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- By Sandy Neilly
- Happy New Year from our family to yours. We wish you all
the very best in 2008 . . .health, happiness and maybe a touch
of prosperity as well.
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- This issue of the Wayback Times was cause for some concern
recently when the "Old Mac" I use to put the paper
together decided that it wished to be operating on January 4,
1928, instead of December, 2007.
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- Fortunately, only one cheque was issued from my accounting
program that day and let's just say it was the source of some
confusion for the person I sent it to (and her bank teller) before
I realized what had happened. A few invoices were also paid on
that date - talk about pre-payment! What had me a bit bewildered
was that the computer chose to go to such a random day - shouldn't
it have gone to January 1, 1901 or something numerically consistent?
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- Well, I guess we don't call this it the "Wayback Times"
for nothing... we even issue Wayback cheques on occasion! I decided
to do a quick search on what happened January 4, 1928, thinking
maybe this was a sign of some significant event in our history
that I should mention but, disappointingly, there wasn't much
to read about that happened on that date. (Not that I could find,
anyway.)
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- Fast forward from January 1928 to January 2008 . . . the
Christmas decorations, including the Occupied Japan manger scene
(with a blue donkey) have been packed up and put away, as have
the precious ornaments that have survived four or five generations
of people handling and admiring them. Most of the sparkles that
have adhered to our faces from glittery cards and decorations
have been removed for the next 11 months, although I must say
I find Peter quite fetching with that gold sparkle above his
left eye. (He finds no humour whatsoever in this.)
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- The Christmas tree has been removed and the only sign left
of it are the telltale needles that have found their way into
couch crevices, carpets, housecoat pockets and a few socks. With
the tree gone, revealed, once again, is the family portrait of
my stern faced ancestors who peer at us from another century
with a look akin to accusation. I wonder what they would think
of our modern day celebrations and way of living. Would they
be puzzled to find that many of us collect items that to them
were strictly utilitarian . . . treenware, crocks, kerosene lamps,
old tools and the likes? What would they have to say about the
gifts we now give each other encased in indestructible plastic
bubbles that are mass produced on the other side of the world.
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- I am often amazed at the beauty of old books and the handwriting
often found in them - a dedication penned to someone in the past
when the book was new and precious, given as a cherished gift;
or, the craftsmanship in an old item of furniture, built with
pride and the expectation that it would remain in a family for
generations. At that time, such care was taken to make things
- and make them well, whether it was glass, a doll, a decoration,
jewellery or furniture. We glimpse a different way of life in
the items that have been left for us to care for and this, to
me, is worthy of reflection. January is a good time for doing
just that; reflecting.
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- The festivities of the holidays have come and gone like a
display of brief but lovely fireworks and now we have the real
part of winter to contend with. It's cold and it's dark, but
it's also very peaceful and a wonderful opportunity to get caught
up on your reading. There is no garden to tend, no grass to cut,
no bushes to prune - it's a great time to learn.
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- We recently watched part of a special on television about
the function of the brain and how important - how absolutely
imperative it is, to keep it busy - not just with day to day
things, but with new things. Essentially, the brain loves to
learn. Sure, it'll balk a little at first . . . it's like the
rest of our bodies, it gets lazy when it's not put to good (and
occasionally strenuous) use. Keeping this in mind, here is our
suggestion: Look at our front page - get involved in learning
about our heritage and our past. Learn about your own history
- discover the days behind us and how they have become part of
who we are now. We hope you'll take us up on this invitation.
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- If you would like to see living proof of this theory, plan
to attend an antique or nostalgia show. There you'll find that
many of the vendors are some of the most interesting and active
senior citizens you could wish to find. Most of these seasoned
veterans aren't in it for the money. The majority of them do
it because they love antiques (and the closely related cousins
known as "collectibles") and there is always something
to research and learn about to share with others.
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- To be a collector places you in a fascinating world with
endless possibilities. So get out there and learn something new
about something old to jump start that brain of yours!
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- When you look through the pages of this issue of the Wayback
Times, you'll learn something about the passions of our writers
and their subjects. Perhaps one of the articles will ignite a
little spark in you for the new year. If you love music, you'll
enjoy "Out to Lunch" with Jukebox Cal of Brighton.
If you're a Rhykenologist, you'll love the Collecting Antique
Tools article by Jim Ross, and if you have a passion for
our history and the preservation of it, Ted Currie's column
on well-known Hugh MacMillan will whet your appetite for
more. In Cosway's Corner, John will tell you things you never
knew about Niagara Falls . . . and I promise you, you'll learn
about some of the oddest cars ever created in Aaron's Wayback
Wheels. If you are into really BIG antiques, our guest writer,
Guylaine Spencer, has found a place in Toronto that you
simply must plan to visit.
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- Once again - Happy New Year! We're looking forward to a wonderful
year and are happy to have the opportunity to share it with you
in our upcoming issues.
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