In the winter, sliding down on a wooden sled while it SNOWED. That big city called VANCOUVER. It seemed so far AWAY. Those magnificent mountains on the ocean, going OVER. On vessels like the Mashigone, Smokwa, Bainbridge, what can one SAY! They were very special TIMES. Growing up in Gibsons LANDING. Looking back at what childhood DEFINED, its DEMANDS. As a senior, the glow of its warmth, the Sunshine from that coast, finally one truly UNDERSTANDS.
That little grocery store off Grantham’s PIER, the red barked arbutus at OLE’S COVE. The good old Gibsons Legion, the only place adults pub-licly could drink BEER. Making toast on top of an iron oil STOVE. Keat’s Island, the unbelievable view from our living ROOM. The wonder of a rainbow, walking back from school on ROCKY ROAD. Listening to ‘his master’s voice’, Ba-ba-ba-Bing Crosby CROON. In the winter, sliding down on a wooden sled while it SNOWED. That big city called VANCOUVER. It seemed so far AWAY. Those magnificent mountains on the ocean, going OVER. On vessels like the Mashigone, Smokwa, Bainbridge, what can one SAY! They were very special TIMES. Growing up in Gibsons LANDING. Looking back at what childhood DEFINED, its DEMANDS. As a senior, the glow of its warmth, the Sunshine from that coast, finally one truly UNDERSTANDS. Find Dan's books HERE.
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On the way to do a gig recently, I was starving and therefore dropped in to an ‘M’ and ordered a Big Mac, $5.45 including tax. It tasted delicious and really hit the spot. However, later I checked the sodium content. The ingredients, on the back of the box listed it at 46%, which seemed a tad bit “insalting”. I guess once in a blue moon to indulge a senior hunger attack in this manner may be okay but “preserve me”, the experience did create a feeling of concern. A few years ago, I wrote a letter regarding the correlation of sodium and high blood pressure to the federal ministry of health and received a very pleasant reply explaining that efforts were being made to reduce the sodium content in food products. After consuming this big burger the thought occurred that maybe they "Ottawa" conduct another study, form a committee and discuss solutions to the rising sodium induced hypertension situation and not just effecting seniors. No pressure, of course. Perhaps meet at a fast food restaurant conveniently located across from a pharmacy, so that after their "fact finding session" the well-seasoned members could go across the street to get their prescriptions filled. Perhaps a volunteer organization could be formed to lobby the concept that the shelf life preservation of humans is a greater priority than an extended one for food. Ironically, the chemical name for salt is Na…which could stand FOR ‘National’ and ‘a’ for ‘association’ and T.R.S. for ‘To Reduce Salt.’ Thus, ‘voila’ The National Association To Reduce Salt – OR, NaTRS. Serious, without a grain of salt, if the idea appeals, please give this old goat a shout at [email protected].
Song CD’s by Dan Propp available at cdbaby.com and www.soundcloud.com, plus books at Amazon. It’s clear why one part of a guitar has a NECK. I can understand that the ‘bridge’ keeps the strings HIGH. An old ‘beater’ is a fine definition - instrumentally for a ‘WRECK.’ But those ‘frets’, WHY?
Pegs is a logical NAME. A sounding board equally makes good SENSE. A Spanish guitar explains from where it CAME. But, frets? How could those metal bars make anyone TENSE?? I’m just sitting here in a corner fast food franchise RESTAURANT with a loud ‘boom boom’, being hit, big time, by the BEAT. Famished-looking customers are waiting, lined up to request what they WANT. With a coffee and a pencil, doing some writing, still seems like such a relaxing TREAT. To the sound of that piped in rhythm, with plenty of PERCUSSION, even with the commercials and that ‘DJ’ so fast TALKING. I’m drumming up some inner DISCUSSION what today has done to keep everyone a- ROCKING. Thinking about those keep-awake drinks at supermarkets and corner convenience STORES. Forced to keep consumers alert, those extra hours a- ROLLING. Making some seniors to ponder perhaps many a ‘WHAT FOR’s? All that induced chemical ZING, increasingly UNFOLDING. EMBRACED. Acoustic guitars, banjos, some folk wearing flowers in their HAIR. Love, Peace, Peter, Paul and Mary, the ideals CHASED. An age of Aquarius, an awakening EVERYWHERE. Like dude, where has it all GONE? Crowded freeways, cars and -many of us- looking much the SAME. Keeping pace with breaking news, status, technology, On and ON. Just sitting here in a corner fast food franchise RESTAURANT. ‘Boom, boom’, being hit big time by the beat. Hungry customers lined up, waiting to select what they WANT. With a coffee and a pencil. Doing some writing still seems like such an old fashioned relaxing treat. In the late 1960s, residing in a boarding house ($100.00 a month!) close to Broadway and Clark, this kid decided he wanted to become an actor. It must have been a stage I was going through. Enrolling in a full time theatre-arts course at Vancouver City College-off 12th and Oak, that one year experience was unbelievable. Headed by well known teacher and actor, Anthony Holland, that immersion was a very positive life changer. With theatre constantly in mind (though the only true limelight for yours truly was a three-line spear carrier at the York Theatre) my perspective evolved.
