2013.11.10 13:00 - Musical chairs

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite Macbain. The comments are by Aphrodite Macbain.

Aphrodite Macbain: Hello. what a pretty kimono!
DR42 Resident: ty, actually, it is only part of the outfit, more like a dress.

Aphrodite Macbain: No obi or sandals?
DR42 Resident: No, I wanted to have just a simple dress.
Aphrodite Macbain: hair's nice too

Aphrodite Macbain: Amazing what can do from the comfort of one's chair. I've been to Italy and Africa this morning!
DR42 Resident: I went to Nashua, NH, USA, but it was a short trip.
Aphrodite Macbain: where is Nashua?
Aphrodite Macbain: and why there?
DR42 Resident: NH, or New Hampshire. It is about 40 miles northwest of Boston.
Aphrodite Macbain: Is that where u live?
DR42 Resident: I live near there. I went there for church.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
DR42 Resident: Yes. I wish I could afford to travel and see parts of the world. I would like to see the west coast of Canada and the Canadian Rockies, Cape Horn, Gibraltar.
Aphrodite Macbain: Interesting choices

Aphrodite Macbain: In Canada it's Remembrance Day weekend - like your Memorial Day
Aphrodite Macbain: Each year the veterans get fewer
Aphrodite Macbain: there is a big ceremony on Nov 11 at the National War memorial in Ottawa
DR42 Resident: Yes, there should be. "Final full measure."
Aphrodite Macbain: what do you mean final full measure?
DR42 Resident: An expression the means giving you life.
Aphrodite Macbain: ah
Aphrodite Macbain: in what respects in this case?
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm afraid I don't follow you
DR42 Resident: The veterans who died in the service of their country.
Aphrodite Macbain: should get their lives back or should be given all the acknowledgment due them?
DR42 Resident: Yes. Unfortunately, they cannot get their lives back. Even those who did not die but suffer from PTSD carry a terrible burden.
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes- including the recent vets from Iraq and Afghanistan
Aphrodite Macbain: They rarely receive the adequate respect and support due them
DR42 Resident: Those are probably the ones with the worst burden. I may not agree with fighting and war, but I certainly respect those who have served the country.

If I am in a restaurant or getting a coffee, I always pay for their meals or drinks.
Aphrodite Macbain: that is very thoughtful of you! How do you know they are veterans and what is their usual response when you do that?
DR42 Resident: because they are in uniform. Or the cap they are wearing. Most people wonder why, and I simply say "for your service" then they smile.
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
Aphrodite Macbain: If I get an opportunity to do that I will now...
Aphrodite Macbain: Respect carries so much weight

Aphrodite Macbain: Do you have family in the military?
DR42 Resident: no.
Aphrodite Macbain: Most of my family was in the military- British
Aphrodite Macbain: but I was always critical of the institution
DR42 Resident: Unexpected acts of kindness are always the best.
DR42 Resident: I am critical of the institution as well, but not of the people.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods. for both parts
Aphrodite Macbain: yes. It is a sense of duty- a calling
Aphrodite Macbain: but I'd prefer humans come up with a better way to resolve conflicts

Aphrodite Macbain: Hi fully-clothed Bruce
DR42 Resident: There are better ways to do it, but men will never think to use kindness.
Bruce Mowbray: "men"?
Aphrodite Macbain: we are talking about war, and veterans, and ptsd
Bruce Mowbray: and men?
Aphrodite Macbain: some do, but peer pressure is powerful
Bruce Mowbray listens.... (with kindness).
Aphrodite Macbain: especially if it's your family that is putting on the pressure
Bruce Mowbray: or if it's your family that's putting on the PTSD.
Aphrodite Macbain: a bit like expectations in Catholic families for a son to become a priest
Aphrodite Macbain: My father was raised as a soldier-school, college...
Bruce Mowbray: Excellent example, Aph. But what are you comparing this to....?
Aphrodite Macbain: his father was one as was his grandfather
Bruce Mowbray: peer pressure to become a warrior?
Aphrodite Macbain: I am only talking about how hard it is for someone to NOT be a soldier when the system -social or political- makes it hard for him to not be part of the system
Bruce Mowbray: I agree. My typist registered for the draft as a conscience objector -- in 1959....
Bruce Mowbray: but was afraid to tell his father.
Aphrodite Macbain: :(
Bruce Mowbray: So, when his father died two years later, he never knew of the "disgrace" of his pacifist son.
Aphrodite Macbain: presumably his father found out... or he never had a chance to change his attitude
Bruce Mowbray: nope.
Aphrodite Macbain: oh - hmmm
Bruce Mowbray: Only the minister of the church (and the draft board) knew.
Aphrodite Macbain: had he been a soldier in WW1?
Bruce Mowbray: I think my typist realized that he had to live with himself before he could live with his dad, or anyone else, and that pushed him into the decision to be a CO.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: Nope. He was exempt because he was a doctor.
Aphrodite Macbain: a wise young man
Bruce Mowbray: Well, it eventually involved his having to refuse induction (draft) when the Viet Nam War came around...
Aphrodite Macbain: did he act as a doctor at the front?
Bruce Mowbray: but it was all a growth experience.
Aphrodite Macbain: for you?
Bruce Mowbray: He was a veterinarian on the HOME front, and therefore exempt.
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, a growth experience for my typist.
Aphrodite Macbain: ah a vet
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers.
Aphrodite Macbain: those poor horses could have used his help
Bruce Mowbray: Not even teachers were exempt, but vets were.
Bruce Mowbray: This was the second ww, not the first.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods, of course. No horses then.
Bruce Mowbray: Now I'm going to try an experiment....
Bruce Mowbray: I'm going to get the recorder....
Aphrodite Macbain: you are going to risk being naked?
Bruce Mowbray: and if my clothes suddenly disappear, I will make a hasty retreat to my house....
Bruce Mowbray: yes, an experiment.
Aphrodite Macbain: covers her eyes

Bruce Mowbray: Here goes!

