s the song goes, Nobody Does It Better...at least for this Baseball Junkie. Of course, I am refer- ring to the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club.


Confessions of a baseball junkie (Part III) A


Tom Dercola


Shaw Park, despite an overcast, some- times drizzly, late afternoon, was rocking for Dancing Gabe Bobblehead Night. Hundreds of fans lined up for more than an hour before the gates opened to stand in line for their chance to pick up a great souvenir of iconic Winnipeg sports fan, Dancing Gabe. Gabe threw out the first pitch, signed autographs and basked in an evening of tribute from the fans. And before the game the Goldeyes honoured Winni- peg’s hometown heroes, the Winnipeg Police Service and the Firefighters and Paramedic Service, who were on hand with their vehicles to talk to families and to have the kids tour their vehicles. I am looking to more special evenings like that, both as a fan and as president of CJNU. On Aug. 12, my son and I will join a dozen other CJNU volunteers to sell 50 50 tickets on behalf of the sta- tion (The song, Family Affair, comes to mind.) Speaking of icons, CJNU’s Ernie Nairn will be on hand to supervise our


Dancing Gabe and Cathy, a member of the CJNU board, mugging for the camera. Photo courtesy of CJNU.


volunteer team. On the 25th of the month, CJNU will be out in full force. Dozens of our vol- unteers will be on hand as CJNU hosts Turn Back The Clock Night. Not only will there be a baseball game but it will be a great evening for those who in their teen years carried combs in their back pockets or who wore bobby socks. Even


CJNU volunteer Chadd Cawson turns back the clock to 50s rebellious youth. Photo credit by T. Dercola.


the kids and grandkids will get excited about our reminiscing At the Hop. We Boomers will show them what a fun time the fifties and sixties were! Before the game, the band, Free Ride, plays on the pre-game stage as The Bea- tles. After the game, Free Ride morphs into Harry ‘n The Armpits for a post- game rock and roll dance party. (Shades


of Bob Burns and Teen Dance Party?) In between CJNU volunteers will be hand- ing out stress balls to the first 500 fans to our display table, will be selling 50 50 tickets and...let’s keep the rest a secret. I’ve played bingo and its variations at the community club but Baseball Bingo? That’s right, Aug. 16, every fan gets a card and checks off an event that takes place during the game...Goldie does a dance on the dugout, or a 5-3 putout (that’s a third to first out). Reminder to self: bring a pen. Three winners in the evening with two based on first to report a complete one line any way and one who is first to report a Blackout Bingo. As a baseball junkie, I’ll be sure to take in Bacon Night. How many times have I seen Dan Chase (a former student of mine!) dressed up as a bacon slice (he is such a ham!) for regular Bet Your Bacon! This night will have everything pork-related. A pre-game BarBQ will have its proceeds given to the Field of Dream Foundation. The Concourse will feature bacon-inspired food...Bacon Poutine, Bacon Caesars and Maple Ba- con Cupcakes!


Baseball...all part of the joys of sum- mer in the ’Peg.


Tom Dercola is so old, he still remembers the Hamm’s Beer Bear commercials for the Minnesota Twins.


strong today as they were when they began many years ago. I often trace this to the fact I grew up surrounded by women like my mother and her five incredible sis- ters.


In celebration of Jim's friendships with women S


ome of my best friendships over my life have been with women.


These relationships have endured and are as


getting the essence of what was said. Perhaps even read- ing between the lines.


Each of the sisters were as different as could be. They did have one thing in common, however, and that was that they loved to communicate. Each day they called one another, and in- formation was passed back and forth between them, disassembled and re- assembled until finely polished. I think sometimes that knowing this helped me to keep the lines of com- munication open always in marriage and in friendship. As I began to ma- ture I met many girls and women; I saw each of them as individuals who, although they had similarities, were all very different. I gradually learned they had many things in com- mon, too. Communication was always important to them. They loved a man who was a good listener and also absorbed what was being said. Some of this may be credited to “active listening” which did not have a name at that time. Not just hearing the words but


