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"A Family Tradition for 131 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 28, 1997 -7 L ETTERS a ------ -- Heartfelt message for an adopted son To the Editor: An open letter to my son to whom I gave a "chance in life" in 1963. (Parent Finders does not use the expression "gave up for adoption," and appropriately s0). I don't know how much you know about a Birth Parent searching for a child but let me tell you it is not easy. His name was changed when he was adopiad and I have absolutely nothing to go on. I am registered with Parent Finders and the Adoption Disclosure Registry and have been for some 10 years. August 26,1963 was the day I gave birth to you, my son. One month prior to that I lost my own mother to cancer. Authori- tion, ensuring you a nurturing home with two parents. I did this with much pain. Itis not easy to give up your own flesh and blood, but I wanted you to have a good life. You were born Mark Raymond Willson. As the new year begins, I find myself still hoping that you per- haps are about to take the step to locate your biological par- ents. Your father is still alive and well, although we never married. I have two sons, 19 and 28 and a daughter, 31. I'm also blessed with two grand- daughters, five step-grandsons and two step-sons, and two step-daughters (all grown). I am 53 years old now, com- tered with the Adoption Disclo- sure Registry for 10 years, and also belong to Parent Finders. I think of you often, son, and what better way to start off the new year than finally being reu- nited. I realize that this may not be an easy thing for you to do. But if it will help at all, your half brothers and sister and the rest of the family are behind me 100 per cent, and frequently fol- low up on my progress in locat- ing you. You are and will be loved by all. Should you decide to take that step son, please contact Linda or Rik at Durham Parent Finders 1-905-986-0645. Hoping with all my heart to LA | by Jef Mitchelr URGENT MATTERS DOWN SOUTH UN OTRO CERVEZA, SENOR?: There it was, on the front page last week: Canada's Foreign Affairs Guy, Lloyd Axworthy, striding forward confidently to shake hands with the Most Evil Man in The Hemisphere, Cuban honcho Fidel Castro. Seems it's important just now that we make the first official visit to the Cubans in 20-some years... where it's hot and sunny... while Canada shivers in the dead of winter... hmmm. | can hear Lloyd Axworthy on the phone to Ottawa: "Uh, yeah. Lloyd here. Um -- I'm really making headway with the Cubans. Seems they're ready to renounce the regime of Castro and establish a new constitution based on our Charter. Yeah, that's what | said. And, oh, yeah: They're talking big-time imports from Canada. What? | don't know... maple syrup, galoshes, whatever... yeah. Right. Well, the thing is this: They're almost there, but not quite. It's gonna take more time. At least two ties and family convinced me payed to the youn age of 19 receive aresponse the best thing to do in your in- Phen you s Jo brought into P LK. Norman, | more weeks. And I'm nearly out of suntan lotion, too. Can we terest was to place you for adop- this world. I have been regis- Your Biological Parent | find something in the budget for that?" Oh, to be a politician now that winter is come. Junkets here wonder how many diners have experienced frustration of 'too much' service? 1at's exac at happened to Nancy and | d to to for an outing (withoutthe kids). toread the menu. ant. Between our first greeter and the front doors we were welcomed by no less than seven people. Finally, arriving at the entrance and a little miffed by all the attention, we were welcomed by an att- ractive young receptionist who then introduced us to our hostess, who finally guided us to our seats. "Hardly seated, our waiter approached with menus @: In hand, once again asking if this was the first time nin a.Planet Hollywood restaurant. He lained the food specials and showed us ow ning to think. Approaching the sink to wash my hands, one of the men stepped forward and turned on the taps. "For me | inquired?" "Yes sir," came the reply. Sliding my hands under the water, the other man sprang to life and offered to squirt soap into my wet hands. | graciously accepted, but it was just all a lit- tle bit too much for this country boy. Returning to my seat | asked the waiter if there was always so many people around, to which he replied "it's opening day." B e WwW a r e , , and there... the premiers muzz off to Asia with the Prime . inister -- even. Lucien Bouchard has had enough cold pee Fi eeling wal m th of kindn ess weather, it seems, because he went along too -- and guys like To he. I etiode esent To the Editor: Lloyd Axworthy suddenly have vital business to conduct on tives toll thelecon Stituonts ab As I sit here writing this, sipping on a hot coffee in my small, sunny islands. licly that they are going or i Nip and cozy home, I can't help but think of the