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BS: Thanksgiving Part II
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BS: Thanksgiving Part II |
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Subject: Thanksgiving Part II From: Jon Freeman Date: 20 Nov 99 - 03:30 PM I feel that I ruined the first thanksgivng thread by gong on about my own problems so thought it might be a good idea to start afresh. From my side, I have just seen that I have some good freinds here and that something to be very thankful for. Jon |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Little Neophyte Date: 20 Nov 99 - 03:59 PM Jon did you know that the very orthodox Jewish men who get up early to pray start their morning prayers of with "thank you God for not making me a woman" Something else eh? Banjo Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Jeri Date: 20 Nov 99 - 04:39 PM The thing I'm most thankful this year is having good friends. There are friends I've known for years, and there are a lot of new ones, most of whom I've met here at the Mudcat. To the Mudcat Creators - I suspect this place means more to some folks than you could guess. Jon, you didn't ruin the other thread. Not everyone's thankful at this time of year, and we need to keep that in mind. We've had folks who've lost loved ones and folks we almost lost. We've seen people get their hearts broken. We have people in poor health, and some who are just mad at the world. I would hope you could see something good shining through all of the bad, and know that's what you deserve. Jeri, who's also glad no one's told her to "stuff it" yet. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: bseed(charleskratz) Date: 20 Nov 99 - 05:16 PM Banjo Bonnie, one of the hard things I'm having to deal with this Thanksgiving is the loss of my good friend Little Neo. I may have to check into the Neil Young Center for some grief therapy. --seed |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Little Neophyte Date: 20 Nov 99 - 05:55 PM Dear Charles, Little Neo wanted me to tell you that you will know when she is around even if you can't see her. She will still try to stand close beside you and ask to hold your hand when she is trying to post something because the Thread seems so big and scary Banjo Bonnie personal secretary for Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Liz the Squeak Date: 20 Nov 99 - 05:59 PM Thank you for who ever it was that discovered chocolate, my friend, my counsellor and my staple diet some times.... Did you know that the ancient Mayans worshipped the cacao plant as a god......? Did you know that sometimes it changed hands for more than the equivalent price of gold......? Another mug of Green and Blacks organic Cocoa and I'm about ready for the world! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: katlaughing Date: 20 Nov 99 - 06:59 PM Well knock me down! Do I have to give thanks for ma thick head!? Thanks, Charles. Here I was wondering who Banjo Bonnie was and duh! I shoulda knowed thet b'now!
Lil Neo reincarnated |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Little Neophyte Date: 20 Nov 99 - 07:06 PM Mama KatSageWalker, it kind of feels like I got a new hair cut. But I'm mighty proud. During this weeks lesson, Rick suggested I take off my trainer wheels. Still adjusting to the new name. You will always be my mama. Luv Banjo Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Date: 20 Nov 99 - 07:22 PM Thankyou God for Muddie, Max an Bert, Catspaw Cletus and Kat, Ww, Lej, Mick and the Fair One, Ozzy Al, and Ozzy everyone, for London Liz and her hairdo, for me as well, for Okiemockingbird(who the hell is that person ???)for KingBrill, BSeed and Jon F, for Escamillo (reallly a spy form the Muddie Orchestra), for Moonch, Jeri. Thankyou God for Rick and Art who's wisdom enlightens the cordless mortals of the internet, for Graham P, for all the phoaks I cannot remember as well, oh Jo T, Joe helper and all the Joes on Muddie. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: bbc Date: 20 Nov 99 - 09:02 PM Although I posted to the 1st thread, I have been reminded how thankful I am that we have a place we can bring our joys & troubles & always find somebody awake, somewhere, to give us a good word, a promise of prayer, or a cyber-hug. I second everything Jeri said (well, almost everything!). Many of us have had some pretty severe valleys in our lives and, usually, the holidays feel really wretched at those times. I had about 12 years of (unexpected) upheaval & it was hard times. Never feel badly about sharing, when you need some support. We may not have been in the same place you are, but we have a collective experience which will cover most situations. Through our contact here, we all have something for which to be thankful. my best to all of you, Barbara |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Penny S. Date: 21 Nov 99 - 02:42 PM Jon, I've been away from my computer, so missed your postings. I have a very dear friend whose houndings seem to come from the same department as yours. Your first posting could have been from him. My heart goes out to you. His bad patches, too are associated with Christianity, though he has stayed outside formally. (He would argue with the modifier, but I know few people who are as open to the Spirit as he is, even in the darkness). My sister, who is in the process