Jim Pappas


On my 21st birthday, I received a bouquet of 21 yel- low roses from a female friend, with a card that said “to the man who loves to receive flowers,”and I do to this day. This friend knew me well even then – and often she and I talk about the fact that men are so gender-personified that flowers might appear to be a weak- ness. I never want to be that pigeon-holed. I love receiving flowers, a card, a phone call, or anything from my female friends. Many of them know and appreciate that. When Barbra and I married many years ago she knew from the outset that I had powerful relationships with many women. She also knew that I had no need to ex- plain them to her. They were pre-marital friendships, and my greatest hope was that she would one day enjoy their friendships as I do. I told her that in time she would carve out her own place with all of them, and she did just that without my interference. I have been a confidante, a shopping buddy, a date, an escort and a host for many of them over the years. The common joke is that if one of them needs me, Barbra gives her blessing and sends me on my way to aid them with whatever it is they are involved in. Sometime it was difficult for their boyfriends and


husbands to know that I was in their lives, and most of them have never explained our connections or re- lationships. We can call one another at any time and congratulate, commiserate, celebrate or complain. I often do lunch with various lady friends; sometimes people see me out with one of them and ask what is go- ing on between us. Nothing more than two friends who value one another's company and time.


Many men are afraid to have a woman as a close friend, and that is sad: they don’t want ever to be vul- nerable or appear weak. Some men want that “macho” thing to override everything,and for what reason? As men we can be as sensitive and as understanding as a woman is, and can bring a different viewpoint to the table.


Some of the best moments of my life were when I confessed to one of these women my vulnerability or my fears about things. They have sometimes lectured me, sometimes criticized me, but always have done so with my best interests at heart. I have learned a great deal about myself seeing things


from their point of view, a luxury most men never sa- vour.


Some of the deepest-rooted friendships I enjoy to this day are with women who have been in my life for many years. I celebrate these friendships repeatedly. I am indeed a very lucky man and the envy of a lot of my male friends.


Jim Pappas is a member of the board of CJNU.


Summer rambles, through our vibrant city and beyond Tom Dercola


F


or the first time in seven years since joining CJNU, I have my summer weekends free. That is allowing me to explore the joys of summer. The long Canada Day weekend was one example, with the great Canadian flag cre- ation at Shaw Park, the many festivities down the road at The Forks and finally to Assiniboine Park for the fireworks display. Some Sundays, it is a little less hectic... a cup of coffee on a patio on Provencher Boulevard, a lunch in Osborne Village or Johnny Cash: Ring of Fire at Rainbow Stage, the silent wonder of the display of Anne Frank at the Millennium Library. And, yet, there is so much more on the summer bucket list.


Winnipeg and Manitoba are such vi- brant locations for a transit rider, pedes- trian or a day tripper! (I have to remem- ber CancerCare’s admonition to wear long


August 2016


walking paths, with interesting, comfy res- taurants. The Canadian Museum of Hu- man Rights absolutely requires two days at least to see all that is offered. Then too, Shrek runs at Rainbow Stage from Aug. 11 to Aug. 31. I wonder if my drama queen granddaughter would like to go? I have been waiting for the weather to clear to set out on a couple of day trips around the city...Fort La Reine near Por- tage, the quarry in Stonewall, the Marine Museum in Selkirk and a walkabout in Carman.


The Selkirk Marine Museum. Photo credit: Justin Baraniuk.


sleeves, a hat and slather on suntan lotion, SPF 30 or higher.)


Downtown has always had a huge fasci-


nation (remember the walk from the Bay to Eatons?). One of the many summer


farmers’ markets is on the Hydro build- ing site every Thursday. Or if it’s Tuesday, one can take in the free noon concert at City Place Terrace. Assiniboine Park and Kildonan Park have wonderful cycling and


By mid-August, like the school teacher I was, I’ll be thinking about getting ready for back to “work” in September, but one last fling! Pasta and a pint at the Viscount Gort on Aug. 18! Check out our promo- tional ad on the opposite page for the de- tails.


As another song goes, See You in Sep- tember.


In another lifetime, Tom Dercola taught school for 38 years.


www.lifestyles55.net 13


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20