It recently came to my attention that Grandson #1 and his son, GGS#1, are having, um, discussions about the latter’s longish hair. It brought back memories. Back in the 70s, grandson’s dad, son #3, was one of the first male elementary school students in Williams Lake to have long hair. My husband hated it. Son played ball, and his hair dangled out the back of his cap. He was a pitcher, and one parent used to yell from the stands that if he cut his hair maybe he could pitch properly. That upset husband but didn’t faze son who happily ignored all critics — until we planned a trip to the Anahim Lake Stampede. There were rumours that cowboys were going to rope any hippies that showed up and shave their heads. Son got his hair cut. The cowboy/hippy thing didn’t happen so he grew it long again.
GS#1 had long hair himself in his younger days. He was mistaken for a girl a time or two, but by the 90s hair styles weren’t a big deal.
And guess what? Some 40 years later, the father/son issue is whether or not GGS’s hair style is interfering with the effectiveness of his game.
Part of the fun of being a grandparent is seeing your children getting their own back. Like getting after their kids for the same things you got after them for with the same lack of success.
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Next Wednesday, the House of Commons votes on a motion for electoral reform. If it passes, Prime Minister Trudeau may have to keep his promise to “make every vote count” in 2019.
The BC NDP wants electoral reform, and it’s one of the Green Party Leader’s demand conditions for supporting another party. Seems like everyone wants a change except the governments in power.
Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.
