INSIDE HERE BY CHOICE FAE COLLINS MOONEY Kindergarten, Star Trek and beyond EMEMBER Robert Fulghum’s book — All I Really Need To Know I learned in Kindergar- fen? In case you don’t, here’s a crash course, Passing Kindergarten is critical. It was there in Kindergarten, Fulghum claims, that he learned all he really needs to know about how ta live and what to do and how to be. Here are some of the things he leamed: M Warm cookics and cold milk are good for you, MW Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. m Be aware of wonder — remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots grow down and the plant grows up and nobody really knows how or why, but we ate like that too, B When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Everything we need to know we experienced there in Kindergarten, he claims. But somewhere along the way, we ‘‘grew up.”’ What happened to the milk and cookies? When did we forget to sing some and dance some and draw and paint and play every day some? The joy of life, the sense of wonder —- how did “we Jose them? Where, along the way, did we let ga hands? Can we go back? Should we? The other day I found another interesting book. It’s called Ail J Really Need To Know I Learned _ From Watching Star Trek. Yup, Star Trek. How often have trekkiecs been harassed to “GET A LIFE!"’ Well, here’s a guy who says he gained whal’s necessary to live a meaningful life from Star Trek. As Dave Marinaccio says in his book, you can find worse role models. Although the book relates to that choice genera- tion of followers from the original series, still, ac- cording to Dave, all he really needs to know aboul how to live and what to do and how to be, he claims he learned from walching Star Trek. These are some of the things he learned: M@ No matter where in the galaxy we may be, answer a distress call (the most important Lime to help someone is when he needs it). Mi The unknown is not to be feared; it is to be examined, understood, and accepted. @ Close friends become family and family is the true centre of the universe, _ End cach cpisode with a smile. Every situation we will face in life has already been faced by the crew of the Starship Enterprise, he says. Maybe if we work hard, and study hard, we too will be accepted at Starfleet Academy, By then, I discovered yet another book some time back with a title a trekkie can’t resist. It’s called To Boldly Ga, Erle Delve's book took me on a journey out of this galaxy, beyond the confines of the universe, and challenged me to seck out new life and new worlds beyond imagining. It’s not a science fiction book; instead it is a book that in some ways is appropriate for the ap- proaching season. This book confirms yet another: The Book, From this book I really begin to learn all I really need to know... It’s all there — milk and cookies, joy and wonder, the Galactic Golden Rule. It takes me beyond Kindergarten, beyond Star Trek. And it’s much greater than can be imagined! I have been reminded that in this coming sea- son, the focus of which is the birth of Christ, it’s important to remember that he did not remain a helpless babe. Jesus grew up. He was a real man, ‘‘the best and bravest there ever was,”’ Every situation we will face in Jife He has already faced, He died, yet lives, He inhabits eternity — truly, where no man has gone before. In celebrating His birth, should we not also be remembering His life, His sacrifice, and His - words — for in them is everything we really need to know about how to live and what ta do and how to be. Not only in this life, and in this galaxy, but throvgh all eternity a3 well, All] really need to know - it’s in The Book. Marrow donors sign up NEARLY 200 people signed up as potential bone marrow donors as a result of a public meeting here last week. The mecting was sponsored by the Bruce Denniston Bone Mar- row Socicty, named after an RCMP officer who died of can- ecr, and the Canadian Red Cross Society. Those who attended the mect- ing heard of the donor application procedure and of the great need for donors. Applicants are being asked to visit their local doctor for a check up and to give a blood sample. The samples will be taken to the airport by the RCMP and flown to Vancouver via AirBC for test- ing at the Red Cross lab. Red Cross official Sheena Wilkie pointed out that it can take up to 100,000 people to find the perfect match for a person who needs a transplant. Bone marrow contains needed clements for the body and the lack of those elements can lead to discases — including cancer and leukemia. The Denniston society was formed with the sponsorship of the RCMP to help promote the need for as large as donor registry as possible, The number of donors on file now numbers 78,000 in Canada and 20,000 of those tive in B.C, Wilkie said the mecting here in Terrace and similar ones across the northwest will help enlarge and broaden the tegistry. “Getting into the regions helps us reflect the ethnic diversity of the country,’’ she said. There is, for instance, a native man in Fraser Lake who necds a ‘transplant but a search for a match has yet to be successful, “Generally, the best chance for a match is someone within your own ethnic group,” said Wilkic. Caucasians represent about 96 per cent of those people regis- tered as potential bone marrow donors, a circumstance that grew out of the same kind of numbers who are blood donors, she added. And Wilkic was quick to dis- count the stories about the pain of being a donor. “That’s an urban legend,”’ said MENTAL HEALTH | SECTION B COMMUNITY JEFF NAGEL EVENTS B2 638-7283 FRIENDS FOR UFE: Highlight of last week's bone marrow donor info meeting was six-year-old Laura Beaton's opportunity to meet her hero — Montreal RCMP Insp. Gilles Soucy, who donated bone marrow to save her life. Mother Diane Beaton remembers how blond and blue-eyed Laura's hair and eye colour changed to match Soucy's in the months following the operation. Wilkie. “‘Of the 90-cdd donors to dale in B.C., I’ve never had any- body say it was the most painful thing they've went through, It's a discomfort that brings life, ” she said. WES: Wilkie added that ‘donating bone marrow in urban centres is 4 simple matter of day surgery. The marrow ‘meant . for transplant.is placed in a cooler- type container and shipped rapid- STEPPING STONE clubhouse client Pattl McKinnon nlays the plano In preparation fc for the group's upcoming choir evening. The centre isa favourite dropping-in spot for peaple with a history of men- tal liness. GIZELLA BOTZ PHOTO ly to where it’s needed. “There’s nowhere we can’t get to in the world within 24 hours,” said Wilkie. “We've had marrow shipped to Austratia with no “problem.”? IT’S THEIR HOME away from home. That's how coordinator Pam Bibby thinks of Stepping Stone Clubhouse, an activity centre for mentally ill people. “Tt gives them a place to come to socialize and to learn basic life skills,’ Bibby says, The centre operates on grants from the ministry of health and is administered by Terrace and Dis- trict Community Services Society. It’s located in the old Evangeli- cal Free Church building at the comer of Sparks and Park Ave. About 42 clients now use the centre, which opened early in 1993, Some clients do supportive work placements at the clubhouse and gain confidence in dealing with the outside world. It's also used as a meeting place by the B.C. Schizonphrenia Socicty. The centre is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a weck plus Tuesday cvenings, occasional Saturdays and some special occa- sions, Activities include arts and crafts, music, and educational workshops on things ilke siress management, There’s even a cooking group. Clients are beginning to form an executive to begin to make de- cisions themselves, Bibby added.