Election signs, gluttony and tail-gaters
by Robert LaFrance
Where
the hell did the politicians or hopeful politicians find all that wood to make
their election signs?
The day
before the New Brunswick election was officially called, somebody who seemed to
know a lot was on television and complaining that our province was running out
of wood; twenty-four hours later every lawn and spare space held a sign
extolling the virtues of this man or that woman who was perfectly willing to
solve all New Brunswick’s problems if only we would elect them to the
legislature.
“That
(bunch of bums) have ruined our province,” an opposition candidate might say at
the same time that the government candidate was saying “look at all we’ve done
for you!” It’s enough to confuse us unsophisticated voters and make us wish the
Rhinoceros Party were back. They were the ones who were going to repeal the
Laws of Gravity.
Some
of their promises even made sense. Major lottery winners would receive, instead
of money, a seat in the Senate; the party promised to encourage higher
education by building taller schools; they suggested making the Trans Canada
Highway one-way only, but didn’t say which way, and they had many more sensible
things to say.
But
I really started out to say this when I got sidetracked onto the
Rhinoceros Party: The signs we see on lawns are confusing me. Andrew Harvey and
Margaret Johnson signs seem to be everywhere, but now and then I saw a sign referring
to someone named Exit. That turned out to be a real estate company. It’s hard
on my old head.
*********************
A
little over six years ago I created a Facebook page called “Old Photos of
Victoria County” – mostly of southern Victoria County – and one could say it
has been fairly successful. It’s mostly about Perth-Andover and area, and
although Perth-Andover’s population is fewer than 1800, as of yesterday I had
4310 members.
It’s
great to read about the old days, like when Perth businesses, including eleven
grocery stores in 1932, occupied both sides of Main Street, and it’s also great
to read a posting that is cheerful and optimistic and not those of “the town is
dying” kind.
A
few days ago a charter member of the Facebook page, Eva McLaughlin, wrote this:
“Perth-Andover is a
happening place...look at the waterfront this year and the new pharmacies are
wonderful, plus new construction in that area. I am within walking distance of
most anything I need except the Post Office and I could and have actually
walked over there as well. Things change, new growth, busy Market all summer.
No, it is not the same town due to the ravages of the flooding but it is still
a wonderful, caring community…Things never remain the same and neither do
we...that is called life.”
Kudos to Eva!
***********************
In other news and comments from the
area, I hereby point out that there is a lot of dieting going on, all over the
place, and I have learned a few things since someone close to me was diagnosed
last year with Lyme Disease. I did have an objection at first to some of the
phrases being thrown around this house. Number one, I was not
happy to be called a glutton. Then she said to me: “Bob, I am on a gluten
free diet, and the fact that those two words look so much alike is a mere
coincidence.” She said this as I was slurping down the last of my decidedly not
gluten-free lasagna.
On the related subject of
tail-gaters, I have been negotiating with UNB in the matter of setting up a
credit course on that subject: “The Psychology of Tailgating and Tail-gaters”.
I don’t know why, but our 2017 Toyota Corolla seems to be a magnet for these
folks. Starting across the Kilburn flat a few days ago, I was amazed to see, in
my rear-view mirror, a late model Chevvy so close I couldn’t see the grill of
her car. There was no reason to be so close; it is a wide road and there
weren’t any other vehicles on that stretch. I was going the speed limit and
possibly a bit over. I slowed down to encourage her to pass and she stayed
right there. At the end of the flat I pulled off the pavement and she finally
went by, then drove 75 km/hr the rest of the way to town. I didn’t tail-gate.
While I am ranting about drivers, I might as well mention
that the auto companies nowadays build their vehicles so that the drivers’ seat
belts can be clicked on well before he or she pulls out into traffic, but how
many times have we seen people pull out and not put on their seat belts until
300 metres down the road?-end-
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