Back of the Class

There’s some excitement and buzz downtown Vancouver. The new Apple Store is opening in Pacific Centre soon. Just how soon, I am not sure, but a stroll through the mall last week, showed some hype and mystery behind those big white panels. Any hope of seeing into the store was halted by the security guard.

I won’t have to drive for miles to get to H&M in Coquitlam anymore either once they open their new store in Pacific Centre on May 22. The old Holt Renfrew store is being demolished and 12 new tenants will occupy that space. I won’t miss it. How many of us could afford to shop there anyway? One of the new stores is “Teenflo” - no not a store for teenagers, rather for modern women, already with stores back east. Looks like we have some fun shopping ahead of us!

Tragically, the body of Japanese student, Ai Ito was found on Blackcomb Mountain. It is not exactly clear what happened, but more than likely she fell into what’s known as the Water Basin and could not get herself out and died of hypothermia.

Sad end for her family and for search and rescue teams.

Today, April 4th is Pay it Forward Day. The idea comes from the novel Pay It Forward, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, which was made into an inspiring movie in 2000, starring Helen, Hunt, Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment.

Do between one and three good deeds for others without asking for anything in return. Instead the recipient should be instructed to pay it forward to someone else in need.

Actually, the concept goes back to Benjamin Franklin in 1784, when he said: “I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money”.

Shouldn’t we all try “Pay it Forward”on any day, not just on this particular Day?