Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..

Subject: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 May 99 - 01:16 PM

Clarence, I can't tell you how much your participation has meant to us here. Would that it had begun under much less trying circumstances, but none the less, you're a "Mudcatter" now.
If at some less hectic time, you go back a couple of years in the threads, you'll find that the "more music, less "humanity" (my translation of the abbreviation "B.S.") argument pops up a lot. It can actually be quite a lot of fun, and at times thought provoking, because the postings are for the large part articulate, well thought out, and rarely hurtful to anyone. You will also notice occasional rude, insulting and often scatalogical submissions. Pay them no notice! It's the price of doing business on the "net". It doesn't take more than a few weeks to see where they're coming from, and I confess I suspect at least a couple of the nick-names are aliases for folks who visit more regularly in another guise.
Often these posters are gently chided about their rudeness by my more tactful mudcat friends, and they then go away for a few days - only to re-appear during a stressful time when they can often make a sensitive person second-guess themslves about their contributions.

That was why the thread "Mudcat, Music or Mix?" was started. For that reason alone. When things calm done and Pat is once again with us all in spirit and body..check out the percentages in that thread.
We all have group and personal reasons for following Pat through this ordeal. For me, an e-mail he sent saying he'd like to get to know me better, is enough in itself. I'm afraid prayers are just not something I know much about, but everything in me is with Pat right now.
Thanks
Rick

Subject: RE: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 16 May 99 - 01:42 PM

Well spoken, Rick. I, too, have been reluctant to admit my lack of familiarity with formal prayer when everyone is offering their prayers for Pat and I wanted so much to add my energies to the rest. Call it what you will, I've been giving all the power of my positive thoughts and trust this effort to help in some way that I may never understand.

The news this morning is encouraging. Let us continue to invest all the emotional currency we possess in this community endeavor. It isn't over yet.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 May 99 - 03:46 PM

Yah Sandy, I think your phrase "..help in some way that I may never understand", is the way I feel. I'll tell you though, exposure to this group has been a powerful influence on me over the last few months.

Subject: RE: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 May 99 - 03:56 PM

You two are SO special! That's why I love ya' so:-)

Clarence, welcome, again!

Love,

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: Banjer
Date: 16 May 99 - 05:55 PM

Rick, Sandy, I'm not a church goer, never really was, except when I was little my Mom would make me go to Sunday School. Like most folks I do believe there is a higher power of some sort. My prayers are not fancy, a lot of times a simple "Thank ya, Lord" suffices. I had a rather scary experience about 4 months ago at work. I was using one of our big pedestal grinders. It has a wheel 10" in diameter and 2-1/2" wide. The piece I was grinding on twisted and before I could react drug my hand down bewwieen the wheel and the guard. The wheel cut along the back of my left hand. Mostly abrasions, but the one finger took 8 stitches to put it back together. I got to thinking, it wouldn't have taken but another second or two and I could have lost most of that hand! Some power was looking out for me! I got a little more reverent after that, lemme tell ya. This experience here with Pat also got me to thinking a bit, as it has all of us. Here we are, most of us have never met the guy or his family, and we sit on our macho tails, blubbering and ready to do whatever we can for them. Like Rick says, this group has a powerful influence on us all. AND I FOR ONE AM GLAD OF IT! A finer bunch of folks one couldn't hope to meet. I'm proud to have met each and every one of you!!

Subject: RE: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 16 May 99 - 06:08 PM

Amen, Banjer! Gives one hope, doesn't it?

Sandy

Subject: RE: Clarence, Welcome! ....gasp..gasp..
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 May 99 - 09:14 PM

Banjer, I'm proud to know ya. Sometime when it gets a little boring around here I'll tell ya about my fun experience in nearly cuttin' my finger off! It's gory, so maybe I'll wait til Halloween!