BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Fred
Date: 01 Oct 25 - 06:44 AM

PMs should be private but I felt that needed to be shared as it shows him in his true colours :)

Thanks Dave

-F

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 25 - 11:53 AM

Better an invitation to someplace nearby; the sturm und drang of a trip to Texas would not be soothing. Dave is a good judge of what he can handle, I'm sure that invitation wasn't gratuitous. ;)

Humor is always helpful; binging old programs you like that have laugh-out-loud material feel good. (Years ago I remember pulling up goofy things like The Golden Girls and The Carol Burnett Show, but other more recent comedy series will also do the trick.)

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Fred
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 09:13 AM

The funeral was yesterday

Full church of mourners as Maureen had many part-time jobs including Oxfam, Sainsbury's, veterinary receptionist and a church warden.

Now the road trip home. It's a long one but I don't mind that.

See you later, big sis :)

-F

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 11:27 AM

Reflection on your lives together and when they diverged, what you talked about as adults, the important things she shared with you, there is a lifetime of that ahead. If there are songs or stories to be told about those times, make notes for yourself.

Safe travels.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Fred
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 11:45 AM

Thanks, Maggie, you've helped more than you know.

Stay safe :)

-F

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Helen
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 03:28 PM

Fred, I'm glad the funeral went well.

A couple of days ago my Hubby and I made a long trip there and back in one day to see his Mum who has had worsening dementia for the last few years and it looks like she is nearing the end. We expect to make the trip again soon for her funeral.

My Mum passed just over 20 years ago and my Dad passed 15 years ago. I miss them both but some of my best memories are from the 9 am phone calls every Sunday morning after I left home. We would talk for at least an hour about all sorts of things. Mum was the communicator, a genuinely loving and caring person with a lot of empathy and compassion, and a deep understanding of people and their situations. Dad was a bit more shy, but when Mum passed I phoned him. His first comment was that he really didn't know if I would phone him and the first couple of conversations were fairly short but over time we started to really talk about the things which mattered to us.

Those conversations, more than the chatter at family gatherings, helped us to really get to know each other as adults. They are my best memories of both of them. My sister and her family lived in the same suburb as them and she would visit them with her husband and children but I often would say something that I had learned in the phone conversations which my Sis knew nothing about.

Cherish the memories, the good times as well as the not so good. Families are the foundation of our lives.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Helen
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 04:21 PM

I should have also said families - and good friends - are the foundation of our lives.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Fred
Date: 04 Oct 25 - 03:22 AM

Helen,

I lost my parents 15 years ago, mum first and dad just weeks later.

We become an orphan when we lose our parents. As a child,Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps and be a butcher and mum wanted me to be a black & white minstrel, which always makes me chuckle :)

-F

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Oct 25 - 10:45 AM

The community newsletter printed my review, and I have had people comment on it to me.
One person thought I wrote it "tongue-in-cheek".
In fact there were numerous contributions to the newsletter this issue
from people who don't normally submit anything,
so I had a lot of company. That's a nice feeling, not being alone.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Oct 25 - 09:09 AM

I just learned that a cherished old tradition is overwith.

I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a couple of years.
That town had some performers, including an accomplished pianist,
who fancied British music hall repertoire.

Every year they would stage something they called West End Christmas.
THey would dress in costume, open the show with God Save the Queen (as it was then),
and perform a whole evening of music hall songs.

I looked this up on Google, only to discover that
several of the main performers, including the pianist, have died.
I doubt that there is anyone to take their place now they are gone.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Helen
Date: 05 Oct 25 - 03:47 PM

That is sad, keberoxu, but they achieved a lot in working together, enjoying their musical performances, and entertaining and inspiring people.

British music hall repertoire is not, as the Brits say, "everyone's cup of tea" so there might not have been many people who wanted to keep up that specific local tradition. On the other hand, they may have inspired many others to get involved in other musical or theatrical interests.

My Sis and her Hubby have been very involved for decades in their local amateur theatre group. They have both performed in shows, directed some shows, they volunteer in many ways, and they have been heavily involved in the working committee which keeps the theatre group going. They are both musical as well.

One of the forward-thinking parts of the theatre group is that it has also had a young people's theatre group for many decades so younger people are being inspired to get involved in whatever way it suits them. There are also a large variety of types of plays performed, so many theatrical interests have been catered to over the decades.

