CARNEGIE WRITERS WINTER BOOK I WHY AM I AT CARNEGIE I'm here, but not all there Yesterday's gone Today's reality Tomorrow is a mystery By Terry Hammond A cowboy rides into town. Everything he is wearing is made out of paper. His pants, his coat, his hat and his shirt are all made of paper. The sherrif walks up .and says, "your new in town." The man says, "well I just got out of jail." The sherrif asks, "what were you in for?" The man says, "rustling." . Chris Laird 'TIS THE SEASON IS THE REASON ... 'tis the season to get jolly a handful of Alaxandra Street glass folly I'd fire and create Colours red sand stone Meltware and fuse a mushroom blue glaze, winter's hue Bloo Hoo too soon it's late turnback now play later date show business now just doesn't wait to be weight and sea location and scene Christmas reds and green My cards, my canes I made These now I give - they're yours to take these tales were yours not bought at stores or purchased in yer shopping malls ... the commercial strips that avenues 'round this hall Not wares of store but fashioned and spun with patience and care for you in the basement of the C.C.C. Seasonal Greeting to all, Come this day .. . TaumD. 3 A man and a woman were driving to church to get married when . they have a bad bad car wreck and they both are killed They meet St. Peter and they tell him what happened and they ask if they can get married in heaven. St. Peter says, "I don't know, . let me· check on this. "He is gone for two years, when he comes back he says, "yes you can. 11 The man says, "What if the marriage doesn't work out, can we get a divorce?" St. Peter gets angry and says, "I spent two years trying to find a preacher up here now you expect me to find a lawyer. " Chris Laird A lot of people see something and they think "I could improve on that" as they fool around with it Before you know it the thing They fooled around with is not the same or just doesn't work anymore By Chris Laird Awareness is the key to change Harley FAMILY REUNION One of the highlights of the summer was a trip to Saskatchewan for a family reunion. It is wonderful to get back to your roots. Wayne and I took on Air BC from Vancouver, but it was the milk run with stops in Kelowna, There was alot of turbulence, which didn't help Wayne's nervousness about flying. The temperature when we arrived was like an over, oven one hundred degree. My cousin picked us up and drove us to our relatives' place; as soon as we arrived there was a tornado! The power went out and we had dinner by candlelight. The force of the winds was enough to uproot trees, and it rained with thunder and lightening for hours. Movies crews should have been there as the special effects were perfect for a horror film. Saskatoon still has a drive-in movie theat&. As a side story, the owner had brought her babies with her to the drive-in that night and was preparing things for her employees - the movie was Twister - and the real thing happened! The next morning the theatre looked like a pile of kindling but no one was injured. The day we went to the North Battleford where I saw a former teacher who taught me when I was seven years old, and then to the family reunion on the old farm. My aunt Catherine celebrated her 80th birthday and it was wonderful seeing old friends - even though things like grain elevators were squashed like sardine cans by the weather. People had come from far away as St. John's New Brunswick. Coming back was much smoother as we took a large plane and a direct route. Next summer the relatives are coming out here as my cousin's son is taking part in the Aboriginal Games in Victoria. By Irene Schmidt. 5 BIRDS Numerous of birds Alighted on a wire fence one, two, perhaps more at a time. I Listened to their chattering sounds, heard their fluttering wings Then all became silence resided for a time A chance to build up and gather their momentum, for the next flight. In that still moment refuelled and re-energized themselves. What a sudden departure taken off in flight. Simultaneously, a unique performance. What a fluttering roaring noise thus, continuing their journey but they don't tell where they go. I don't know. But this, I do know I put wings to my thoughts emerge and soar like an eagle Whose gracefulness and strength fly high. I connect into that flow energy, the Life force. Information and Transformation. Requires transformation in order to grow, strengthen and development. Transforms unwanted things into something that releases joy and gains peace