The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 5, 1994 - B1 | INSIDE. SECTION B A | COMMUNITY JEFF NAGEL | EVENTS B2. 638-7283 ee HERE BY CHOICE ‘FAE COLLINS MOONEY There’s plenty to be thankful for LL TOO OFTEN in life, it seems, we don’t truly ap- preciate what we have until we lose it. Or almost lose it. Tlost a home a few years ago. One autumn afternoon, just a few days be- fore Thanksgiving, suddenly, unexpectedly, it burned, ; There was no time then io appreciate what I had lost; there was no time to consider choices, There were none. But this time. This time I had the chance. A while ago this household was surviving on half an income. Only my husband was bringing home a paycheck, and he was not working full-time. Then there was none. His job was gone, and mine didn’t pay. Unemployment insur- ance sustained us, but we were losing ground financially, and some big questions began to loom ever larger on the horizon. Difficult choices need to be made, and soon, Should we stay, tough it out, hope for a job offer tomorrow? Or should we leave, seck out greener pastures elsewhere? We checked out the pastures elsewhere. We worked out strategies and considered possibilitics, made tentative plans. Job prospecis came along, then evaporated like mist rising after a tain. It seemed the grass was greenest in the Skeena Valley. And so we fooked closer to home. Maybe we need to down-size. Sell this place in town and buy something more economical out of town. Instead of a house wo big for two, on a large lot with lots of maintenance and up- keep, maybe a trailer out in Jackpine Flats. © Simplify our lifestyle, and our financial picture. Try to make things more manage- able so we could better weather the storm. As Thanksgiving approaches each year, | remember that autumn afternoon and_ the home I lost. But even more so, now, | truly do appreciate what | have not lost. And so we looked. But as we looked at the cozy litte wailer out in Jackpine Flats we were also forced to look closely at what we already had. And we realized we didn’t want to give to Wp. It was in almost losing it that we realized how much we waated to slay, how much we wanted to keep this big empty house and big: backyard and the garden that’s always in need of weeding. We had to find a way to held on to it, even on U.I, The decision was made. Having Iet our heart overrule our head, we had to find a way to make it work. As it turned out, the hardest part was the wrestling match that took place between our sentimental old heart and the practical head. Because, from that point on, things began to work for the good. This time, we had the chance to look . around at what we had. We had the chance to truly appreciate what we might have lost. And this time we were able to hold on to it, As Thanksgiving approaches each year, I remember that autumn afternoon and the home I lost. But even more so, now, I tmily do appreciate what I have not lost. This place, It’s big, and sometimes bur- densome. But there is no other place we want to be. Such as it is, it’s home, and it's where we want to slay. And now, thankfully, we can. Yes, we do have much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. WHAT'S UP Community calendar of coming events NOW APPEARS ON PAGE B2 Hi On the picket line CRISP BUT CLEAR fall weather was enough to bring out Greg Sieben and his can of paint to tackle the picket fence in front of t his Lazelle Ave, home. By mid-afternoon the old but sturdy boards.were positively sparkling. India trip in question _ INDIAN AND Canadian students who spent the summer in Terrace | as part of a Canada World Youth | exchange could cnd up slaying | longer than planned, They’re scheduled to leave Oct. ; 20 for the second half of their ex- That’s close to the westem in- change — in India, dustrial city of Surat, where most But the spread of deadly of the more than 500 cases have preumonic plague there has been concentrated. thrown those plans into doubt. ‘‘Nobody really knows what's The 50 students and leaders — going to happen so it’s just a case half from across Canada and half of waiting and sccing what hap- from India — are destined to go pens as we get more informa- to the Indian state of Gujarat, said, tion,'’ said John Frederickson, Canada. World Youth regional Canadian Jeader for the Canada director Gary Hinkelmamn. World Youth group here. Around Town Top tipster bags the loonies THE SECRET to getting four meals out of one chicken was the top tip in the Terrace Emergency Shelter’s quest for ideas on saving money and living with less, Giselle Birch provided the idea and got the $25 bag of loonies as her reward, It will be one of the tips that the Emergency Shelter hopes to publish in a 20-page booklet called Living on Loonies, Meal #1, according to Giselle is to cut off the drumsticks, thighs and wings and bake tuem. Serve with pasla. Freeze the remaining chicken. For the second meal, you stuff the cavity of the rest of the carcass, roast il and make a gravy with the drippings for mashed potatoes. Save about half a cup of cooked meat and freeze for later use. In the third meal, the chopped chicken meat comes back as Thrifty Chow Mein. For the fourth meal, she says, boil the bones from the roast along with onions, leftover gravy etc. to make a thick soup. Add potatoes, veggies, Tice etc, Don't eat alone on Thanksgiving A FREE THANKSGIVING dinner is being put on for the community by the Terrace Pentecostal Assembly’s Freedom Youth Ministry. Last year they put on a community Thanksgiving meal for about 100 . people who could not afford a good dinner and were alone at Thanksgiving. They'll do it again this year on Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m, The Pentecostal Youth Group will serve a turkey dinacr with all the trimmings at the Terrace Pentecostal Church at 3511 Eby St. All are-welcome and the dinner is free. - Cal celebrates 25 years FORMER STAFF and students of Caledonia Sr, Secondary school are celebrating the school’s 25-year anniversary this fall, All former staff — teachers, office staff and custodians — and all for- mer students are invited to a special ceremony planned for 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17 at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre. “Come and relive memories of your former school,”’ aays organizer John Chen-Wing. “‘A good time will, be had by al —_ and. that’s a commitment.”* Plague fears could ground” Canada World Youth here Hinkelmann said one possibility _ is sending the group in Terrace to a less affected region of India. ‘We might even delay the. departure of participants to India - if it seems too severe,” he added. “We're just monitoring the situa- tion so far.” “Oct 20 is when they leave, so we still have quite a bit of time,’’ Hinkelmann said. ‘*Just as quick- | ‘disease, Canadians are advised to ly as this plague came on; it could” dissappear — at hast that’s ‘Our - hope.” es He said there’s another Caniada World Youth group in Ontario. destined to India, who may also be affected. The federal government last - week warned Canadians to avoid travelling to affected parts of In- dia. *‘As this is a highly contagious, defer alf immediate travel to the state of Gujarat and the surround- ing areas,”’ one federal health of. ficial said. Army's 8 Christmas charity. . » Cuddly cavalcade THE LOCAL Roadrunners biked into town September 24 for their 12th Annual Toy Run. After forming up at the welgh sta- tions a group of 180 bikera on 100 motorcycles revved into town toting stuffed animals and other toys for the Salvation