You can look back with admiration at what those theatrical and musical people achieved in Santa Fe.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 25 - 04:31 PM

Keb, if you were to reproduce a short list of the repertoire, would any of the musical groups you're active with now be interested in a one-off event (or use them for a holiday party just for the group itself)? Let yourself be the resource, offer others a look at what that group did.

Just a thought.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Fred
Date: 05 Oct 25 - 06:55 PM

Keberoxu,

gone but not forgotten brings a smile. As we go through life we encounter all sorts and , if we're lucky, the good will be greater in number.

The group in Santa Fe had a lasting effect on you, and I wish you many more years of fond memories of them,

-F

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 05:09 PM

The retirement community newsletter printed my review;
they did so while the newsletter editor was away.
Today the editor, who has returned, buttonholed me to tell me
that he was very pleased with my review
and he hopes I will contribute more to the newsletter in the future.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 05:27 PM

YAH!!!

You are a published author, good onya!

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 06:51 PM

Excellent outcome, keberoxu! Do you have any other upcoming events to review? I recently looked at the list of free and inexpensive events and performances on the university campus I retired from - and am thinking that now is a good time to get out to events with friendly crowds.

I finally went to Walmart today and I park on the far side of the lot to avoid the more dense traffic and to walk the extra steps. As I left the store I trotted past a woman standing with both hands on a tall bollard near the door. When I glanced at her she made eye contact indicating she needed help. I asked if she was ok, and she said she needed to get to the door and a cart to hold onto, so I took her hand, and in those few steps she said the cart would help but the electric shopping buggy would be best. I left her clutching a cart and headed back out to the spot south of the door where I had passed a woman with the mobility cart who just finished loading her car.

I figured how to turn it on and move forward - they turn on a dime! I putted back to the doorway and got her seated and the cart returned to the queue. She apparently has had four strokes in the last year, something to do with kidney disease, and her husband dropped her off before parking the car. It was a brief interaction but to that little Hispanic woman who probably felt invisible, I was glad to help.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 25 - 05:06 PM

A note - that wasn't intended as a brag, but as a way to illustrate the things that help us all feel better. Helps others helps ourselves.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Helen
Date: 08 Oct 25 - 06:28 PM

I get it, SRS: "Helps others helps ourselves."

Three little stories from the few last weeks.

I went to the shops and saw a woman standing next to a tall plant stand, vomiting into it. I was in two minds on whether to ask if she was ok, but when I did she just said she felt a bit sick and didn't seem to need assistance.

And, in the last few months there has been a man sitting outside a cafe, but inside the shopping complex. He looks like he is homeless but I didn't want to offend him by asking. I am also a bit wary of offering coins to people within the bounds of the shopping centres because sometimes the people working there are not happy about it.

A couple of days ago I saw him sitting on a bench outside the building. I went over and said that I didn't want to offend him but I was wondering if he needed a bit of money. He said he wasn't offended and yes he needed money so I gave him a few dollars. He smiled and told me I can offend him as much as I want, and I said "I will".

There have been a few homeless people who are no longer around. I worry that something bad has happened but then I try to be optimistic and hope that they have managed to find a better life situation for themselves. I especially worry about the women and there was also a person who could be transgender. I think they are vulnerable on the streets.

Another man I used to give money to in a nearby suburb has passed away recently. There were news articles about him after he passed and a lot of the local people expressed joy at knowing him and sadness that he is now gone. I had been worried because I hadn't seen him for a while and he always looked very unwell.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 25 - 08:03 PM

A friend of mine was homeless for two years though she didn't panhandle, she tended to use the homeless shelters and not sleep rough. I've asked her a few questions about what people need when they are literally carrying everything they own in a pack or rolling suitcase or in a shopping buggy from a local grocery store. I've worked out what might be useful as far as on-the-spot donations beyond the simple bottle of water and $5 bill I usually have in the car. I've figured out a few things to have in the car that can be offered, depending on the conditions - usually at a traffic light near the highway on and off ramps. A bottle of water, a small kit with toiletries, some durable portable foodstuffs. Packages of alcohol wipes, etc. And a few cotton string shopping bags that compress very small but can stretch out a lot if need be.