"You mean like the PFS online viewing parties?"
No, I mean for events that are very personal.
Last weekend, I 'attended' the Celebration of Life for Jean Butcher.
You recall her?
Such a sweetheart she had been, with such a fondness for dancing and sheer delight with living.
"Oh, yes, I recall her fondly. She was always quick to draw with a smile and a laugh!"
She was that, she certainly was that.
And, at the Zoom event, there were these tiny screens with some of the attendees on them, in addition to the central screen that would have Cheri talking about her mom, or someone else doing so, and...
"Was it all a bit overwhelming to you?"
Just the opposite. I found myself glad that my camera was off, so no one could see me, just my name. If they had been able to see me, they would have surely become distracted by my lack of attention.
"Say what? I would have expected you to be in tears, but what was going on?"
I kept having to force myself to pay attention to the proceedings.
And I realized that I was glad to have not 'gone' to the one for Colleen Robinette the week earlier.
Although she was a dear Shekinah sister to me, if I had gone to hers, I most likely would not have been 'there' for Cheri last Saturday.
"I am so sorry to hear of these recent losses, my dear."
Thank you.
Colleen died of yet another interaction with cancer.
Jean died of her heart no longer being able to keep up with her spirit.
"Again, I am so sorry for your losses.
And I am so sorry that, during this pandemic, you have not had the comfort of touch with others who loved these two women."
Truly, that has been very hard.
To not be able to give hugs to those feeling that shared loss, nor to receive hugs in turn.
So, I won't be dong these Celebrations in the future.
That's what I told Paul when I spoke with him tonight about the latest graph.
"Oh, I'm so glad y'all have been talking more regularly during this time of COVID-19.
I know that has been a good stress reliever for both of you."
It has.
You know, we talked for one and a half hours tonight!
He told me all about the school's new policies with chem lab and how thrilled they are with his work on setting up for the fall semester.
They're even going to have him riding herd on the labs at two other universities!
And he had been concerned that he might get furloughed... nope, not by a long shot.
"And you talked about?"
I also mentioned my lack of appreciation for the youTube version of another personal experience:
the high school graduation.
My dear little friend Sarah Povie had invited me to her ceremony, scheduled for 10 AM, on either Comcast 195 or youTube.
I was thrilled at the thought of being able to cheer her on from the sidelines!
But the cable channel had a math class on it, so that meant my smaller computer screen.
Amazing how quickly I have grown accustomed to Element's 32" diagonal, right?
Anyway, I got it up and running...
and it was the Savannah Arts Academy faculty and staff from remote locations...
then, a seemingly endless procession of photos of graduates flashed to the screen as their names were read...
and I walked off during the "B" names to get coffee...
then walked off during the "H" names to get breakfast started...
then watched, intermittently, during the "M" names, not knowing when her turn might be, trying to make sure I didn't miss her during this "live" streaming, feeling great relief when it was her turn at last.
Then, I drifted in and out of attention as the ceremony eventually wound down.
What a sense of disconnect engendered by that experience!
So, no more remote broadcasts of Celebrations of Life.
No more remote broadcasts of Graduations, either.
"I think I get that.
Without the hugs and looking into each other's faces, it's a rather empty gesture.
No pun intended. "
(smile)
That's too bad, as that was quite well worded.
"Hey, I get it right every once in a while.
So, what about the PFS online viewing parties?
You still intend to keep on with those?"
Most likely.
That's been pretty good, actually.
I log into facebook, grab the link Jim posted for the movie and pre-talk, then bounce right out of the Book of Face.
After the movie, it's back to fb I go, to chime in with my take on the movie, check on what others have written, and even respond to their postings, have a bit of interaction as we would at the 'Bean.
"Okay!
I'm thrilled to hear that social outlet has still been good for you!"
Yeah, me, too.
Plus, it gives me a legit reason to be on fb on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Twice a week is my usual at that site, as a rule.
Honestly, it's about all I can stand of seeing some of the crazy things that folks I know are saying out of their butts during this pandemic.
Sheer craziness.
"If only they really were talking outta their butts, like Jim Carrey..."
Yeah, that would be pretty funny, then.
Sadly, not the case.
Not the case at all.
"So, what about other fb 'live' events? The Oatland Island nature show and Odd Lot?"
Well, as much as I like finding out more about the owls and possums and eagles and gators, they seem to be rather remiss on giving advance notice of their schedule.
Of late, every time I'm on fb, I find that I've recently missed an event that they just gave notice of earlier in the day.
Rather frustrating.
"Yes, you're a busy, vibrant woman and you need to be booked in advance."
Yes, by golly, that remains true.
They seem guilty of assuming that everyone has a smart phone that instantaneously puts them into connection with every damned thing in the world.
ACK!!!
"Calm down, calm down, no one is trying to make you buy one of the blasted devices."
Good thing, 'cause I sure as hell wouldn't.
"I am quite well aware of your reluctance to have a computer in your hip pocket.
Now, what about Odd Lot?"
Well, they are certainly giving it a good try.
They seem to have settled on Friday and Monday evenings, at 7:30 PM, right during the bottom half of the second of my "Quantum Leap" episodes on those days.
I tell you, it's truly strange to be 'overbooked' during this time of COVID-19.
"I bet.
With so many things still closed and a general sense of ennui pervading your days, having two things you enjoy competing for your attention is a bit surreal."
Still, I've been to the Friday Funnies for two weeks in a row - and both times with Christina!
Last week, Ryan wrote that song for me!
(smile)
Then, tonight, they kept using Christina's suggestions for several of their skits!
This photo is for "Good Bad Ugly" and her query had been "How do you get a job?"
Chris, Thomas, and Megan had fun with that one!
"That's very cool!"
And they took my suggestion that Ryan was "becoming Spiderman" - and Ryan really got quite active for it!
Makes me wonder what he has scattered about in his New York apartment!
Jason was a 1020's newsie, Megan was paranoid that someone was behind her, and Thomas was the lucky sod looking for love in the wrong places.
"Hahahaha! I can just hear it now!"
(smile)
Yes, it really was rather fun, but I think that was mostly because I knew Christina was there 'with' me.
She had said yesterday she would 'go' if I would remind her... so I did!
At 7:30 PM, I texted, "Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!" to her phone!
Hahahaha!
She got the joke at once, replying "Is that my Odd Lot alarm going off?"
I must say, she really does make everything better in my life.
I am so blessed.
i thank You, God.
"Me, too.
About the whole being blessed and being grateful for her."
Amen to that!
"Well, I know it's Watchathon Week on Comcast and you have movies to see, so I'll let you get to it.
It all goes away on Sunday, right?"
You are correct!
I plan to watch "Slumdog Millionaire", as I have not seen that but the one time.
"Seriously?"
Seriously.
That was back in 2008 and, really, I credit it with starting my fascination with Indian films in general and with Bollywood in particular.
Such a grand dance number at the end, as I recall!
"Well, hop to it!
Try not to be up all night!"
We'll see 'bout that!
Later!
1 comment:
FYI:
The title was inspired by a character, Jim, on "The Vicar Of Dibley".
Every time he was asked any question that would rate a yes or no response, he always - i mean, ALWAYS - would begin by stuttering through a trio of the opposite answer before being able to state his true reaction.
I really miss that show on PBS/GPB.
I haven't seen it in years.
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