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p 14 weekender saturday november 8 1997 f v st visiting dad allows for mental health break from 1 where i live bruce stapley some things never change summer gives way to autumn the leaves turn colour then fall to the ground to be sent swirling by the crisp wind until they come to rest on my front lawn despite the fact im the only one on the street with no trees on my property but then who ever said life was fair the province ive called home for almost half a century continues to pay the price for abandoning the decadesold tradition of electing middleoftheroad governments capable of listening out of both the left and right ear when will people learn that polar ization in this country can only be produc tive inasmuch as it helps us decide what to do with our frozen north political candidates in municipal elec tions throw stones and plot plans of action october stock market dives become an almost annual occurrence chinas leaders continue to deny wrongdoing in the tianan men square massacre and through it all the toronto maple e available w iftiijtai g mi i m leafs the mere mention of whom once caused me to experience untold joy as a child settle comfortably into their old famil iar sanctuary at the bottom of the standings wheres a guy to go for solace in the midst of such endless angst and anxiety i decided on a recent afternoon that it was time to take a mental health break and go pay a visit to my dad whose earthy wisdom and tempered approach to the global issues of the day in years gone by earned my increasing respect dad has been confined to a nursing home the past year as his alzheimers disease progresses to the point where he can no longer retain any semblance of a lucid train of thought but that doesnt mean he cant still offer those around him a warm smile and a well meaning offer cf assistance even though his capabili ties in all but the most basic of f uncti on s have desert ed him hes the darling of the nursing home staff who can sense even in his failing state that he was once a caring warm r wings up to individual who put the needs of family friends and even strangers first the excuse for my visit was to purchase several pairs of new pants for my father after several years of bodily shrinkage which left medical experts puzzled as to the cause he is now thriving on the food hes being fed at the home sporting a hefty increase in waist size consequently hes been unable to proper ly fasten his pants leaving them open at the top and thus diminishing his reputation as a smartlydressed senior dude i combed the nearby department store in search of the most comfortable easy-to- maintain pants available then brought my purchases across to the home for my dad to see we retired to his room for a fitting decked him out in the dressiest of the new slacks and brought him to the dining room where dinner was to be served presently he expressed his utmost gratitude then inquired if id be staying for dinner i told him 1 had to go tend to my brood back home can i go with you he asked this is the question you dread whenever you pay a visit to a person who has been institutionalized precisely because they can no longer func tion outside their predictable nursing home environment not this time i replied but ill come right back when im finished it was a lie of convenience i had used to many times upon leaving after a visit a little dishonest per haps but it serves the immediate purpose of setting his mind at ease for the moment which in dealing with alzheimer patients is all that you can try to do ill be here he said giving me that patented wave as i started for the door after all some things never change if0 greetings from isas cosmetic clearance outlel i m gift sor everyone on santas list mm fmi mlti mm mens ladies fine fragrances photo lagerfeld sunflowers elizabeth taylors white diamonds sun moon stars black pearls true love malizia quorum perry ellis bob mackie versace red jeansblue jeans nicole miller halsten minskicd alfred sung feadi christian fiiof and many more fine ffia6rang name brand cosmetics nail colours eye shadows lipsticks up eye umts makeups great bath products stqc mens and ladies cooper sport socks mens and ladies dress socks parity hose boxer shorts f sotoner slippers knit wear clothing items at tremendous savings days only im m i name bband products harpers fresh meats now open storemade sausage 269lb black forest ham 399lb instore specials great low prices 6404761 the harpers look forward to serving you wbalbikffi o v f when novsto nov 16 tlmfe 1000 am to 700 pm saturday 900 am to 400 pm 1000 am to 400 pm 6 ur vision ultimate service relaxina environment headlines hair studio and esthetique call for a complimentary consultation 9056420336 6328 main st stouffville