March 2025 Newsletter

Hi Everyone,

Once again, it's time for the newsletter, and I thought I'd tell you a story about kindness during COVID-19. Bill was cleaning the top of my electric stove and said to me, "Why don't we ask Angela (our daughter) if she would sell us her gas stove" as she was replacing all of her appliances in the kitchen of the house she had just bought. I then phoned Angela and asked if we could buy her older stove, she laughed and said you can't buy it, it's yours for free.

Bill and I were very happy with the news. A couple of weeks later, at 8:00 a.m., Angela phoned and said Karl and I talked it over, and we decided to give you 5,000.00 dollars to buy yourselves a brand new gas stove, which should also include the gas fitters' cost. I started to cry, and Bill asked, "Why is your Mother crying?" "Happy tears, Dad, just happy tears," said Angela, so the stove story began.

I told my cousin Lisa what Angela had done, and Lisa says "I wonder if she would sell her old gas stove to me", George (her husband wants a gas stove to cook on) so I ask Angela and she says tell them the stove is theirs for free they can just come and get it when COVID is over. Now cousin Lisa says "do you know of anyone who might like my stove", and I had just told the story to my neighbour Elaine and she said "I'd like Lisa's stove and then I could give her stove to her son Ryan as his is not working".

The story continued as Bill's cousin came for tea in our garage; they sat twenty feet away from us. Jim and Rita thought this was a great story, and she said, "What are you doing with your electric stove?" and I said, "I don't know." She said can I buy it from you, of course not, you can have it for free, when I get the new one, and once again the story continues as Rita and Jim then phones a Goodwill company who restores old stoves and gives them for free to whoever needs one and there goes their stove. Because of Angela's and Karl's kindness, six people benefited from a new stove to them, it was a chain of events happening during a time of a great illness, when people didn't know what would be happening tomorrow, and all of the recipients wore smiles on their faces and the future looked brighter.

So you're asking yourself, what's this got to do with what's happening today? All I read about is doom and gloom. Why bother even going out? I think Canada and Parksville need us to spread kindness instead of complaints, and you ask how do I do that. Let's begin with the people who care for us, the clinic in our town that took care of my Bill last week. We waited three hours to see a Doctor, and I told a female Doctor that she was an Angel for taking care of all of us, (and they don't go home until the last person is looked after), she smiled, a tired smile, and said thank-you, most people just tell us how long they have waited!!! Don't be that person if you go to the Clinic. When you shop at your grocery store, do you ever thank the clerks caring for you or the people stocking the shelves? They seem to be getting older and older, and it's not an easy job. I thanked a man named Dave, who was working hard stacking shelves; he asked if I would put it in writing at the customer's desk, and it was no problem. We may be old, but we know how to say thank you for a job well done, and we can make people smile.

Be proud that you are a polite Canadian, stand up for our beliefs, and, most of all, be kind.

Some Senior Centre's News

Jewellery-making classes – once a month. Our first class was on March 24th, but we have more. There can be 6 participants, with two on a cancellation list. The cost is $15.00 per session. All participants must preregister and prepay. It is non-refundable as the instructor is supplying all the materials. Your money will be refundable if you cancel and if someone on the wait list will fill your spot. The classes are Monday, April 28th; Monday, May 26th; and Monday, June 23rd. The participants will learn essential jewellery skills while making a project to take away. All materials, tools and printed instruction sheets are included.

This is a little ad for the Parksville Community Centre. This Centre will have its Spring Bazaar on Saturday, March 29th, and doors will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On March 28th, our hot lunch will be Quiche and a green salad—yum! On April 4th, there will be Beef Stroganoff and mashed potatoes.. Sign up quickly; you would hate to miss out. Be sure to thank the cooks for all their hard work!!!! Finally, I was saving the best for last:

We will have our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 30th, at 1:00 p.m.. At the beginning of the meeting, Michael Jang will present our financial review for 2024, and then it will be on with the general meeting. An open forum always appears at the end of the meeting for members to ask any questions.

The Centre will not have any other activities on that day as the Board sets up the room in the morning. We, the Board, ask you to participate in this important day. Our Centre's continued success depends on you and what you want to see in the future.

Our draw winner this month is Jeff Ulrich. Congratulations, Jeff; you see it pays to pay your dues.

Another little matter: we need greeters. Please let the office know you would like to do this job, and explain why you like our Centre so much.

Be Kind.

Bev Swann
Editor