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Faster than McDonald's hot water tap life. And being middle-aged, I have recently come to the realization that there are a whole new set of things out there in the world to get excited about-- things that the `pre-middle-ager' might have passed by without so much as a moment's notice. Take earlier this week, when I did my morning stroll to the local McDonald's to get my daily cup of tea. (No coffee for this guy anymore-- damn acid reflex syndrome thing.) I placed my order for my tea with Laura behind the counter. I'm a regular (most times with co-worker Kevin) and we get the same thing every morning-- a cup of tea for me, a cup of coffee for him, and most recently, he started on the fruit and fibre muffin thing... leading me to the blueberry muffin as well. Okay, being middle aged, they do keep ya regular. Happy now? But this week, I was on my own, no coworker Kevin in tow, as I returned to the daily grind after a week off work. I ordered the tea, the muffin and made my way to the hot water tap on the side of the coffee maker. The tea bag was in place, the contents of two sugar packs were already in the bottom of the stainless steel mug, and I prepared to pour steaming hot water over it all. I flipped the tap, and a pathetic piddly stream of water dribbled from the tap. Somewhat annoyed, (not to mention impatient,) I made a comment to no one in particular. "Gawd, I could pee faster than that.." With that, the guy beside me replied with an equally profound statement, Letters to the editor I'm middle-aged. At 54 years of age, I have no delusions, I just accept the fact that I've hit that point in my Change in town council needed Dear editor, I am a longtime Georgetownian born and raised here and proud to admit it. My family moved away when we were young but returned and as Dorothy said, "There's no place like home". Now, as I am getting older I see the progress and growth of this beautiful town slowly turn into a carbon copy city. What I mean in no way takes away what this town still means to me. My complaint is, that as we grow, all taxes across the board are growing at a far quicker rate then anyone's income. The assessment tax on an unseen house, on top of the biggest property tax grabs in Georgetown history, will eliminate any chance for the aging population, youth of tomorrow or the average income family to remain in this town. Yes, progress will never be stopped, but better growth management is a must. Remember a couple of years ago? There was no water for development so it rained a little but the houses still seemed to materialize over night. Town treasurer Ed DeSousa would not last at any firm in the new Canadian market as corporations look to cut costs, clean out operations and strive for more profits. But being property taxpayers, we cannot fire him overnight. These tax hikes over the past 5-6 years are unacceptable yet they keep coming with no end in sight. I ask all Georgetownians to remember the great services we receive for the extras year in and year out because election time comes for our town council. When in doubt, kick them out! Looks like we need another change again as this budget and council just do not get it. Jim Marshall, Georgetown A TED BIT Ted Brown "And at our age, that's something of a major accomplishment." I immediately had an urge to clarify I wasn't in the habit of peeing in my stainless steel cup, but he let me down easily, nodding in agreement. And the lady behind us just tried to let on we didn't exist. In moments of terror, I have recollections of those embarrassing moments, decades ago as I cringed when my own parents, aunts and uncles would make idle comments about the status of their own body functions. But having made it past the half century mark, I've come to a realization-- dammit, that's all they had left to talk about! At least today, we middle-agers can escape from chats about gall stones and sluggish prostates with conversations about how great today's music is (cuz our kids still listen to what we listened to years ago). But after all those conversations run their course, being middle-aged still makes one look for that little `silver lining' in the damnedest places. So if I find a teeny tiny bit of comfort in the knowledge that I can pee faster than the McDonald's hot water tap.... Please don't take that away from me. Video store owner has master tapes available for former customers Dear editor, I am hoping you will help me to contact some of our previous customers. From the early 1980s until 1999, my husband and I ran a taping and transferring business called J & E Videos from our home in Acton. We kept the final edited copies as a safe guard against theft or fire. We taped various events such as weddings, baptisms, birthdays, etc. as well as many public functions. I would now like to give these master copies to their owners. If any of your readers believe that I may have a copy of their special occasion and wish to have it, they may call me at 519-853-1526 or e-mail me at ena.gibson@sympatico.ca and make arrangements to pick it up. I really don't wish to destroy these copies if the rightful owners wish to have them. I will keep these copies until March 31, after which I will dispose of them. Ena Gibson, Acton