1965: Party For Mrs. Root On Her 95th Birthday

Rossmore’s grand old lady, Mrs. Margaret Root, informs us that this column was just a little bit wrong last week. She wasn’t 94 on November 13 and she didn’t vote in the November 8 federal general election. Rather, she was 95 on Friday, and the only reason she did not vote was because it was a rainy day and the pavement was slippery. Mrs. Root decided to play it safe and keep in the house.

Open house was held for her on Sunday and she received all her friends in her most charming manner. She enjoyed sharing memories with them over the years gone by.

A birthday cake, sandwiches and cookies were served with tea and coffee throughout the afternoon and evening, as her many friends and relatives kept coming. A lovely party for a lovely lady. May she continue to enjoy each day with health and happiness is the wish of her many friends.

1985: Harry Evans’s birthday

Every year I live is a bonus year. It was me birthday yesterday. Just me and the missus. She cooked my special dinner of lake whitefish, fresh dug taters planted in August (the skin washed off with the hose, a real June-in-January treat) and small green peas. There was apple pie.

And my birthday being the 21st of November, my Canada pension cheque arrived a week earlier. Maybe Mulroney was in on the surprise. And a bonus birthday gift: taking my column into the office, Vera told me I’d got me a raise in pay. Twenty per cent increase and without negotiations, which all goes to prove hard work and application has its just rewards. However, the raise ain’t retroactive from the end of my last contract, so no lump sum. Almost forgot. Della Siviter sent down a cherry cheesecake to embellish the occasion.

Imagine, a raise in pay at 70 and at five times the inflation rate? I had a feelin’ I was worth every penny.