of having detritus dumped on her by her husband and something he found in the US, sees the process as one of gaining spiritual strength, and, when not down or raging, is certainly developing amazing generosity to those who are hurting her. I do not understand why some people seem to be selected for hurt. It makes me rage at God, who has set up the world so that the selfish and the strong get to exercise freewill at the expense of others. There is support, though. My friend has friends who reach out to him. My sister has her supporters, too. You have your friends here, and I am sure will find people closer to home, as well. I wouldn't advise going to any particular church or group rather than another. Be open to God reaching out for you, perhaps in an unexpected way. And, not to be negative, but having done it myself, living in the expectation of meeting a partner can mean that the time when waiting is not enjoyed for itself, and if it turns out that there will be no partner, the time cannot be relived. I have lost time to regret. I will be holding you in the light, Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Allan C. Date: 21 Nov 99 - 09:39 PM I hope you will bear with me because about this time of year I sometimes wax a bit maudlin. I think it is a function of the changes of the seasons. As the leaves sprinkle down upon the earth, the frost puts its silver/white coating on the fields and the clouds begin to remind me that snow is soon to come, I am driven indoors. Normally I do an awful lot of my real thinking while walking in the woods or when paddling down a river. However, it is upon the advent of winter that I bring my thoughts into the house.
It is a time for reflection. In older times it was a time to enjoy the end of a hard year of planting, cultivating, harvesting and gathering of food and supplies to last until spring. Time to consider that despite a number of setbacks, somehow there would be enough to get by or maybe even enough to share with neighbors whose fortune had not been as good and whose larders were not as full. But whether or not the year had been plentiful, it was a time to take stock of things.
And so it is with me. I look back upon the year with all it has brought and I am thankful.
In this past year I have had many wonderful opportunities to go out into the wilds where I was given glimpses of beauties which defy description. I took an extensive hike (about 125 miles) in late spring during which I explored the limits of my stamina and determination. It was an enlightening experience on a whole bunch of levels.
A couple of times this year I stretched my budget a bit and made myself afford some journeys to visit and play music with some wonderful people (Annap's first gathering and the Getaway). I even drove up to the Washington D.C. area (nearly three hours away) to an open sing with the FSGW. Each of these trips brought its own rewards of fellowship and wonderful music.
Through the Mudcat and the related trips mentioned above, I have been especially blessed with the gift of some new friendships. I have met some terrific people and have found friends who are scattered in parts of the U.S. and in countries I may never get to visit. But I treasure those friendships no less than those of people I see often.
I have two terrific daughters, Lacy and Kelly, who, in a few days will be 16 and 21 respectively. They are each such beautiful, intelligent and interesting individuals! I am so very proud of both of them. Kelly, BTW, who is a Mudcat, got married last week to a fine young Brit named Alex.
I am entering my seventh year of my relationship with a wonderful woman named Kathy and her son, Mario. I won't go into a whole long thing about that. But I will tell you that although (or maybe even because) we have chosen to not live together, we have a great relationship! I once described it to a friend who has been through three divorces. When I had finished he said, "Hell, Allan! That is all I ever wanted from a marriage!"
Mario is turning out to be a handsome, bright and inventive eleven-year-old. He and I get to hang out together from time to time. I am proud to be counted as someone he loves and can talk with.
My life hasn't been all roses, though.
My father died in January and my mother's ability to live alone is rapidly diminishing. She does pretty well for an 82 year-old, but this will probably be her last year on the farm. The good news is that because of all that has happened and is happening, I have needed to spend more time with her. This has made our relationship even more special than ever.
I have had some major financial problems. I have been down to eating lots of peanut butter sandwiches and bowls of beans at times. But all of that is starting to turn around. I am doing far better now (almost comfortable) and by very early next year things should be going better than I have ever seen.
I am blessed with a job for which I am suited well enough to be able to make it look easy. It is through this job that I have any computer access at all to such wonders as the Mudcat. Earlier this year there was a real threat of having my work taken over by another entity and things got really scary around here for a while. But that scare is over (for now) and I just got a nice evaluation from my boss. It was good to discover that my efforts are appreciated. It means a nice raise for me.