and poise through the connection of Creative Life force. The Great quiet presence and power, in that fluently flow energy gain personal freedom, maintain self control and wisdom within me, guides me. Navigates independently. TOBE FREEDOM TOBE Gaining Freedom Transformation BE BECOMING JUST BE Just be-yourself your own person who you are. Beingness Relax totally being oneself To change is the key to success, to initiate any improvment Take more responsibility for ones own learning process can have many many positive benefits. To realize more fully ones potential as a self directing person. Focus on development Experience the growth of joy and peace inspires soul growth For in being, lie the greatness and the power raises decision to newness of life and also prepares to deal with reactions of others to free oneself from undesirable situation Exercise the principle in such a way September 17, 1996 in all that one, think, feel, say, and do, maintain the sound attitude to overcome frustrations by personal challenges. There may come at such time difficulty, insurmountable, overwhelming a situation or circumstance. Is there a possible solution? Why not seek through experience of life, which involves an individual growths and unfolds oneself to seek newer heights adventurously . Take responsibility for oneself, exploration and expansion If lack knowledge, ignite spark and vision. Improve concentration and understanding , more heighten the awareness of one's attitude. Broaden the horizon of thought and views. Permeate thinking positiveness and constructiveness, thus blossoms out that mystery of Life . I am free as a bird BEINGNESS! - FREEDOM By Jerry Jerome , FREEDOM Last night we at Nicotine Anonymous celebrated a one year's cake for the three of our members. Josie who started the meetings here in Vancouver, Margaret and also Jack. ·Everybody h:ad big smiles on their faces and the love and warmth was there as we all shared the freedom of breaking the chain that bas bound us to cigarettes. It was wonderful to be able to breath again even with an oxygen tank. I sure noticed it in the night time whenever I have to get up that I was not choking and gasping for air. It was wonderful. Feeling to be free and does not cost you a cent, just a desire to stop smoking. Jim Doris Leslie: Favourite Saying: If you love someone Set them free If they come back It's yours If it doesn't come back "IT NEVER WAS" Sunset over English Bay In nature nothing is wasted and sun searched earth for shades to paint the evening sky Mixed red gold of fall leaves with summer memories of rosy pink and splashed from East to West over city and ocean and mountains The sea quivered and trembled like reined wild horses Points of lantern orange and mad roses danced upon the ocean against a backdrop of palest birds egg blue And night crept on heartbeat by heartbeat. Muriel The man is cursed to search for absolutes ' ', knowing full well there are none. Leigh Donohue '1 The tree wanted to stop shaking But the wind kept blowing. If you want to treat your parents right don't wait till it's too late Ted Chiang (o GRANDPA'S CHRISTMAS By Dora Sanders Mother would always ask Grandpa, "What do . you want for Christmas?" and he would always answer, "Oh, just a stick of candy." ~om got exasperated by his flippant answer. One day before the second world war she went out and bought him the largest candy cane she could find. It was well over five feet long and an inch and a half thick. It took her two buses to get home from the old Woodwards store and there were some manouvering problems on the way. It certainly surprised Grandpa. He put it away in the bottom drawer of his dresser where he would dole out small pieces when we visited. I imagine he had to break the cane in two to get it home and to store it the drawer.He had a grocery store in Burnaby where he sold candy. He also repaired shoes. Mom got him a candy cane every Christmas. I have been through some wonderful Christmas's. Remarkable memories come to mind when I think back, but always think of Grandpa and his candy canes.I wish all the best to Carnegie patrons, volunteers, and staff, for their Christmas. I hope the street people find shelter, food and warmth. This Christmas I will have a great grandchild and share Christmas with him (we are told via ultrasound that it will be a he). I will also be with his mother and father who have one other child, his grandmothers on both sides of .11e family, and his other great grandmother. That