Dan Propp's books are available for sale HERE. Broadway and COMMERCIAL, sure still looks different from Heather and VINE. Perhaps a bit CONTOVERSIAL, yet helps the feel of Vancouver to DEFINE. So, of course, do Bute and BURRARD. All of that up scale towers and CLASS. Walking through the heart of the West End can be, from a sentimental perspective, kind of HARD. Remembering Buttermilk and Chocolate, ALAS. Two horses that delivered milk with their driver, about sixty-five years AGO. Walking down Nelson St., oh my how those memories linger SO! When the Sylvia Hotel was covered in rich, green VINE. Taking the B.C. Electric to the old aquarium by the BEACH. The wonderful magic streets of Vancouver. Going back home those memories REACH. Feeling the soul of old Vancouver, and what used to be still much yours and MINE.
Do you recall the Colonial Theatre, on Granville, close to Dunsmuir. How about one of the first pancake places. If memory serves correctly, it was called Smitty’s at the Angelus Hotel, also on Dunsmuir. Wow, they even had whipped butter! Many restaurants in those days were Ma and Pa independents. They all had their own atmosphere, like the Black Cat off Broadway and Granville. Today? Good luck, Charlie! Anyway, I was sitting at a typical franchise food joint, the boom, boom box (they used to call it ‘radio’) blaring away. It drove me bananas so I got that pencil and paper out and start scribbling: FIND DAN'S BOOKS HERE. No milk in the fridge, the cereal is GONE. But, there’s peanut butter and bread, so keep movin’ ON. Cause all you can do is ‘dooze’ what you can ‘DOOZE’. Forget the right change for the BUS and mending the holes in the old SOCKS. Stumble into the corner store, have that first coffee INSTEAD. Barely make it to work on time, take one of those long, fast WALKS. All you can do is ‘dooze’ what you can ‘dooze’, singin’ the BLUES, no way JOSE. You just ‘dooze’ what you can ‘DOOZE.’ Saved the bus fare but at the office the in box was real FULL. The boss and the whole staff, higher than a KITE. Just kept working real hard, trying not to sweat the small STUFF. At the end of the day, both boxes empty, well it was worth the FIGHT. All you can do is ‘dooze’ what you can ‘dooze’, singin’ the BLUES, no way JOSE. You just ‘dooze’ what you can ‘DOOZE.’ Remember the proper change, head right HOME. Still no milk in the fridge, cereal still GONE! But there was still some peanut butter and bread and sang a happy SONG. All you can do is ‘dooze’ what you cabin ‘dooze’. Singin’ the BLUES, no way JOSE. You just ‘dooze’ what you can ‘dooze’! Eh?
Our son drove my wife, Rita, to Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Our grandson (almost two years) and I came along for the ride. There was no way this ‘old caboose’ was going to fly and, let’s face it, four days to Toronto and four days back to Vancouver (in other words more than a whole week on the rails), for most modern individuals that concept just won’t ‘fly’. For me, just the experience, winding in and out of the freeway connectors just to get to where the modern planes were, was plain frightening enough. The thought occurred that Lester Pearson himself couldn’t have visualized such a ride, nor John Diefenbaker who was less liberal. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard BURTON, Guy Lombardo, New Year’s EVE. Those days are like a stage CURTAIN. What tapestries those days WEAVE. Marilyn Monroe, Bob HOPE, Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, toast of the Town-Ed Sullivan, and sponsors like Lux SOAP. “May God Bless”, Red Skelton, at the end of a SHOW, still dressed as a clown, the depths of a true clown’s soul, he really let you KNOW. Our Miss Brooks - Eve Arden - Gary Cooper’s ”YUP.” The way Alfred Hitchcock, “Good Evening” SAID, with Jack Benny you’d laugh ‘till it hurt your GUT. Oh my, that breakfast of champions us kids for breakfast we would FIX. The Life of RILEY, with William BENDIX. Groucho’s say the secret word, You Bet Your LIFE. Playing games like Pick up STICKS. Gracie’s role, as George Burn’s WIFE. Abbot and Costello, who’s on FIRST, Martin and Lewis, Carol BURNETT. Those old days still can quench many a THIRST. Keeps us together, nostalgic many of us still can GET. Find Dan's books HERE.
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AuthorDan Propp's books are available on Amazon, Kindle, and other E-Book retailers' sites. To contact Dan please click HERE. Archives
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