happenings How long is it since we extended the Welcoming Hand of . © 8 : of the day. | Democracy to The Dominican Republic, | wonder? Or Plement nn oopite of It all started as my daughter Sarah and I were getting Jamaica? Surely The Bahamas is in need of some advice from who elected them, we have abie | r¢2dY to head into Toronto to see Beauty & The Beast with our statesmen? When's the last time anybody checked on problem ' g my Sisters ani Discs, MY Mosher had warned me that the Grenada? : streets of Toronto wo cold; so "bundle up," she said. : : : . ; d Sach [oognnoe means the As I put on my heavy coat and found a wool scarf, hat and It's not 8asy being a bastion of democracy and freedom in a racy When men anf wemea gloves, I noticed two toques that nobody had worn for years. crazy world like this. Hey, amigo! Dos mas cervezal seek to put nore powarinto few. The more I looked, the more I found. I stuffed two old coats HAVE A HEART: Those of us who remain unelected and er hands. we ®poy beware of and the hats into a garbage bag and decided it might be the therefore must tough out the winter will soon be seeing their motives. As liticians right time to put them to good use. - canvassers with the Heart and Stroke Foundation in our they tell us it's for. our own a , Once into Toons we ob am te he ihe neighborhoods. They'll brave the cold and snow of February to good hi Toa) is bef saved asked if there was somewhere local that we could drop off raise funds for a good cause. Please give generously. will be re- . i It's a rare person whose life has not been touched by heart duced as well as our public debt our bag of coats. He advised that he knew of a fellow*who ; ' 4 2s well as om P blic debt. would know how to get them to people who needed them. disease. Many among us have experienced heart trouble, and being lost. kn pont I mean? He promptly headed outside and down the street with us have undergone treatment or surgery to correct it. The bypass We va to decide now what Wo closely in tow. He found the fellow he was referring to. procedure is nothing short of miraculous to me. can afford and what we cannot There, in front of the busy theatre, stood a homeless man in Then there are those for whom treatment came too late, or afford. In'times when the rich | 118 mid to late 30s, holding out a baseball cap for small not at all. | think of those | miss at this time of year, and wonder are getting richer and the poor | change. After a brief conversation he answered "Sure, what could have been, if onl are getting poorer and the mid thanks, Ill take them and make sure they get used." B [Tonly... , er a 1id- He advised that "about 15 of us huddle together at night ut the future is what is of concern now. It's one that can be dle class power is disappearin vig 2 golier at my i i i i it's too easy. too dangerous ig and I'll see if any of them can use anything." He went on to brighter and better if research, treatment, and information sit back and let men of no great say that whatever was left over would be taken to a church campaigns continue their battle against the nation's Number vision but great greed have he Snow of that gives clothes to the homeless. One Killer. hei . 0, as climb into my warm comfortable bed tonight, I Thic ' t girpublicway. atleast. Lot's can't stop thinking about the people sleeping on city streets oor REMINDER: Tvs IS the lag) plug I'll make for the dog talk : and hope that our coats and hats are keeping someone warm Soc races, going on this coming Saturday and Sunday at : tonight. Trillium Trails in Raglan. Come out, enjoy the day, and support Owen Neill, Kelly, Gatchell, a cub thats done plenty for the community. Port Perry ory terry ush! EE ------------------------ | Ra Nn dom J oOHi Nn g S America's fastest growing and hottest dining spots. We asked him to give us a few minutes, and | Nt All we knew about the restaurant chain was it is took the opportunity to escape the attention by i by J. Peter Hvidst owned by Sylvester Stalone, Bruce Willis and a going to the washroom. y J. | efter Hvidsten number of Hollywood 'stars', and the interior was Enroute, | was greeted outside the entrance to the decorated with all kinds of movie memorabilia. So, restroom area by two women, one who graciously OPENING DAY AT curious about this new addition to the dining scene, pointed the way to the men's washroom door. © PLANET HOLLYWOOD we Uooion in gd bite to eat and investigate. Finally, | thought pushing open the door and ! oachin ildi i Anyone who frequents restaur- 4 oa g the front of the building we were entering the washroom... alone at last. | Il ants has undoubtedly been greeted by a young man asking if we were going to But | was dead wrong. | ie] am und aly be have lunch at Planet Hollywood. Answering 'yes' Inside the washroom were two ' frustrated by lack of service at 1g welcomed us and po 2 young men, who ther. WeIC us and pointed towards the restaur- once again greeted me. This is. weird | was begin-