of an aggravant. if 1 had a dollar. for every time I've read that, I'd have, well, The multicultural association hosts its 20th annual potluck dinner Saturday - By JEF F NAGEL IT WILL be an international parade of the patate..And a very special one at that. Flavour fans will cel- ebrate 20 years of Terrace’s * Multicultural Potluck Din- ner by savouring the dishes of dozens of nations when they gather this Saturday at the Kitsumkalum Hall. | Organizer Jane Dickson -contends the annual event is proof tastes here have grown surprisingly adventurous. This is a town, after all, that boasts multiple East Indian restaurants springing from the local Sikh commu- nity. “People seem to be de- veloping more a sense of Moving from grief to action _ Students find a. positive way to 9 cope with the tragic loss of their classmate RYAN RIDLER drowned in Lakelse Lake last spring, but his fellow. students have not forgotten him. They’ve ‘started a fundraiser in memory of the 14-year-old Grade 9 student. It’s called Hearts For Ryan. ~. “It hit our school community Skeena Jr. Second- Bartley 7 hard last year,” ary’ School principal Dave said. ° The tragedy struck June 25 — at -eter the last day of classes and on the - day the students’ return to pick up. their final report cards. Ridler was swimming where Wil- liams Creek joins the lake. A strong current pulled him under. “Many, many of our -kids and Bartley staff were at the funeral,” said. But it happened too late in the year for students to decide how to react, pay tribute and find closure. been talking all Bartley “The kids have year about what to do,” said. At the time, Terrace Water Res- cue team members said a spccial- ized piece of equipment —a heated oxygen unit — might have improved the odds of successfully resuscitat- ing the teen had it been available. Unfortunately the team’s unit - was in Stewart, where another wa- ter rescue.search was underway, and Mills Memorial Hospital isn’t outlit- ted with its own. Bartley said this year’s Grade 10 class, who were in Ryan’s grade last « year, have decided to raise moncy for an extra heated oxygen machine ° that will always be in Terrace if needed. Uplands plunders a classic adventure . By JENNIFER LANG THE LURE OF _ buried treasure, menacing one- legged pirates, the exotic appeal of the high seas, and a boy's quest for adventure. =, It's easy to ‘understand why Treasure Island has in- Spired an elementary school stage show. This weekend, the stu- dents of Uplands Elementary School will stage their own production at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre.» “Tt’s a great family show, lots of action, lots of visu- als,” director Robin Hollett said. The story has such broad . appeal: it’s the tale of young. Jim Hawkins who's on a quest to find Captain Flint’s treasure after a map show- ing its location falls into his hands, Before long, he’s climbed aboard the Hispaniola, and unwittingly befriends the dastardly pirate. Long John Silver, who's masquerading as a cook. But the one- legged pirate is planning a mutiny. He kid- naps young Jim. and steals his treasure map, eventually leading to a showdown. Starring 150 students in Grades 4-7, the cast of flav our for the’ Malaysian foods and that part of the world.” she ‘said. ““Phis is Where the East Indian food has opened up the door to Navours that are a bit hotter. People have opened, up the food possibilities.” “We had a lot of East In- dian food and a lot of north African last year,” she said. “There were Japanese su- shi dishes, and Halian.And © more Thai dishes seem to be coming out too.” . The theme of the evening » will be Dwelling in Unity: “We're really. looking forward to an event that brings — people together.” Dickson said. > Together ‘ -of town, There will bea children’s . ticultural Potluck Dinner is. “IVs a larger location. “choir and various children’s ‘Saturday Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. activities. at the Kitswnkalum Hail. “ning is ‘varicty. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - B1 638-7283 children’ s frenzied attack on candy-filled pinatas. Plus . door prizes for all. Participants are urged to consider their wardrobe as well as their pantry. “If you don’t have a per- sonal sinternational dish of your country of origin, then “We're really encourag- — bring your favourite interna- ° Free, transportation — to ing people lo wear interna. — tional dish.” Dickson said. Kitsumkalum from down- town outside the library jis. | available by calling 638- 1594 wellinadvance., tional costumes — whether its one of their own or one of their choice.” “That's what people en- joy - the different textures cand flavours of the food.” Organizers expect it to be Entertainment — includes “We need to know how bigger than ever, Kitsumkalum’s: Xbishuunt- many people want rides.” Asaresultthey’vemoved Dancers, Filipino danc- Dickson explained, "We the event, normally staged at the arena banquet room, to the Kitsumkalum Hall West “ers, belly dancing, Scottish. - country dancing, as well as a school children’s choir. wanl to be sure everybody gets there.’ B The 20th annual Mul- twice as large as at the are- na, Dickson said. The-essence of the eve- Everyone brings: a; dish to ‘add to the feast and gets into the spirit. Doors open at-4 pan. Tick- ets $5, or $1 for children under 10, at. Misty River Books. Each family’ ‘brings - one dish... And Sasa Loggin:is-pre- paring a video presentation. of the faces of Terrace. If all that’s not enough, there’s the crowd-pleasing THEY'VE GOT HEARTS: Skeena Jr. Grade 9 student Luke Basso, fills out a heart, while Grade 10s Nick Gascon and Katherine Goodwin look through the display case glass. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO It costs $5,000. ary, donation is $1. “Our kids have a goal to try to raise half of it as a school,” Bartley said. “We're really excited that they wanted to something for. Ryan.” Throughout the month of Febru- students are taking donations for Hearts for Ryan. T he minimum They began selling them at lunch hours last week and in just two days had passed the $500 mark in their — Before attending Skeena, Ridler went to Thornhill. Elementary and’ . Uplands Elementary. oo ; “Ryan was into. the outdoors, : hiking, snowmobiling, < and hockey,” Bartley added. — Contacts for the Hearts For Ryan campaign. Red paper hearts with names and personal messages are cut out and put up inside a display case in. the main foyer at Skeena Jr. The school wants. the commu- nity to be aware of the project so_ anyone else interested can lend their support. 5 leadership teachers ‘Dave Crawley, “Ryan was a Grade 9 student who is also the vice principal, and who loved life,” Bartley said. “He Patsy Chant. was well known.” PIRATE PLAYERS: Actors Lindsay Scharf as Dr. Livesey (from left), Farron Lansd- owne, Danielle Jephson as Captain Smollett, and Mikey Laird as Long John Silver in one of two casts in Treasure Island. you have ‘got to find your _ time to rehearse both.” Rehearsals take place before school, during re- cess and at lunch. Cast one rehearses Mondays and my =lucsdays. Wednesdays and. . Thursdays for for cast two. “You have to give your kids a lot of independence when you're running two casis.” The production has ‘in- J volved the entire school, with other staff members “lending their much-needed support, and parents assist- ing with costumes and sets._. “A team of scaumstresses led’ by Yvette Favron has been. working on the cos- tumes for the main: charac- ters. The sets have been de- signed by Marilyn Earl and Nadia Guerreiro. — “They're quite elaborate this year. We've been work- ing on them for the last two JENNIFER LANG PHOTO Treasure Island is in for a big surprise. Hollett has cast several adults in kev cameo roles and, as of last week.” the kids didnt even know who they are. And Hollett isn’t ‘tell- ing. except to say they're gleaned from among the staff and parents. months. We’ve had people ‘in painting every weekend,” she says, adding lan Gordon is in charge of the construc- * tion, Treasure Island runs Friday and Saturday at the also under the direction of Hollett. a music teacher. . Again, she’s running two separate casts —. there are different children in most of the lead roles, but the chorus “They won't find out until the rehearsal performance,” | she said. “The kids didn't know who is involved. This has been like the big mys- tery at the school.” It's already been two members remain the same R.E.M. Lee starting at 7 years. since’ the school — for both shows. p.m. Tickets at Misty River mounted its first musical “Its a lot more challeng- Books and Uplands School. production, Tom Sawyer. ing with two casts, because — Reserved seating. campaign are Skeena Jr. Grade 10 ¢ g