is four generations times two. None of their family have much money to spare. It will be a pot luck dinner and the gifts will be inexpensive, but I consider myself rich, living to experience this new generation. That will be Christmas enough. I might even say I would be satisfied with "just a stick of candy" thereafter. DORA I I Standing in Line Reality shelters on the move. Walls made of love Walls made of wombs. We are ~e mishaps and accidents that accept the temporary. We are the state discovered and constantly unseen! We've been featured in residential schools and foster homes. Such special attention! We are the collective that is unable to adopt its own. The "welcome" in trust frightens us. We all ran away! We are the living the dead and the yet to be conceived. Leigh Donohue I a, Christmas Eve At Muskrat Lake On Christmas Eve The entire village went tobogganing on the sloping banks of Muskrat Lake. Everyone was bundled up in mukluks parkas mitts and scarves. Some came. to watch, others to ride on this festive night of clouds and stars. Some toboggans scooted down like otters. Others slide sideways, and still other turned over. Tiny children with wide eyes were held firmly by parents who rode with them everyone who wanted a ride found a place on a toboggan. No one was left out. Jeremiah, who was six, tugged on my arm. Come for a ride, he said, and I rode with Jeremiah and as many of his friends as would fit on the toboggan. Down the hill we went with shouts and screams and the toboggan skidded sideways and we all fell off and Jeremiah jumped up, eyes shining, and ran after the toboggan. 13 Big, fluffy flakes of snow began to fall from the dark sky. Children tried to catch snowflakes on their tongues, and older folks stood still and let the large flakes land on their heads and outstretched hands Gradually people started to go home. There were children to put to bed, and hands and feet to be warmed It stopped snowing, and stars were visible among the clouds. In the distance a wold howled, and the dogs at Muskrat Lake took up the call. Walking on the snow path through the dark trees I repeated to myself, The kingdom, the coming of the kingdom. Sandy Cameron /if ey Ricky Lavallie I would like to .wish everybody . A Merry Christmas The Learning Centre and the Carnegie An eagle is sacred to the native people Because· we keep the feathers to make dancing costumes The bones are made for eagle whistles I used to like the eagle whistle to make the noise as an eagle When I dance I am a Cree IS EMPHYSEMA What everyone should know about emphysema; first of all, it will kill you. I should know my father quit smoking at the age fifty and lived another twenty years, but, oh, how he suffered in agony the last two years. I was told last May by Dr. Leslie Lawson that I have the disease and if I did not stop smoking I would be dead in a year's time, as I had smoked for forty five years. I was a very sick person; I could only walk half a block, then stop, trying to get enough oxygen into my lungs; then a half a block to get the heart slowed down, long enough to get another half a block. I had to spend another ten or eleven days in Saint Paul's hospital, and my heart is enlarged with low pressure along with brain damage. 16 Dr. Lawson put me on liquid oxygen twenty four hours a day, three different inhalers plus pills twice a day. I also joined Nicotine anonymous and found out three thousand five hundred people every year, plus over seven hundred non-smokers also passed away from second hand smoke. The one thing these people all had in common was they died for nothing. Smoke if you wish, but do you really want to gamble. By Jim Roadknight /7 IT CAN'T BE A MISTAKE IF YOU LEARN SOMETHING FROM IT IT BECOMES A LESSON Lorelei Hawkins TO HELL WITH IT Eleanor Kelly, Carnegie Librarian When you meet a person, do you really meet the person he is, or do you simply meet the reflection of yourself in him? Have you ever met . anybody? - or just your own reflections, your own interpretation? When you meet a person, you immediately start interpreting the person. You start creating an image about him. That image is yours. The person is not important image becomes clear; The person is forgotten. And then you live with this image. When you talk to the person, you talk to your image of the person, not to the person real\y. Invite people to share you. Invite people to drink you. By Videha 18 Christmas Time it was Christmas time when my father first taught me to shoot a gun