Garrison: I always liked to listen to PHC because 1) I liked much of the music on the program and you had some greats (like Chet Atkins, Jimmy Gimble, and many other great people). But I also like to listen to your comments because I generally agree with most of them and agree with your general outlook on life, politics, education, etc.
So I agree that the effort and work that would go into winning an Olympic medal would not be worth it to me. Just like being a great violinist would not be worth the effort and trouble that it would take to become a great violinist.
But it is a good thing that everyone is not like me. I am a natural generalist academic for whom a good day is to discuss various topics then go out to a nice lunch and then go for a gentle walk. Spending a life time training to win a race would not be my cup of tea.
When I mention Epicurus people stare blankly and act like I am speaking Mandarin. But Epicurus basically said that each person has to determine what makes them happy with life and then try as much as possible to pursue a happy or pleasant life. Epicurus would be a good god for secular humanists.
Religious leaders say that God gives us a purpose in life. Does the universe, the world, or life have a purpose? To me each person should strive to be happy, content, or satisfied with his/her life. If winning a race makes you happy, then go for it; if being a great violinist makes you happy, then great. But I am content to listen to Performance Today on public radio, discuss the latest column from Garrison Keillor and look forward to lunch with friends.
Thank God that he gave me a love for the simple life.
Hmm. I have had the opposite experience with SSA. While it takes forever to actually talk with someone, it has always ended up in my favor. When I first started collecting SS at 66 I was still working and the agent I spoke to asked if I could get by with a little less when I told her I didn’t really need (unlike so many others) to collect at this time. She then told me that I fell into one of those weird governmental deviations that allowed me to take half of my husband’s amount (he still collected his full payment) until I turned 70, when my monthly payment would almost double. So with little effort, I added to our exchequer hoping that I lived long enough to collect my full amount. I did and I have. All three of the people I have spoken with have been overworked but very helpful. But then, I decided early on to try to treat them as if their job was a sort of hell I did not understand.
Being an atheist helps. Judging was an easy part of religion to give up. Actually, reading your column makes me realize how lucky I really am. Hope you don’t become a republican but I must admit, you seem to be leaning that way and you must have your reasons. As I told my son after meeting his wonderful fiancé, “if you screw this up, we will miss you”. I would miss you too.
I’ve had the opposite experience with the SS administration. Every time I’ve called, I talked to a person who was helpful and pleasant. The first time I called, I learned a way to increase my SS income. Mostly I interact with the website, on which, by the way, you may easily request a new card. Sorry your experiences were so frustrating.
Comparing the Social Security Administration to the Nazi Germany Schutzstaffel is quite a stretch. The SSA is godsent to the downtrodden and unfortunate along with millions of the retired who are quite lucky for its existence and the German SS was an unbelievable nightmare of human history. Like any other bureaucracy, it has its rough spots.
Janice, on the other hand, your angel of the SSA is godsent who remembers you in a fictitious infatuation. This can be a potential threat to your goal of obtaining your Medicare card especially if she starts to reflect on why the relationship didn't pan out. You could be waiting for this card for years to come. Who knows what comments or bureaucratic voodoo that she could append to your record because you usually broke her heart. "You cad"
I wonder what Olga Korbet looks like now. We've seen a lot of Mark Spitz on TV commercials recently.
Garrison: I always liked to listen to PHC because 1) I liked much of the music on the program and you had some greats (like Chet Atkins, Jimmy Gimble, and many other great people). But I also like to listen to your comments because I generally agree with most of them and agree with your general outlook on life, politics, education, etc.
So I agree that the effort and work that would go into winning an Olympic medal would not be worth it to me. Just like being a great violinist would not be worth the effort and trouble that it would take to become a great violinist.
But it is a good thing that everyone is not like me. I am a natural generalist academic for whom a good day is to discuss various topics then go out to a nice lunch and then go for a gentle walk. Spending a life time training to win a race would not be my cup of tea.
When I mention Epicurus people stare blankly and act like I am speaking Mandarin. But Epicurus basically said that each person has to determine what makes them happy with life and then try as much as possible to pursue a happy or pleasant life. Epicurus would be a good god for secular humanists.
Religious leaders say that God gives us a purpose in life. Does the universe, the world, or life have a purpose? To me each person should strive to be happy, content, or satisfied with his/her life. If winning a race makes you happy, then go for it; if being a great violinist makes you happy, then great. But I am content to listen to Performance Today on public radio, discuss the latest column from Garrison Keillor and look forward to lunch with friends.
Thank God that he gave me a love for the simple life.
Best wishes and happy life to all.
Armchair Olympics
Olympics: Faster, Higher, Stronger.
Us Oldsters: Smarter. Harder. Longer.
That which they seemingly do with ease --
The mere watching it can make us wheeze
For them, it is a dreamed lifetime thrill.
For the rest, it’s hours of TV fill.
For them, goal to be victorious.
For us, it’s to feel vicarious.
The athletes have their multiple heats,
Wins, medals, and agony of defeats.
Amateur or pro, let them have fame,
Let them sweat, train and strain for their game.
Give us the five-minute frig relay,
The armchair dismount, and instant replay.
We’ll watch sponsors’ ads, consume their wares,
To do our part when Olympics airs.
I love your poetry!
Hmm. I have had the opposite experience with SSA. While it takes forever to actually talk with someone, it has always ended up in my favor. When I first started collecting SS at 66 I was still working and the agent I spoke to asked if I could get by with a little less when I told her I didn’t really need (unlike so many others) to collect at this time. She then told me that I fell into one of those weird governmental deviations that allowed me to take half of my husband’s amount (he still collected his full payment) until I turned 70, when my monthly payment would almost double. So with little effort, I added to our exchequer hoping that I lived long enough to collect my full amount. I did and I have. All three of the people I have spoken with have been overworked but very helpful. But then, I decided early on to try to treat them as if their job was a sort of hell I did not understand.
Being an atheist helps. Judging was an easy part of religion to give up. Actually, reading your column makes me realize how lucky I really am. Hope you don’t become a republican but I must admit, you seem to be leaning that way and you must have your reasons. As I told my son after meeting his wonderful fiancé, “if you screw this up, we will miss you”. I would miss you too.
I’ve had the opposite experience with the SS administration. Every time I’ve called, I talked to a person who was helpful and pleasant. The first time I called, I learned a way to increase my SS income. Mostly I interact with the website, on which, by the way, you may easily request a new card. Sorry your experiences were so frustrating.
....so bittersweet when the Card is all we want or need...
Comparing the Social Security Administration to the Nazi Germany Schutzstaffel is quite a stretch. The SSA is godsent to the downtrodden and unfortunate along with millions of the retired who are quite lucky for its existence and the German SS was an unbelievable nightmare of human history. Like any other bureaucracy, it has its rough spots.
Janice, on the other hand, your angel of the SSA is godsent who remembers you in a fictitious infatuation. This can be a potential threat to your goal of obtaining your Medicare card especially if she starts to reflect on why the relationship didn't pan out. You could be waiting for this card for years to come. Who knows what comments or bureaucratic voodoo that she could append to your record because you usually broke her heart. "You cad"
Oh, the turn to “Janice, it’s me…”, etc.—I burst out laughing!!