PAGE 18, WM[TY FREE PRESS. WEDNESDAY. MARCI 15. 1989 iIl e ooklin News? Cail Lorna Miler O e Phone 668-6369 I i 694-1502 _________________________________________ I This column is dedicated ta a man wbo is waging bis final battie for life. It is a losing battie. But it is mot witb the lion-bearted courage and distinguished dignity that bas been biis standard in al bis previous battles in life. Gordon Thomas is a man wbo looks at lifo as an exciting journey full of challenges that ho bas accepted and adversities that homust overcomo. At 14, hoe mn away from borne, a littie Welsb village, the naine of wbicb sticks in English throats, its composition being mostly cononants littered with a fow vowels, to join the Royal Navy. His life of adventure had begun. World War II came along and provided a fow interesting moments. His sbip was literally shot out from underneatbbIùm twice. One of these unfortunate occasions being a Christmas Eve. One can only imagine the fears and terrors hoe must bave ondurod floating in the freezing Atlantic, cinging ta floating debris and a thread of hope that rescue would be realized. But bis courage did not fail him thon and it won't now. Ho always bas an interesting tale ta weavo about bis adventures. There was the tixne that bis sbip and hoe parted ways in Spain and ho worked bis way up the coast, meeting the people, learning the customs, drining in their bars, and using bis considerable cbarmi on the ladies on bis journoy ta the ports where bis sbip was ancbored. How A SE E by Lamna Miller IT A dedication ho talkod bis way back on board, wo will nover know. But, ho did it and ho was on bis way again, taking with bim experiences that enriched bislife and ours with the telling of tbem. Cordon Thomas is not a man of imposing stature, the biggest tbing about bim is bis beart and bis smile, but ho nover backed down from bis chosen stance, no matter what the size of the obstacle put in bis path. Ho is a man who can't be botbered witb most of the minor irritations and atumbling blocks of life. He just cismisses them with a wave of bis hand and goos on bis way. He knows w'hat is imh ortant in lifo and deals only with thoso. Ho is wise wit a wisdom that can only ho learned by livin.Ho is ind with a kindness engendered by understanding. Ho is loving because ho knows it is solf-defeating to bo anything but. He is tactful but stili calsa a spade a spade. These aro tho qualities that havo ondeared him to us. You always know exactly whero y ou stand with him. Ho is fun. Ho bas always realized that lifo is toc short ta lot sniall issues become more important than thoir worth and that the biggor tho issuo is, tho bigger chance there is that it will straigbten itself out if you do wbat you can, then leave it alone. The car I drive was bis and I amn gratoful to him every time I get bebind the wheel that ho is such a caring person. The car is in perfect shape because of bis care and I feel safer driving it. I promise ta keep it going and in good shape until it, or I, gasp our last. It is a pnivilge te know Gordon. And wo ail love and respect Mim. We know that when this battie is ovor, it will be he who bas won the war. For ho cannot be stopped by more deatb. Ho will go on. Wherever ho goos, it will just bo part of the SEE PAGE 26 Store meets children's needs By Lamna Miller Brooklin native Mary Jean Clark opened ber store Many Colours in the fail of 1987 to meet, she says, a need for chil- dren's books and toys in the area. She stocks toys and books that challenge a child's imagination and creativitv. Her own ebjîdren, Leah- 5, and Daniel, 9, are totally absorbed in the stock when the y visit the store, so she has ber own 'buit-in criteria for stock selection. "I was lookin g for a name that would lend itself to a variety of tbings. Children's toys and bo>oks are ver y colorful, so I tbought that M any Colours was an appropriate name,» Clark states. In addition to operating the store and raising ber young fainily, Clark drives a school bus every day. She is alsotaking music,' French, psycbology and chu., dren's literature courses to attain ber bachelor of arts de is~.~ changing ber giftware stock this year te specialize in "one of a kind" linos sucb. as jewelry by Dapbne. A-r .on *ton *n The Stelar Plusrn high efficiency gas furnace and Stellar 200" high effliciency air conditioning combine to provide a Total Comfort System. You'Il feel good inside with filtered and moisture balanced air - constant warmth ail winter long and summer cooling in every room. CAS RAKSF s$7,5.-$450. v for purchases by April 29th 1989.* r I *Amont f csh bck elomnedby izeand qupenlpurCase c' paflicipating 0081ers York Stellar PlusTM, " Lifetime warranty on heat exchanger. " Uses clean, efficient natural gas. *Cuts annual heating costs significantly. York Stellar 20OOm *Efficient summer cooling. *Quality construction. *Very quiet operation. iWORK- %'re >vur York Dealers . I1zP' bng n oce daes moors. AIR CONTROL HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 600 Euclid St. Unit 10 Whitby 686-3511 MARY JEAN CLARK '77Z-f Z~Cwf 'cwS'Iic,§Z-, JFi&i1,. iZ~TIX FIqC>M AM Located on Hwy. 12 just 2 miles north of Hwy. 7 Ph n : 5 - 9 Childrens Clothes Plus Selected Toys and Gifts SLOt3010-4 __10 Roebuck St., Brooklin ýM 065 a--412 IL0 1 1 1 1