All of these events (even the ones which didn't seem or feel very good at the time,) have made for a monumentally fabulous year! Each event has had an important, positive effect upon my personal make-up and my general outlook on life.
I want to thank each of you for being a special part of my life. The quotation below seems especially appropriate. I am most appreciative of having you all to share it with.
"Honest men esteem and value nothing so much in this world as a real friend. Such a one is as it were another self, to whom we impart our most secret thoughts, who partakes of our joy, and comforts us in our affliction; add to this, that his company is an everlasting pleasure to us." Allan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Áine Date: 21 Nov 99 - 11:22 PM Gee -- this really reminds of elementary school, when we had to write a whole page about 'What I Am Thankful For'. At that time, I was too afraid to speak from the heart, and would only repeat the standard phrases that every kid that age knows the 'big people' want to hear. How nice to know there's a place I can say what I really feel . . . And that's the first thing on my list to be thankful for, the Mudcat, and all the people that I have met through it -- especially you, Jon. Even though we've never met or spoken, from your writing and your singing I can tell you are a good person with a good soul, and I'm glad that I coming to know you. I look forward to knowing you better and hopefully, some day meeting you face-to-face. That goes for all my friends here at the 'Cat. I had begun to wonder if I had lost all interest in my music over the last two years, after surviving a very bad experience with some people whom I had attempted to teach and share with. After the anger cleared away a bit, there was only a numbness left in me for something I had cherished my entire life, and I was very sad -- sad to the bone. Then, I found this little corner of the ethernet, stuck my toe in the water after a while, and found that although there might be a few big fish that wanted to bite my toes, there were mostly very friendly fish-folk (or should that be folk-fish?) that welcomed me into their world. Oh dear, I really could get carried away with the similes and metaphors, so I'll stop while I'm ahead. I just wanted to say that I'm very, very thankful for finding a place and people that made me realize how much I loved my music and how much fun it was sharing it. Thanks to you all and a very, very, happy Thanksgiving Day to you all, Áine |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: lloyd61 Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:05 AM Allen You are a wealthy man! Tomorrow I leave to spend the first Thanksgiving with my daughter in over 18 years. She wrote me off when her mother dumped me to marry a younger more successful man. This year she decide she wanted her Dad in her life. This has given me a great deal to be Thankful for. Have a great Thanksgiving. Lloyd |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: WyoWoman Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:19 AM Going into this year I was fairly certain I would die of a broken heart. I didn't. I never do, but between heartbreaks you forget. Blessed be, WW |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: lloyd61 Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:38 AM Well said WW. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: WyoWoman Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:58 AM Thenkyew. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Lonesome EJ Date: 22 Nov 99 - 01:36 AM Thanks to Max, Bert, Dick and Barbara for putting this terrific site together. Thanks to Neil, Seed, Katlaf, Aine'and others for showing me that a computer can be a conduit for friendship: to Spaw,Dave,Rick F,Art and Wyo for showing me that Mudcat is a hell of a lot funnier than Saturday Night Live:to Peter T, McGrath, Frank H and many others for making me think:to mmario,bbc,annap,alice,lloyd,Jon Freeman,Helen,Skarpi,Liam,alison and so many others for making this place a real comfort zone for all of us. And I pause to remember Shambles,Matthew B,fadac,Alistair UK and others who have come and gone. To all of you I give my thanks, and my wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving, and a warm and prosperous Holiday Season. LEJ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: Bert Date: 22 Nov 99 - 04:38 PM Hey LEJ, Don't blame any of that stuff on me. Just to set the record straight - Max and Susan and Dick and Barbara and the elves are doing all the work. I just hang out and drink and sing. I have to give thanks for a pretty good year this year. And I hope that the coming year brings happiness for all you folks who are getting the shitty end of the stick right now. Hang in there all of you, we've already proved that love and good wishes can travel over the internet so here's a truck load of it on your way. Oh, that's a truckload for each of you by the way. Bert. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Thanksgiving Part II From: kendall Date: 22 Nov 99 - 04:40 PM My list of things to be thankful for runs the gamut from Prozac to mudcat. |