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Pa ge 2 8 T hu rs da y, M ar ch 1 9, 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a Thank You for Voting us #1 11555 Tenth Line, Georgetown Corner of River Road and 10th Line (Across from Eagle Ridge Golf Course) 905-873-1354 info@terraglen.com www.terraglen.com Hospital tours welcome and visiting hours encouraged. ♥ Preventative Medicine ♥ Wellness and Senior Programs ♥ Mobile/House Calls ♥ Dental Services ♥ Surgery ♥ Chiropractic Care and Laser Therapy ♥ Separate Cat Suites for boarding ♥ Spacious runs for all breed dog boarding Georgetown's favourite Veterinary Services 3 Years in a Row Tired of High Electricity Bills? We can help (519) 853-2308 sales@solardirectcanada.com Cheaper, greener options are available Completely offset your electrical bill with no money down Or earn up to 14% annual income Call us or visit us on the web today to learn more Locally owned and operated in Acton SolarDirectCanada.com 1990-2015 • Professional Eye ExamsArranged • Eyeglasses • Sunglasses • Contact Lenses • Safety Glasses Over 24 Years of Experience $50 OFF Prescription glasses when you mention this ad. Limited time offer. GEorGEtown 280 Guelph St., BoLton905-873-3050 905-857-5556 COMMENT You know how you suddenly realize you've forgotten something until that very last min- ute? Well, welcome to my world today-- and, more specifically, this column. I'm supposed to have this literary master- piece in the editor's email Inbox by noon on Tuesday. Well, barring a miracle, I don't see it hap- pening in the next six minutes. I'm counting on the editor taking an extra long lunch today, and perhaps she won't no- tice I'm late. Part of the reason I'm behind on this assignment is that I was a bit distracted. I had visitors in the barn this morning, who dropped by to check out some of the sheep. I also had a young ewe that required a shot of antibiotics, another needed a dose of glycol, and it was the morning to move hay bales and fill the grain hopper… the list goes on and on. And to top it off, with the severe winds this morning, well, the barbecue just blew off the verandah, ripping the propane regu- lator off the top of the tank, so it will need a little straightening and a few parts before I'll be throwing a scrumptious steak on it again. I'm sensing a trend here-- looming dead- lines and a less than ideal day. Now going back to when I was a full-time journalist with The Independent & Free Press, I lived with deadlines. I had to, they were part of the job. But they also were my driving force. They made me perform, and get the job done. The entire newspaper system runs on the expectation and need that everyone does their part within their own specific dead- lines-- advertising staff, editorial, the pages are composed-- then it all heads off on its merry little way to the press, and ultimately comes together when it lands on the readers' doorstep. Since I've been away from the office more than a year, and now I simply email my col- umn to news editor Cynthia-- well, I'm kin- da removed from the atmosphere and pres- sure that's part of the creative process. When you don't have an editor hovering over you, waiting for that copy, it's easy for it to slip from your mind. When that happens, there are suddenly moments when I find myself uttering, under my breath, "@#$%^!!! I'm on deadline!" The funny thing here, as I sit at my com- puter, pounding out these words, is that I'm finding that rush coming back, that feeling as the words flow from my brain, onto the computer screen. I'm guessing it's the inspiration of those deadlines, once again coming back to drive me. For years, 'experts' have preached that deadlines are 'stressful' and we all know 'stress will kill you.' Sure, there's some truth in that statement, but at the same time, I have a theory that some stress is good. It motivates you to get off your duff and accomplish something. Okay I'm retired, and with that, hope that life isn't too stressful or demanding. But at the same time, it would be mighty boring to not have something tugging at you, demanding your attention. I'm a firm believer that we all need a purpose to accomplish something in every given day. We need a reason to get out of bed every morning. And in doing so, when you suddenly find that you need to step up and perform at the last minute (even if it's because ya had a 'se- nior moment' and forgot something you had to do…) well, it's still a good thing. And it still works for me. Here I am, 25 minutes later-- with a fin- ished column. A Ted Bit Deadlines? Oh, right, I remember them! By Ted Brown tedbit@hotmail.com