Comments on: Another Day in Paradise

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:32:03 +0000

In reply to shauna. My best thinking is done during a ride!

By: shauna

shauna — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 00:16:19 +0000

That’s awesome. Clear skies, long open roads, and a beautiful Vespa. A perfect day to ride and It gives you lots of time to think.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:04:21 +0000

In reply to Laurent.

The Vespa seems a key to paradise. And my key is getting worn.

The internet certainly has opportunities to be robbed. I try and be careful but as one expert told me, there’s no way to be entirely safe from being robbed on the internet — even if you don’t use it! That had me scratching my head for awhile…

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:02:03 +0000

In reply to Kitty. Indeed. But so hard to stay in the present!

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:01:26 +0000

In reply to David Eakin.

Everyone has a different way of deciding if and how to give support to others. There is no right way. I have many of the same concerns as you do. I suppose I’m also concerned that it is so easy for me to be oblivious to the struggles of others and just sort of find myself in a place of not helping because of my own distractions. Every once in awhile then something gives me a little slap, like Orin’s appeal, and I find myself thinking I haven’t helped anyone lately.

As you say, a tough balancing act. But worth the time to do the balancing.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 12:57:29 +0000

In reply to DOMINGO J CHANG.

Charities have changed I suppose and so has their compensation models. When your focus is fundraising they now reach out into the world for the best. No longer are their leaders from the grassroots of the charitable functions but instead gathered from industry, business, finance, development and other places where salaries are competitive. So if you’re going to ask someone to raise $50 million they might demand $1 million in return. But even so, at times I wonder if the costs related to marketing, advertising and compensation are out of line. Mostly though, I try to focus on the giving and treat it like I would giving a gift to anyone and not focus on how they use it. Naive probably…

Everyday is indeed Saturday. I’m a retirement newbie still. Learning to not waste so much time…

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 12:53:17 +0000

In reply to Bryce.

It’s amazing what a little sunshine will do for the spirit. And for photographs. Unfortunately we have more snow at the moment but spring gathers closer with each day.

The road ahead is full of things to do and I look forward to what develops. The dogs are insistent on my time but it’s generally a joy to accommodate them.

Paul’s show comes down this Saturday. It was a success by his measures. I’ll be posting a video of it at some point for those who couldn’t make it to State College.

By: Laurent

Laurent — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 19:26:33 +0000

C’est tous les jours le paradis quand on est sur la vespa, et que l’on prend du temps au temps.
L’histoire d’Orin O’Neill m’a ému mais je n’ai pas confiance en internet car je me suis fait volé une fois.
Si je pouvais l’aider, d’une façon plus directe, je le ferais comme lui envoyer un billet de banque par la poste mais je n’ai pas son adresse…

it’s paradise every day when you’re on the vespa, and it takes time.
The story of Orin O’Neill moved me but I do not trust the internet because I got robbed once.
If I could help him, in a more direct way, I would do it like sending him a bank note in the mail but I do not have his address …

Laurent de France.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:42:32 +0000

As I often say,

“The past is history,
the future’s a mystery,
today is a GIFT,
that’s why they call it
the present!”

By: David Eakin

David Eakin — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:09:45 +0000

I also reflect from time-to-time on how blessed I’ve been regarding mental/physical health, the opportunities to use both, and a comfortable standard of living – now into my mid-60’s. But I have also been a long-time proponent of living within one’s means, however that changes over a lifetime. I also hesitate to jump into giving resources unless I personally know the recipients or they have been vetted by an agency I trust, so I usually stay away from crowd-sourced funding sites. I do like to help out fellow riders, friends, or relatives with all sorts of mechanical advice when I think it will actually be followed, but shy away from those who I perceive to be looking for someone else to be their “free labor/help”.

It can be a tough balancing act.