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Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 3 Places I've Done Time by Clifford Francis All is forgiven Funerals are changing. The older you get, the less you like them. Years ago, all the fire and hell that the minister used to come up with got me half spooked. I wouldn't be right for days after, just trying to change my ways. One would quietly slink into the church and sit, hoping not to be noticed or recognized. Otherwise someone would come over and strike up a conversation and possibly even laugh. Everyone used to wear a suit to funerals and was morbid. Now everyone dresses up looking like they're going to the beach or a folk festival. The minister spoke in glowing terms of this gentleman that had just passed. "A gracious and a true gentleman," he said. I looked around out of the corner of my eye to see if I was in the right church or if I knew anyone there. I did, so I figured it was the right church and the right body. The minister gave a glowing summation of how this man had helped the down trodden and destitute. I remembered him as a man who took advantage of everyone he could and did so often. He always said that even somebody that had nothing had something, and he would laugh and laugh. I looked in the coffin and he wasn't laughing much. Everyone around him seemed happy though. If he loaned a dollar, he would try and get two back. Double the return and you are doing well and it will make you wealthy. He didn't look that wealthy the last time I saw him. He always talked about WW2 and being overseas. When we took him out to the graveyard to put him down, the truth came out. On the tombstone it said born in 1931. That meant he joined the war in 1939 when he was eight years-old, and was discharged in 1945 when he was thirteen. The minister assured everyone that this much loved man was on his way to heaven -- no problem. I kind of felt half better after the sermon knowing that maybe I had a shot of going up there too. The celebration of his life was great. The tea was hot, the sandwiches were good, the cake was great. One old guy said, "What a pleasant way to spend an afternoon." I was quick to point out it wouldn't be that great when his day came. He was slightly miffed when I said that, but isn't that the truth? Charles Taws (left), an expert in antiquities, appraised a Russian tea set brought in by Gilles Landry (right) during the antique appraisals event at Orono's Antique & Art Street Festival last Saturday. The teapot was valued at $90, and the cup and saucer at $40. ~ Happenings ~ Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Orono Town Hall BBQ, 5pm to 6:30pm. Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Salads, Pop, Coffee, Dessert. Adults $10, Kids $5. Entertainment - Jim Hayward & Willowridge. Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Annual Durham BBQ, with Bev Oda and John O'Toole, 5pm `til dusk, 16210 Island Road, Port Perry. Everyone Welcome! New location! Saturday, August 29, 2009 Orono Crown Lands Trust BBQ and Corn Roast, 11am to 3pm, everyone welcome. Enter at the Ochonski road entrance - Ochonski and Station St. Monday, August 31, 2009 Victorian Tea, St. Georges Anglican Church, Mill & Edward St., Newcastle, 2pm to 4pm., $7. Hats and gloves optional. Call 905-983-9252 or 905-987-2019