The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Between YouandMe By RUTII COLES Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong ln his facts. Bernard M. Baruch Last week beautiful fresh snow and cold clear air - now what do we have but melting snow and almost warm breezes! We are at the mercy of the weather and we take whatever comes our way. Snow brings many rewards, a wonderful ground cover for growing things, a welcome sight for those who love winter sports, and a great playground for children. On the other hand, frustration and death are there waiting for the foolish and the foolhardy while stop- and-go situations try your soul. A few minutes or the odd half hour of forgetting speed under icy conditions not only means saving lives but gives ease of mind to thousands. Having been a driving freak or whatever for almost fifty years, I've seen it ail - ice, deep snow, and conditions too awful to describe. Many a time I have driven six or seven hundred miles a day and often through a good part of the mght. I have seen snow in Quebec so high that only the very top of the telephone and hydro poles showed along the sides of the roads. In small villages and towns, sides of houses have been ob- scured from sight because of prevailing winds and blowing snow. No entry possible on that side of the building and often a tunnel through to the front door. Very picturesque and great to look at and maybe more warmth inside. Trying to climb a hill in Nova Scotia once during an ice storm - many huge trucks and hundreds of cars unable to move. What a cold miserable night at a very late hour and no time to waste. After talking to some of the truckers I decided to give it a try in my dearly loved "bug". After moving out of line and being given a push by several incredulous drivers I pushed ahead, praying all the while that there would not be any forthcoming headlights coming at us through the dark. Us, me and my "bug"! Up and away; we were safe, sound and on our way but making a very late arrival. At other times driving through the Alps, Italian and French, in the middle of winter with no problems - just incredible beauty and awesome, magnificent scenes on every side. As a preamble to trouble, the first ever and where did it happen? Whitby! Close to home and just a horror. A whiteout blinding and treacherous and so very close to home. I am always happy and very glad to hear of other peoples' experiences because it can be a great lear- ning experience. I felt, after listening to Westerners talk about whiteouts and the dire consquences if you disregarded their advice, that I should be prepared if I ran into one. Whiteouts seem to be few and far between except in certain areas but one never knows. After staying in the city for a night or two I ventured out much against my daughters good advice as the snow was falling at a great rate. I did not listen, "what was a bit of snow on a clear and lovely morning." Suddenly after turning on to a local road close to home the overall picture changed - but I was unaware of what was to come. Blinding sheets of the white stuff and I had to drive blind! I guess this is snow blindness and your eyes cannot penetrate, there is a sameness which you cannot dispel. At this point I didn't know where I was or where I was going. Apparently on the road but slowly slip- ping over to the ditch, I suddenly caught a passing glimpse of a blue Star box, the only one on the road. So as the car slipped and slid ditchwise I stopped. At this point there was nothing to see - not even the box! What to do? Stay in the car they tell yoü but a few feet to the east there were houses so we opted for the latter - Sam, our tiny little dog, and myself. Sam is always good and game for anything. In my suitcase there was a two-piece wool dress so out it came and over my head as the wind was bitter and the snow blinding. Into the front of my coat and covered with the dress went Sam. Over one shoulder I slung my bag and we set out. Knee deep in snow and sometimes hip deep we struggled. The house was close but it seemed miles away and it wasn't in sight. My family had been on my mind constantly. Where were they and how could I pick the children up at school, as was the usual thing to do in bad weather? These thoughts carried me through as I struggled on, sometimes the thought of sitting down was overpowering - but quickly dispelled. Suddenly we walked into the wall of the house and leaned against it to catch our breath. The occupants work - the thought was almost too much. Turn to the left and walk a few hundred feet to the next house. Stand still, make the turn but not too far or we would be heading for the road. We walked and saw a tree which we grabbed, a slim tree and we put our arms around it. Our hearts were pounding and I was tired and Sam was cold. Finally the house! There was almost always someone there. I don't remember knocking but simple opened the door and called out. A hot cup of tea, a piece of bread and peanut but- ter. Hot air blasting up from the furnace, a welcome relief. By this time-my car was hidden, where was it? Phone calls to be made, all was well with the family so Sam and I had to do somthing, but waht? Very close and dear friends of ours lived a few hun- dred feet away and they urged me to try and make WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAYJANUARY 11, 1984, PAGE 5 A strange boy to me, tall and strong, who was in the house, offered to pull me over the snow on a toboggan. What a trip, at one point he fell over a snowbank and disappeared from sight but up he popped and pulled on. There were my friends stan- ding in the garage out of the wind to welcome us. A warm, welcoming house and hot tea. Later on a loin of port and a roaring fire in the fireplace. It was next to being home and a familiar place for Same and he was happy. In the meantime-someone smashed into the car and who it was we'll never know. As darkness came the snow abated and we settled down for the night. In the morning, a very beautiful world and of course no car to be seen. What can I say but to be aware and if the snow is very heavy, stop somewhere and find refuge. What is time and what are wasted hours? Nothing in the scheme of things. My husband has run into the same conditions and feels as I do. Take care and don't hope for the best; it may never come. THE MARCH IS ON! Many physically disabled men and women need your help. Please give generously. ABILITY FUND The Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 112, Whitby, held their an- nual Christmas dinner at the Legion Hall. For- ty-eight members and guests enjoyed a sum- ptuous turkey dinner complete with carrot pudding prepared under the usual capable direc- tion of Dorothy Or- miston. President Teresa DeMaeyer welcomed our guests: Zone Com- mander, Audrey Bate and her daughter of Bowmanville, and the Salvation Army Captain and his wife from Whit- by. It was our great pleasure to present a cheque for $100 to the Captain to assist with their Christmas gifts to the needy. Santa Claus arrived and presented everyone with candy canes, and all the widows received a box of chocolates. Tickets were sold on a Christmas wreath made and donated by Marj Adams. Shirley Hicks was the winner and the sum of $22 was realized. The evening concluded with an enjoyable game of bingo. On Dec. 20, a dinner of the joint executives of the Branch and the Auxiliary was again catered by the Auxiliary and thoroughly enjoyed. Following executive separately business followed. dinner each met and a short meeting SINCE'1917 SPRING STARTS ON MARCH 21ST But MURRAY JOHNSTON'S 1/2 YEARLY SALE starts MID JANUARY 1984 and we think that this SALE is a surer bet than the advent of Spring. If this event is new to you, we in- vite you to test the water at MURRAY JOHNSTON'S ½ YEARLY SALE. We are at the same old stand since 1917-- THAT MEANS SOMETHING. Murray Johnston Limitd 8 SIMCOE ST. N. (OSHAWA) Downtown Oshdwa 725-4511 WALLPAP CHOOSE FROM A GREAT SELECTION O THAT ARE SURE TO SUIT Y RSALEI a: F BOOKS OUR DECOR. Legion's Ladies Auxiliary Dinners 7-- < -7-