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P \C.E 10 - PLAIN'DEALER - WEDNESDAY. MARCH 19.1980 By Carl Riblet Jr. Question -- "When my father died in Honolulu 16 years after serving in the Navy, my mother came here to North Carolina to live with me. She died last month at 80 While going through her papers after the funeral I found part of a classified ad Past 65 An eye-catcher way to advertise a piano Write to Carl Riblet, Jr. at Box 40757, Tucson, Ariz., 85717 for information and advice on questions you may have as an elder citizen, with self-addressed, stamped1 envelope. All questions will be answered, either direct or in this column. [ page torn out of a Honolulu newspaper with one circled in red pencil* It aroused my curiosity . I don't understand it. This is what the ad says: 'Him big fella bockus you hit 'em teeth he cry, $150'. It's an ad from a second-hand musical in­ strument store: Can you tell me what it means?" -- Leilani M. Answer -- A phone call to Honolulu supplied the an­ swer. The words of the ad are pidgin English once upon a time used by a music store in Honolulu as an at- tention-getter to advertise its merchandise. Pidgin English is a simplified speech for communication between people with dif­ ferent languages, par­ ticularly in the South Pacific and on the China coast. Irr pidgin, as I undersand it/ both people and things are referred to as "fella," big or little Thus, "him big fella Mary" \s a large or fat woman. "Him little fella Joe" is a small man. Any box, from a small shoe box to a huge truck-hauled con­ tainer, is a "bockus" to all who speak pidgin. Leilani's mother probably was at­ tracted to an advertisment for a used upright piano of­ fered at $150., and bought it. Leilani can read the ad this way -- "a piano, a Dig bockus (a box) has teeth (the piano keys) that when struck by the untutored make a sound that comes out like a cry." I hope Leilani writes to let me know if she remembers the piano in her home when she was a child in Honolulu. Question -- "I am an old- fashioned grandmother. My two granddaughters are 154 and 17 years old. Both insist on not wearing brassieres. They are far from being flat- chested and it's not very nice for them to be seen and ANTIQUE SHOW march 20 thru march 23 thursday & friday... 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday... 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday... Noon to 5 p.m. /r />3 u U U ii t its in the bag.. LAKEHUHsT One minute east o? the Fn State One minute west of Skokw? Htghwav 'Rt 411 at ;uk«^an Rt 43) and Bdvuiere Rds (Rt 120) Waukegan talked about. I dug out an old National Georgraphic magazine that showed pictures of Congolese women in Africa those figures look old before their time because as girls they went bare- breasted. I told my grand­ daughters that they would look flat and hanging down like that before they are 40 if they don't wear bras. They think I'm crazy. Can you supply an answer? --- Mrs. Carrie L. Answer -- My doctor agrees with Carrie. He said, "It isn't sensible for any woman, young or old, to go without a bra, especially if she is anything but small. All women need an uplift. The two girls might very well get to be overly flat and pen­ dulous in later years if they don't follow their grand­ mother's advice." Here follow three letters from readers who scold me: Question -- "Your answer to Miriam M. who wanted to know about college classes at 78 was too discouraging. Anyone of that age who is interested in learning new things should be encouraged. Please let Miriam and others like her know that she can check in at her local com­ munity college where they will welcome her with open arms. A sometimes bonus is free tuition for those past 65". -- Lynda T. Answer --' Thanks to Lynda. I overlooked a good bet for Miriam -- enrollment at the community college in her town. Question -- "I regret your response to 78-year-old Miriam. Your answer could have discouraged her. Your cracks about first needing to know what she wanted to study, and college not being a place to pass the time, could very well have scared her away. As a 24-year-old student, I often feel frightened and confused at Community college here. Such feelings must be compounded for elders going to college for the first time. There are many vocational classes that prove in­ teresting, and don't discount self-improvement as a viable end in itself. I hope many more seniors come back to school. It is inspiring to attend classes with people who have much to offer to those of us who are inex­ perienced in life. Let the elders know that we young students need them." -- Debra R. Answer --- I stand chastened. Debra is a thoughtful young lady. Question -- "I wrote to you two months ago for my mother who is unable to write very well. My father died in 1978 and my mother never did receive the $250. Social Security death benefit. The SS office here gave us a go-around. I asked in the letter you never an­ swered if you could tell us who to contact besides the SS office here. But you also gave us the go-around. My mother who is 80 said to keep the stamped envelope she sent you. Thanks for nothing." -- Mabel K. Answer -- I'm sorry we have no record of Mabel's first letter. Perhaps she and her mother will be1 forgiving if they know that I receive hundreds of letters every week from readers. Their letter must have been lost in this cluttered office. Now to answer the question. Mabel should make her complaint to SS in writing,, demanding a decision. She should also insist on a reply in writing. If Mabel again gets what she described as the "go- around" ttien she can go to the Coos Bay Council of Governments office at North Bend. They can advise her competently. Question ~ "I have two questions. Where can one buy an idelible pencil anymore? Modern store clerks don't even know what they are, let alone stock them. But we