Lögberg-Heimskringla - 03.06.1988, Side 6

6-LÖGBERG CENTENNIAL YEAR, FÖSTUDAGUR 3. JÚNÍ 1988
Watch it Afi
The unexpected took a new twist. listen as he did in his old age, it was
Old Afi had always been fond of his doubtful if school ever helped him.
grandson and was often a soft touch Be that as it may, he had words to say
for anything up to a dollar. The trick about the school system.
was to approach him when he was in The schools had developed courses
a good mood and to leave him alone in driving and kids were being taught
when he was berating the system, es- to drive vehicles. It was called, ''The
pecially if he was holding forth on the psychological aspects of mechanical
political system, and how things mobility and sociological effects on
were going to end in chaos. If he was modern society." To Afi this was just
muttering Icelandic, which nobody plain bull. In his day you found a
in the family understood, then he country road, and your old man gave
was a soft touch, especially when his you the wheel and said, "Drive, do
grandson said, "Afi eg er broke" that not wiggle the steering wheel, go
was good for a dollar a throw. slow, and feed the gas gently." If he
Times had changed, the grandson saw a cow a half mile down the road
had reached his teens and was all ex- he yelled, "watch out for the cow."
cited about cars. Girls were to come To Afi this was the good old way —
later. Old Afi was somewhat critical why waste the taxpayers money on
of the school system. He had forgot- driver education?
ten the days out in the country, and The grandson had learned not to call
50 kids crowded into a small school Afi grandpa, the thing to do was to
house with one teacher handling approach him when he was calm and
grades one to eight. Usually a permit say. "Afi" with an Icelandic accent,
teacher, who had yet to go to Normal then gradually bring up the subject
School and qualify. In spite of this which invariably was going to cost
deficiency many of them did an ex- the old fellow money. This time Afi
cellent job, but it meant listening was taken unawares as his grandson
carefuily. If Afi as a kid, forgot to gently said, "ah vi" there is this
First senior travel club
Great changes in matters pertain-
ing to travel by older people have
taken place during recent years.
Many travel agencies offer special
trips for the elderly in conjunction
with organized senior clubs and or-
ganizations which assist the elderly.
Recently Club 60 was organized, the
first travel association to concern it-
self exclusively with travel by
60-year-olds and over.
It came into being in recognition of
the lOth anniversary of the travel
agency Atlantik. The advisor to Club
60 is Þorrir Guðbergsson.
Þorrir points out the requirements
for the special needs of older
travellers. Movement and outdoor
participation has to be considered in
connection with free time periods.
The availability of varied diet re-
quirements is a factor. Companion-
ship with friends is also a
consideration.
It is desireable to lower the costs
on these trips. Safety measures are
important. On the sun country trips
there is a first aid person. For medi-
cal service the health insurance is a
requirement.
As these trips increase smaller
groups and more frequent flights are
likely to develop. This allows for bet-
ter service for those who require help
Poetry and Short Story Contest!
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba invites you to submit poetry (3 entries per person
limit) and/or a short story (1 entry per person). Prize money will be awarded and suc-
. cessful entries will be published in the Festival booklet. Categories are as follows:
Poetry Junior (12 and under) lst Prize $25
Intermediate (13 - 18) lst Prize $35
Open lst Prize $50
2nd Prize $25
Short Story Open lst prize $50
Submissions which contain material reflecting Icelandic or Icelandic-Canadian culture
will be given preference. Entries will noFbe returned. Send your material before June
15 to:
FESTIVAL WRITING CONTEST
109-836 Allegheny Dr.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 4X2
and relating to fellow travellers. The
club emphasized the need for becom-
ing acquainted not only during the
trip but before and after. Post trip get
togethers was considered necessary
and enjoyable, to recall events
experienced.
There is a tendency to repeat trips,
but Þorrir feels it will be feasible to
vary the trips in due course. The
popular concept at present is to fly to
the countries that offer sun. This year
the club has arranged for trips to Mal-
lorka commencing in April and end-
ing in November. He expects this to
change in due course, and trips will
develop to more distant countries.
