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It's just too painful for me Remember the kerfuffle last December about the Christmas tree in the Toronto courthouse? And how the judge ordered it taken down? While that judge could be deemed as being sensitive-- personally, I think it was overkill. But now we have another similar complaint. This time it's Valentine's Day. Seems last Friday, a woman filing for divorce papers in an Ottawa courthouse, complained that she found the Valentine's Day decorations on the walls offensive. According to a story in the Ottawa Citizen, employees in that department, as well as employees in the small claims and civil courts area, were all ordered to take down the decorations. After the Citizen story broke, several phone calls were made to the attorney general's office in Toronto. After some discussion, the employees in small claims were told Friday afternoon that the decorations could go back up, but the jury was still out for the employees in the family court area. They weren't sure if they'd be allowed to put their Valentine hearts up again. I only have once comment-- puhlleeese!!! Using the same rationale, I have a list of things I think should be eliminated around town, 'cuz they're too painful for me to look at. First thing is all bicycles with cross bars. I have a painful memory of my bike when I was a kid. It was too big for me when my parents bought it, so it was a repeatedly `painful' time in my life. Ollie of Ollie's Cycle, if you had a decent bone in your body, you'd take all those bikes out of your store and hide 'em. I just can't stand those painful memories. I just can't take it much longer.... the pain. And every greeting card retailer in town-- Ted Brown do you have ANY idea how painful it is for me to walk past your store and see cards on display for Mother's Day and Father's Day? Both my parents have passed away. How could you be so heartless as to place those cards on display when I can't take part anymore? While we're at it, get rid of those St. Patrick's Day cards too. I had a bad experience with a case of Smithwicks beer when I was a teen. It still haunts me and I have constant painful reminders whenever I see anything with so much as a shamrock on it. And I can't even talk about my leprechaun nightmares!!! This town is going to have to shape up so I can function like a real human being. No more reminders of painful situations, no more displays that don't agree with my personal liking. Above all else, let's tell all those publicityseeking idiots who whine about petty things like a Valentine heart decorating a workplace, that the universe does NOT revolve around them. Remind them the employees who work there Monday through Friday might need a little distraction from the whiners like them who visit that office once a lifetime for 15 minutes. Oh yeah, and tell 'em to suck it up. (Ted Brown can be reached at tbrown@independentfreepress.com) The family of MAY HOARE invite you to help celebrate May's 90TH BIRTHDAY on February 11, 2007 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm at the Acton Legion, Ladies Lounge. Best wishes only please.