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Show iOO 6 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, December ry - T" r rrin'r pi P' ) w 18, 1986 Just Doesn't Make Sense - Magna Seniors Anticipate Drinking Hard To Explain Christmas Party Tuesday Dear John: The shining aura of Christmas has settled down on the Magna Senior Citizen Center, where seniors are entering into the spirit of the holiday season. On Saturday Fern Llewellyn, Bet MAGNA. ty Sudbury and Elaine Shaw worked 12 hours Saturday decorating the center in preparation for the third annual Christmas dinner on Tuesday, hosted by Dave Rock, owner operator of Rocks Country Store, 6381 W. 2100 South. About 150 people were served turkey dinner, which was donated by Rock and served by employees from his truck stop restaurant. In addition, Rock and his employees also collected money for prizes and gift certificates from merchants in the Magna and West Valley area that were given away in a drawing. A second Christmas dinner will be served Monday, beginning at 11 a.m., with entertainment by an Hawaiian group from the 10th East Senior Center. Pianist Marilyn Jones will provide background music for the meal. Jean orton, director, said there will be roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans almondine, gelatin salad, Christmas carrot cake, milk and bread. Christmas bingo will be played immediately following the meal and Santa Claus will be on hand to find out what seniors would like for Christmas and to distribute treats. Mrs. Orton said the center will be open on Dec. 24 and 26, but there will be no bus service available. The menu on Tuesday will offer Southern split pea soup, barbecued -- beef on a bun, peas and carrots, tossed vegetable salad and fresh fruit; Wednesday, lemon-bake- d fish, au gratin potatoes, green beans, fruit cup and wheat bread; Friday, beef parmesan, scalloped potatoes, cabbage and carrots and fruited jello. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance by calling Mrs. Orton at The suggested donation is $1.25 per person for those age 60 and older. 250-069- arj Why do alcoholics continue to drin when they can see all the problems they cause by drinking? Bewildered Dear Bewildered: From a purely logical point JOHN WATERBURY Dear John Letters of view, it is really difficult to understand why anybody would destroy themselves by drinking large amounts of alcohol or abusing a variety of other durgs. It just doesnt seem to make any sense and in an attempt to explain the seemingly unexplainable, it becomes easy to write the whole problem off as a sign of weakness or at least a weak-wille- d personality. In reality, there are many rational explanations why this apparently illogical problem develops. To begin with, chemically dependent individuals (that includes both alcoholics and drug addicts) are first and foremost afflicted with human nature. And as such, that means they usually do what they feel is in their best interest. Thats one of the maladies of human nature from which we all suffer, and is not relegated just to chemically dependent individuals. We all try to make sense out of our perception of reality. The problem comes into being when that perception becomes impaired and the resulting judgments and decisions become skewed and problematic. This degenerative process is bad enough by itself, but unfortunately it perpetuates an escalating self defeating process which negatively impacts on all areas of the individuals life. In other words, the chemically dependent individual gets continually sicker without fully realizing that he is sick. All around him, things are falling apart or at least showing signs of imminent demise. But with the resulting impairment of perception, the individual blames everyone but himself. Now, there are many reasons why people become addicted. Researches are finding increasing evidence that the primary cause is physicological in nature, but right now I want to focus on some other variables which are the result of the problem, not the cause. They will help to explain why the problem gets out of control. We all like to feel that we are in control of our lives, that we are capable of handling whatever life throws ast us. However, in the situation where a dependency is developing there is a tendency to go overboard. Grandiosity often develops as a defense mechanism in an attempt to regain control, and an effort is made to be stronger than the alcohol or drugs, to control their intake. As loss of control becomes more apparent, fear comes into the picture, often showing itself in the form of anger toward others or self. Personal and interpersonal problems develop which lead to resentment for real or imagined incidents. Heavy drinking or drug taking becomes a method of coping with the situation, often a from of reward for so unhaving to tolerate such things and family friends As fairly. members fall away, a typical response is one of antipathy, where it is felt that others are not really needed. Usually this alternates with periods of depression and further withdrawal from others, setting the scene for eventual collapse. Insecurities mount, stress and anxiety develop, loss of pride occurs, and self pity seems to drive the spike even deeper. Apathy is usually the next step, and the feeling of total despair develops. It has been said that we never do any deep thinking until we get ourselves into a hole, and this metaphor applies ever so well to the chemically dependent individual. Chemical dependency causes pain in all areas of life: physically, and socially. psychologically, Ironically, it o'ten takes reaching this kind of a lc v for the reality of the situation to get through. Often, until this occurs, reality cannot be perceived accurately. Hitting bottom, surrender, the process goes by a lot of different names, but its the same, and for it to be effective, its not enough to be sick and tired. The individual has to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. Only then can the denial process be broken. This process, although predictable in its course, progresses at various speeds with different groups of people. Again, there appears to be physiological reasons for this, but the results are the same regardless of the causative factor. In response to the questions, Why do alcoholics drink? and Why do addicts use? the answer is simple. They dont know how not to. WERE YOU A GOOD GIRL? . . . Britto Pearson tells Santa (Gene Reiner) her Christmas wishes while Lloyd Aagard waits his turn at the Magna Senior Center. A Christmas party there is slated for Monday. 'Town Hall Tree' On Stage At Vista TAYLORSVILLE. The Town Hegland as the mayors will be messengers; Tom Leishman as the Hall Christmas Tree presented at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on mayor; Jim Hardwick, the postman; Heather Marshall, the Monday at Vista elementary. About 60 students from the fifth baker. and sixth grade will participate in Also, Bryan Evans, the balloon the production, under the direction man; James Wallace, a of teachers Janet Thorpe and Cathy storekeeper; Cade Bauer, Santa ' Claus; Elizabeth Nealsen, Amber Stringham. The play tells the story of a town Short, Kristi Sorg, Laurri Stay, with a tree that no one has time to photographers; Chris Bessey, Katie decorate. Dalton, Camille Lechtenberg as tree Students playing lead roles in- sellers; Paula Whitlock, a lonely clude Cathy Adair, Angie Porter, person and Ben Krieger as the Kori Goodfellow and Heather chimney sweep. A CIVIC EVENT . . . The mayors messenger (Cathy Adair) tells the mayor (Tom Leishman) and Santa's helper (Cade Bauer) news concerning the city's celebration in The Town Hall Christmas Tree, Vista elementarys holiday program to be presented Monday. jW WINDER DAIRY frlPfijr. 1 4400 W. Qua,., 4100 So. 969-340- imo. DEEmable San'0 One Order For Scones & Honey Butter wHot Chocolate. Value 75 No Purchase Necessary. New Hourt: 8 o.m.9 p.m. rates are just as low, maybe lower, than most in-sta- te long distance bargain carriers. And while its natural to expect to pay more for quality, fact is, Mountain Bell d dollar. remains the best value for your So on your next long distance call, call on the convenience of Mountain hard-nosed Bell. Were getting about saving you money. so-call- ed hard-earne- in-sta- te I We just sound more expensive. chritm WE HAVE: DECEMBER 23rd Its time to set the record straight. 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