we walked over frozen ground to the woods near a friend's house and stopped at a tree that had a rusty can nailed to it I picked at the red polish on my thumb while he put Kleenex in my ears and placed the gun in my hand it was black and cold he said point at the tree I did but the trigger was too hard to pull so he put his finger over mine and we pulled it together on the ride home it was dark and snowing I counted christmas lights with my face pressed up against the glass and the vibration of the car ringing in my ears Kathryn Mockler /f "Hey" Sentences of soil and sky to breathe Sentences of love and yielding Not the sentences of courts and trials to feed the rich. But natural justice like the dew from a rose that spills over your face and says: "Hey do you want to play" Sentences of water and birth Whispers and warmth and embracing Not the sentences of the judges looking for morals to complete. But honest navigations that spray oceans of irresistible imagination and yell: "Hey do you want to play some more" Sensations of gods and philosophies not strict religions afraid of dreaming But erotic songs that celebrate the outcry of humans pressing together and singing: "Hey are you still reading" Leigh Donohue CRUISE TO PARADISE Well, you wealthy tourists who cruise to Alaska, eat your hearts out. We have discovered an island paradise which is just as beautiful and far more peaceful. Approximately forty-six of us happy campers left Carnegie on the morning of September 16. The bus took us to Granville Island where we boarded the Meander and sailed for Gambier Island. The trip up there was fantastic as it was extremely warm out on deck. There were quite a number who had never been to Camp Fircom before and they were amazed at the scenery along the way. The camp manager was at Halkett Bay to greet us when we docked near the camp. It was a nice little hike to the dining hall. There were very few women on the trip so I had a room to myself. The first thing we noticed was how fresh and clean the air smelled. A mule deer was at the dining hall to greet us and wanting to be fed. The deer up there are so tame they eat right out of your hand. I could not get over how gentle they are when they take the food. They love to eat apples and we had a good supply. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the days of hiking, canoeing, swimming and sitting by the beach campfire. Wednesday evening there was a talent program. We had music, dancing and story tell by Eaglestar. My imagination ran wild up there and I was the producer of a skit which starred Matthew, Andy, Gary and myself. Andy really outdid himself. Andy really outdid himself as Judge Heartless, Matthew was the arresting officer and Gary was the lawyer called Rip Off And Can Do Nothing. The evening ended with delicious lemon pie being served. One valuable lesson I learned was never go on a biking trip with George. Amy was· our fearless leader and seven of us set out for the cross through the trails. We had group pictures taken when we reached the top to prove that we did make it. Next we beaded down to Marine Parle and there was a steep trail leading to the beach. We rested for a few minutes, then George bad the bright idea to walk along the beach. • where we had to climb over a lot of rocks. One area was covered with mud and I slipped.. I ended up looking like I had been rolling around in it. Then George had another bright idea - to hike up a steep mountain goat trail before returning to camp. We took enough food up there to feed an army and ate like kings and queens. One evening we had roast beef with all the trimmings. I thoroughly enjoyed the break from shopping for groceries. Murray, the caretaker, was the best and blended in with the campers so well he even ate meals with us. He took such good care· of us and everyone thanked him for it. Just before we left we left the camp eleven Canada geese appeared, and they kept chasing the ravens away from the food. We were warned not to leave any plastic bags outside with items in them, because the trickster ravens would fly away with them. I will always remember the abundance of deer on the island, along with little fawns. It is truly a paradise there, and I hope it stays that way. I .r:~ ~ /. ·. _._..