Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
Is this goodbye
This will be my last column for the foreseeable future. In fact, this is possibly the last item I will write for the Cosmos for who knows when.
The problem is, ethics - my ethics anyway - prevent me from telling you the reason why. I know that's a horrible thing to do to you, especially those of you who have told me that you enjoy my columns and read them regularly. But I hope you will be patient with me: the reason will become clear quite soon.
I can tell you a few scenarios that are not the reason for this column disappearing from the Cosmos for a while.
I have not had a disagreement with my editor - and friend - Conrad Boyce. Far from it. He has been nothing but a source of encouragement since I started contributing to the newspaper almost four-and-a-half years ago. He has been kind enough to allow me to write - and rant occasionally - on just about any subject that took my fancy, and he has made sparing use of the proverbial blue pencil.
Nor have I won the lottery, although Heaven knows I keep trying. I've been buying lottery tickets ever since the Montreal Olympics - (or was it the Montreal Expo?) - came up with the first million-dollar lottery prize in Canada. The most I have ever won is $80, but the dreams have been priceless.
I am not sidelining the column for health reasons, which, given my smoking addiction, my diet and my lack of exercise, is probably nothing short of a miracle. Oh, I have the odd complaints that are part and parcel of getting older, as anyone my age can tell you, but nothing, if you'll excuse the pun, to complain about.
I'm happy to say I am not leaving Uxbridge. Apart from the occasional gypsy trips I take with my sweetheart, I don't like leaving Uxbridge. I feel safe here. I'm among friends and family. I always feel an overall sense of warmth and tolerance here, despite the occasional spats that flare up in the Letters to the Editor. It's an odd thing for a writer to say, but I really can't find the words to express what Uxbridge means to me.
Nor is the column falling victim to my second love, the theatre. Unhappily, that part of my life is also closing for the foreseeable future. I know I'm probably the biggest ham in town, but for me nothing quite beats the feeling of - (or is quite as scary as) - being on stage. I'm still captivated by the absolutely magical way a production evolves: from the first read through to the stumbling around in early rehearsals to the panic in the final two weeks to the thrill of opening night.
Once in a while, I surf through YouTube to watch videos of other amateur community theatre groups, here and in the U.K. and the U.S. From what I have seen, biased as I might be, I believe the community theatre produced in this little town - indeed, throughout this region - is on a par if not better than the best of them. Especially when it comes to the acting and the musicals. To my mind, it's a shame more people in town don't take a look at us. I think they'd be happily surprised if they did.
So that narrows down your guesses as to why I'll be gone for a while. The only other clue I will give you is to say that eventually there will be at least one more column where I will give you the opportunity to . . .
Tell me, am I wrong?