Based on an article appearing in the
Morgunblað.
JOIN
ICELANDIC
CANADIAN FRÓN
Send membership fee of
$15.00 single or $25.00 famiiy
to
Icelandic Canadian Frón
764 Erin Street
Wii nipeg, Manitoba R3G 2W4
Telcphone: 774-8047
friend of mine who knows of a car
that can be bought at a bargain price.
Innocently Afi asked, "What kind is
it?" "A 68 Fury" came the reply. The
grandson described it as a real power-
house, with terrific zip. When you
touch the gas it goes like a stag
hound. "Besides it's loaded," said the
grandson. "What do you mean load-
ed," Afi asked. "It has all the op-
tions", came the reply. "What do you
mean by options?" Afi asked. "You
know, variable speed windshield
wiper, power windows, automatic
transmission, heater, air conditioner,
tinted windshield, cigarette lighter
and ash trays in every door, power
adjustable drivers seat, radio, tape
player, and dimmer switch."
"You know Afi," his grandson
said, "I can get it for 60 bucks".
After considerable discussion, Afi
began to think it was a reasonable
bargain. He remembered in his day,
a Model T Ford could be bought for
that kind of money.
The big day had arrived and Afi
went over to his daughter's house to
witness the arrival of the option load-
ed 68 Fury powerhouse. Looking out
the dining room window Afi asked,
"What is a tow truck doing here, did
Working To Keep Our Heritage Alive
CANADA ICELAND
FOUNDATION
SECRETARY: PH. 1-204-453-3022
Mrs. S. Borga Jakobson
205 Montrose St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 3L9
your husband's old car conk out on
him?" "No, no", came the daughter's
reply. "It is your grandson's car be-
ing towed home." A sinking feeling
came into the pit of Afi's stomach, as
he thought of the $60 he hd loaned
his grandson.
Going out Afi asked his grandson
why the 68 Fury powerhouse was be-
ing towed. "It needs a transmission,
but do not get excited Afi'' came the
reply.''A friend of mine has given up
on his car and I can have the trans-
mission for nothing." "I suppose the
options work". Afi commented.
''Well no, most of them need fixing'',
came the reply. Afi wanted to know
about the rust holes. "Those are easy
to fix" his grandson explained. "All
you need is a fibreglass kit and a bor-
rowed disk sander, the holes are no
problem. Then with a spray bomb
you restore the original appearance"
explained the grandson confidently.
Afi is still waiting for a ride in the
68 Fury powerhouse, option loaded.
However, he consoles himself with
the fact that as long as the car does
not work, his grandson is not likely
to hit a cow with it.
Join The Club
^'Harold*s\
Complete Unisex
Beauty Services
0 1065 Ellice at Wall Street
Telephone 775-8557
Gimli Betel Home Foundation Annual Tea
Sunday, June 12, 1988 1 - 3 p.m.
Draws, Home Baking, Handicrafts
Everyone is Welcome
44th Anniversary Celebration
of Iceland's Independence
June 17, 1988
7 p.m. Annual Wreath-laying Ceremony
at the
Jon Sigurdsson Statue
Legislative Grounds (Broadway and Kennedy)
8 p.m. Pageant, Refreshments, Dance
at the
Scandinavian Cultural Centre
764 Erin Street, Winnipeg
The IODE Jon Sigurdsson Chapter and the Icelandic Canadian Fron
(Winnipeg) are jointly sponsoring this celebration of Iceland’s Indepen-
dence Day. The wreath-laying is a brief commemorative ceremony pay-
ing tribute to all Icelanders in their struggle for freedom. The pageant
will give a panoramic view of the history of Iceland in tableau form.
Come and meet Jon Sigurdsson himself! Admission to the 8 p.m. pro-
gram, $5. Children 14 years and under free.
This space made available courtesy
Neil Bardal Inc.
Family Funeral Counsellors
984 Portage Ave. 786-4716