elderly citizens need indelible pencils to mark our gums where they hurt, so we can know where to scrape a poor fit on a denture until it is com­ fortable. Now I have forgotten the other thing I was going to ask you, so I will have to write again." -- Margery E.B. Answer --' Margery shouldn't worry about forgetting. I have heard of priests and ministers who forget their prayers, husbands who forget wed­ ding anniversaries and housewives who forget to put salt in a batch of bread. I located two indelible pencils in a stationery store and have dispatched them by mail to Margery. She and anybody else looking for an old-fashioned indelibly pencil should first try the local office supply stores. Then, if none is found, they can write the pencil manufacturing firm of Eberhard-Faber, Inc., Mountain Top, Pa., 18707 and ask for pencil Number 740M. It is indelible and will serve well to mark gums made sore by a bad fit in a denture. Margery can write to me anytime she remembers what she forgot, and her letter will be welcome. Question -- "I am 79. My sole income is from interest on savings, and Social Security. How much can I have in income from savings certificates before having to file ah income return?" -- Walter C. Answer -- If Walter is single, the figure is $4,300. If married and his wife is not yet 65, the amount is $6,400. If his wife is past 65, the amount is $7,400. Write to Carl Riblet, Jr. at Box 40757, Tucson, Ariz., 85717 for information and advice on questions you may have as an elder citizen, with self-addressed, stamped envelope. All questions will be answered, either direct or in this column. b b b b b b b b b b b b Safety Hints OOOOBBBBBBBBC By Alan J.Dixon Secretary of State Skidding results when vehicle tires lose their grip on the road surface. This is usually caused by slamming on of the brakes, ac­ celerating or decelerating too fast, or driving too fast over }>umpy or icy roads. Other conditions which can cause skidding are driving too close to the edge of the road, with one wheel dropping off onto the shoulder, or following other cars too closely and then being forced to slam on the brakes. The most important thing to remember in a skid situation is to keep calm and do everything moderately. There are two basic actions to follow when you find yourself skidding. First, stop doing whatever you did to start the skid. Second, to retain control of the vehicle, steer in the direction that the rear wheels are going. 1.) If you slammed on the brakes, ease up on them. Then steer in the direction of the skid. 2.) If you accelerated too fast, ease up on the gas pedal. Then, steer in the direction of the skid. 3.) If the skid was caused by driving too fast on a slippery road, ease up on the gas pedal, but do not apply the brakes. Steer as gently as you can in the direction of the skid. (A copy of the Rules of the Road booklet will be sent to you upon request. Write to Alan J. Dixon, Secretary of State, Springfield, 111., 62756.) IV.A. NEWSI Editor's .note: following are representative questions answered daily by VA counselors. Full information is available at any VA office. Q - If a veteran is in­ carcerated at the time he is scheduled for a com­ pensation exam is his claim disallowed until he can report to a VA facility for his exam? A -- Normally the VA will have a VA physician examine the veteran at the prison or arrange for an examination by a fee basis physician. Q - I have an opportunity to purchase a four- unit apartment building. May I use my VA loan guaranty entitlement to purchase this building? i A - Yes. You may pur­ chase the property on a VA loan provided you meet all requirements and plan to occupy one of the units as your home. Q ~ I am receiving a nonservice connected pension. My wife died in June. There have been no other changes in my dependency or income status. Must I report Social Security paid her up to' the time of her death? A -Yes. However, you should show the cost of her illness and burial if you paid for it yourself. This is an allowable exclusion which serves to reduce your countable income for VA purposes. Q -- Must I take my Veterans Administration insurance dividend in cash or do I have other options? A - There are several dividend options available to policy holders other than cash. For full information contact your nearest VA regional office. Q - I am a student par­ ticipating in the Veterans Administration work-study program. What is the earliest effective date of my work-study contract? A - The beginning of the certified enrollment period at the college you are at­ tending. Q - May a veteran obtain a VA guaranteed loan on a home which appraises lower than the sales price? A - Yes, provided the veteran pays the difference in cash from his own r e s o u r c e s w i t h o u t borrowing. VA will not guarantee a loan in excess of the appraised value of the property. JEWEL CATALOG OUTLET STORE • JEWEL CATALOG OUTLET STORE JEWEL CATALOG OUTLET STORE MERCHANDISE CLEARANCE CENTER flTJWWMrf/l// PART II c> A DIVISION OF JfWil DIRECT MARKETING 901 W. Virginia St. CRYSTAL LAKE ( •15-4550333 ' Mon .Twet. t e.m. • S p.m. W*d.. Thwr*.. Frl. c. 9 a.m. • I p.m. S«t. to rn. • Sp.ms -V Sun. 10 «.m. • 3 p.m. Sale Days Wed., March 19 Thru Tues., March 25 --While Quantities Last-- Last week's Pre-Inventory Sale was great. Thanks to all our customers who are helping us make room. To make even more room for our inventory next week -- we're slashing prices again--this time with our famous... STOREWIDE SALE OUR DISCOUNT PRICE •CLOTHING •TOYS •G1FTWARE •HOUSEWARES •RUGS •ELECTRONICS •BEDDING •BATH NEEDS •WATCHES/JEWELRY •EXERCISE EQUIPMENT Batteries and Gum Not Included In This Sale. * •FURNITURE ITEMS •OUTDOOR ITEMS •COOKWARE •DISHES •FLATWARE CHECK OUR LIST OF "IN-STORE" SPECIALS THESE BUYS ARE EVEN GREATER THAN 50% I? EWEl CATALOG )EWC1 CATALOG OUTLET STORE JEWEL CATALOG OUTLET