-, .... - -By IRENE SCHMIDT Main and Hastings October 1996 I am a stranger in this part of town. Everything is new and unfamiliar. I used to shop at the old Woodwards and admire the animals and angels in the window at Christmas. Things have changed since then. Exhausted grey clouds weep uncontrollably splashing and bouncing tears onto slick grey pavements. A young woman crouches in a doorway, her arms wrapped around herself like a blanket. Her lips move, telling her own story. She seems not to see the rain nor feel the chilling damp. A young man shakes curly wet hair like a dog. He wheels his way vigorously through heavy traffic. He has no legs. I walk along Hastings toward Army and Navy, past bars and hotels which offer cold comfort from the downpour. Their names are familiar to me only because I have read -of a lonely death or murder which happened in their cheerless rooms. I wait for the Robson bus sheltering under my shapeless umbrella with the spokes sticking out. Cars hiss by like irriated snakes splashing pedestrians who are soaked already and no longer care. The bus is warm and steaming. I reach the West End where I live and do not see as clearly. Familiarity dulls awareness. It is dark now. City lights paint the pavement and cheer up the night. People sleep in doorways on Denman Street now. Clouds slumber restlessly gaining strength for another downpour. Muriel To be one with others is to be one with self & vice versa Alison Cameron 4 HUGS FOR SURVIVAL 8 HUGS FOR MAINTENANCE 12 HUGS FOR GROWTH 4 HUGS A DAY KEEPS THE BLUES AWAY Margaret P . ·WIMIN FLAUNT YOUR FAT SHIELA BAXTER My grandmother says you can attract more bees with honey than vinegar. also Don't judge a book by its cover, If you do you might miss a good book. If you want respect, You gotta give it. This is what I told the cops at Hastings St., BY:MO Bobb Watt Shoot for the moon If you miss at least you will land on the stars. PREACHIFIER When I listen to the wise, and they condemn me for their fears. The longer grows their nose, and the shorter grows my ears. Bill Blanchard (GrandPa) · :--,.......:.__ _ _ ·,\~·· . ~ .. -·~. . . . . '\ ··\. ' •, . "JUST A YOUNGSTER" Jerry Jerome "Knowledge Acted on Brings Results" Author Eleanor Abercrombie "NOW AN ADULT" Jerry Jerome "A goose flies by a chart which The Royal Geographic Society could not read" Genius finds its own road ·and carries its own lamp." Genius is the gold in the mine, Talent is the miner which brings it out." Author Eleanor Abercrombie 30 31 Carnegie is going home for the Christmas holidays is hugs and loving from friends is food galore, in abundance is music and dancing and fun Don't be lonely this season COME HOME, COME HOME, COME HOME. Sheila Baxter From Joan Doree A usual comment from me is "Be kind to yourself". Slow and steady wins the race. Robert Lloyd When we part company Instead of saying good bye I'll always say "Take Care" C'est la vie That's life Denise Barera My language doesn't have "good bye". Norman Marks Sechelt Nation Each writers voice and experience is left unedited. This empowers we the writers Because we in Carnegie speak in many different voices Muriel said I don't like anyone messing about with my writing Gerry responded "How right you are!" Jim firmly said .Don't fool with my words Sheila Happily "Me too."!!! Thanks To The Following Writers & Helpers (Alphabetical Order) Alicia Mercurio Alison Cameron Bill Blanchard Carnegie Learning Centre Carnegie Seniors Association Chris Laird Claude Mortimer Dora Sanders Doris Leslie Eleanor Kelly Harley Bull Irene Schmidt Jerry Jerome Jim Roadknight Joan Doree Kathrvn Mockler Leigh Donohue Lorelei Hawkins Margaret P. Maria Teixeira Michael McCormack Michelle Lebeau Mo Muriel Norman Marks Ricky Lavallie Rika Uto Robert Lloyd Sandy Camerson Sharon Jonhson Sheila Baxter Taum D. Ted Chiang Terry Flamond The UBC Library and UBC Learning Exchange would like to thank the following participant for her contributions to digitizing this community-generated document: Brookes Bayfield This community-generated work was digitized and deposited to cIRcle, UBC's open access digital repository, as part of the Digitizing Community Memories project of the Making Research Accessible in the Downtown Eastside initiative (MRAi). In collaboration with the UBC Learning Exchange and UBC Library, the project provided training and support for community members in the Downtown Eastside to digitize and make openly available community-generated materials. This project aimed to increase access to historic Carnegie Centre publications and preserve these unique materials for years to come. For more information on this project and the UBC Learning Exchange, please visit learningexchange.ubc.ca September 13, 2017