R.I.P. Thomas, Timothy"Tim"

Thomas, Timothy William, 47, Salmon River, Colchester County, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2011 in the QEII health Science Centre, Halifax Infirmary Site, Halifax. Born in Fredericton, NB, he was s son of Mrs. Shirley Louise (Hoyt) Thomas of Fredericton, NB., and the late David Thomas. Tim was retired from 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, Peacekeeping Veteran (Bosnia). Tim was a loving father to not only his own children, but to many others over the years. He had a great love for and an amazing way with children. All who knew Tim will miss his unique laugh. He loved life and always found the humor in things. He was an avid Habs and Lakers fan his entire life. Tim was a generous man, in life and in death. He was an organ donor, and in his sudden passing, 5 families will receive the gift of life.
Survived by wife Patti (Davidson), sons Timothy Jr (fiancé Stacey Legere), Trent, and Tyler. Mother Shirley, brothers Rick (Janet), Randy (Sharon), Rodney, sisters Jill and Tammy. Proud Uncle to 15 wonderful nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 7 to 9 pm and from where the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 26, Truro will conduct a Legion Tribute Service on Wednesday evening at 7pm. Funeral service will be Thursday April 21st. at 2 pm all in the Mattatall~Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro. Rev. Brian DeLong will officiate with burial to take place at a later date. Donations in memory may be made to the Canadian Association of Transplantation would be appreciated http://www.transplant.ca/index.htm . Private messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting the “Guest Book” at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com

I will miss Tim, he was almost like a brother to me. We attended NSCC together, and became great friends from that day on.


His heart still beats on today, that makes me feel very good. His donation saved the life of another.

Being Green

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, We didn't have the green thing back in my day.

That's right, they didn't have the green thing in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn,t have the green thing back her day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she's right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts, wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her day.


Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house, not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not
styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in  space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But they didn't have the green thing back then!

Thx PB