Bruce plays Greensleeves on his recorder.

WOW!
Bruce Mowbray: It worked that time!
Aphrodite Macbain: I would love to hear Greensleeves again
Aphrodite Macbain: yayy
Bruce Mowbray: kk, just a sec... Need to find the animation and the songs.
Aphrodite Macbain: Play away dear Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: oops
Bruce disappears as he begins to play...
DR42 Resident: He just popped over to the other corner of the region.
Aphrodite Macbain: Can u see him?
DR42 Resident: Yes, on radar.
Aphrodite Macbain: He is at home, naked I think
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: hiding
Bruce returns fully clothed.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi wb
DR42 Resident: nakedness does not bother me. I have had so many things done to me when I was sick that I simply cannot be embarrassed by a lack of clothes.
Aphrodite Macbain: doesn’t bother me either- it's just an image on a screen
Aphrodite Macbain: but now Bruce has turned into a little boy
Bruce Mowbray: kk. I'll get the animation again, but the deal is -- the animation also makes the recorder disappear.
Bruce Mowbray: so it sort of defeats the whole purpose.
Aphrodite Macbain: wonder why it worked before then
Bruce Mowbray: Maybe I have to be wearing 18th Century clothes in order for it to work.
Aphrodite Macbain: give it a try!!

Bruce tries and looses all his clothes and gains breasts
Aphrodite Macbain: you have become ruthe
Aphrodite Macbain: I won’t take a picture...promise

Plays some music
Aphrodite Macbain: sounds nice
Aphrodite Macbain: sounded
DR42 Resident: Poofed back home.

Aph takes out her guitar and fiddles with the strings
Aphrodite Macbain: I have a guitar but no music
DR42 Resident: Maybe we should go to Bruce’s home to listen??
Aphrodite Macbain: he's there because he's shy
Aphrodite Macbain: and doesn't want us to see him
Bruce returns

DR42 Resident: Bruce, maybe we should head to your place to listen?
Aphrodite Macbain: plays some guitar music
Aphrodite Macbain: there, can you hear it?
Bruce Mowbray: There seems to be no way that I can wear the recorder, the animation, and the clothes simultaneously.
DR42 Resident: That is very strange.
Bruce Mowbray: I can play it -- but not move....
Aphrodite Macbain: can u hear me?
DR42 Resident: Yes, I can
Aphrodite Macbain: oops played through the bell. sorry
Aphrodite Macbain: Greensleeves
Aphrodite Macbain: there he goes
Bruce plays and poofs

Aphrodite Macbain: Hi san
Aphrodite Macbain: we are literally playing musical chairs
Santoshima Resident: hello Aph and Marjorie
DR42 Resident: Hello.
Santoshima Resident: nice to see you both
Aphrodite Macbain: Poor Bruce is trying to play his recorder
Santoshima Resident: sorry to be late
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, San!
Aphrodite Macbain: but when he starts, he looses all his clothes!
Bruce Mowbray: trying to play it with clothes on...
Santoshima Resident: {who does?}
Aphrodite Macbain: Bruce
Santoshima Resident: are they mesh clothes?
Aphrodite Macbain: Oh - does that make a difference?
Aphrodite Macbain: I hear the music Bruce...
Santoshima Resident: Danny boy
Santoshima Resident: on the recorder
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: I can play it, but not MOVE I, if I have any clothes on.
Aphrodite Macbain 's eyes get misty listening to the tune
Aphrodite Macbain: bravo!!!
Aphrodite Macbain: claps
DR42 Resident: Wonderful, so sad sounding.
Aphrodite Macbain: Dances an Irish jig to the music
Santoshima Resident: nice jog ... could have been a sofa, better a box
Santoshima Resident: jog = jig
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Bruce Mowbray: It's not a box, it is a jet pack. Would you like to have one?
Bruce Mowbray: Free jetpacks today!
Bruce Mowbray: Makes for fast teleporting (not it doesn't, just kidding.)

DR42 Resident: Sure, free sounds good.

Aphrodite Macbain: How are things with you San?
Santoshima Resident: oh, good thank you
Santoshima Resident: bookkeeping

Aphrodite Macbain: hnmmm not fun but essential

Santoshima Resident: both
Santoshima Resident: and thinking about the people and animals in the Philippines
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- how awful for them San
Aphrodite Macbain: I haven't seen the images yet but...
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, so sad.... In my typist's Quaker Meeting today, we held those suffering from the storm in the "Light," as Quakers are wont to say.
Aphrodite Macbain: I feel we are so lucky ....
Aphrodite Macbain: although we in Vancouver are due for a major earthquake....

Aphrodite Macbain: Let me wish you all a safe and healthy and solvent Sunday and Monday everyone
Santoshima Resident: bye aph
DR42 Resident: Same...
Aphrodite Macbain: I think I may lie down under the covers for a while
Santoshima Resident: ditto
Santoshima Resident: bye all
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Bruce Mowbray: kk. I'm off to Berti's meditation now.
DR42 Resident: Have a wonderful day, despite Toronto's mayor.
Bruce Mowbray: May all be safe and happy.
Santoshima Resident: Toronto’s "mayor"
Santoshima Resident: see ya