kaffy_r | Entries tagged with good people

Happy Birthday, Mum

This is Mary Glen Keirstead Routliffe Stirling. She was born on May 30, 1927, in Greenwich, Nova Scotia, Canada. For most of her life, she lived within 10.5 miles of the house where a midwife delivered her.* Nova Scotia was where she died, on Oct. 27, 2013. Nova Scotia was her home.

In the 13 years since she died, I've generally remembered her on the anniversary of her death, and I'll undoubtedly do that again. But today, when she would have turned 98 if she hadn't moved on, I wanted to turn my face to the sky and sing Happy Birthday to her. I hope she and my stepdad, Rob Stirling, young and beautiful again as they were when they fell in love, are together.

And I like to think that after a modest dinner at a modest heavenly restaurant, with a birthday cake that has all the taste and none of the calories, that they will leave the restaurant, and dance together, twirling and laughing, in the stars.

I love you, Mum.

*She spent a short time in Montreal as a newly minted nurse, and later, in the years she was married to my father, she lived in or around Mont Joli, Quebec. Together, those probably consisted of no more than five years.

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: Ateez, "Say My Name"

James Earl Carter Jr., 1924-2024

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Current Mood: pensive
Current Location: the living room

Good Help for a Good Person

I meant to share this earlier, but got sidetracked by mice. I apologize,

masakochan .

I think most folks on my f'list know this lovely person, but in case you don't, take my word for it -

masakochan has made me smile many times, and has been one of the folks I've always enjoyed talking with. They're going through a tough time; they've got a goal, and I hope people can help them reach that goal.

Here's the link to their GoFundMe; help with a donation of any size if you can. If you can't, you can still help by spreading the word.

Thanks!

Current Mood: hopeful
Current Location: the living room
Current Music: Stray Kids "Chk Chk Boom"

Mary Glen Keirstead Routliffe Stirling

I know you don't need birthday wishes on this May 30th; you are traveling in the stars. But I miss being able to wish you happy birthday. It's been 10 years since I was able to do that. I don't think you'll mind. I love you - now go back to traveling in the stars. You deserve all of their light.

Current Mood: lonely
Current Location: the home office

Bob Made His Goal!

I want to thank so many people, including many folks I know here. You donated, or you spread the word, or did both - and Bob is now setting up his appointment with the audiologist. We're hoping that can come within a week or so, and once that's completed, he can be fitted with new and stronger set of hearing aids.

This would not have been possible without so many people. It's a reminder to me of how good fans and fandom can be.

Thank you all so much.

Current Mood: grateful
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: None

Glorious Visit

I'm sitting in Toronto, waiting for my flight back to Chicago. I'm tired, a little wired, and really, really happy I went to my 50-year high school reunion.

I hope to share stories, and pictures, and thoughts, but I think it's going to have to wait until I'm back in the land of pizza and politics.

What I'll say for now is this: don't take it as gospel that school reunions are to be avoided like the plague. That's probably true in many cases - but you know? Sometimes, and maybe a lot of times, it isn't. Sometimes reunions are just brilliant.

More to come ....

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: Billy Bishop Airport, Toronto, Canada
Current Music: Airport ambience. I love it.

Druscilla Katz

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Current Mood: sad
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: MSNBC

Happy Birthday, Mum

My mother would have been 95 years old today. Although I miss her, I'm glad that, given the cognitive state she was in at the last, she didn't make it to this year. It would have been her body's birthday, but she would long since have left. Today, I choose to believe she's enjoying a bit of birthday cake with two of her best friends, Clara and Marion. Clara Jefferson's birthday was May 31, so these school chums will have at least a couple of birthdays to celebrate.

Happy Birthday, Mum. I was blessed to have you; so were many others. As much as I miss you, I'll say what I did at your funeral, back in 2013; you're out of pain, back in charge, and I'll see you when I get there.

Current Mood: grateful
Current Location: the home office

Another Birthday, Another Excellent Person

Many happy returns of yesterday (Nov. 11) to

kerravonsen . She is a lovely person, who I am very glad to know. We don't always agree on things, but she is a sister when it comes to believing and knowing that The Union Makes Us Strong. She is multi-talented, creating both written and visual pieces of art. I have enjoyed so many of her fics; in fact, she was one of the people who convinced me that fanfics could be better than good. Having one's birthday on Remembrance Day lends it a weight that could be somber, I know, but I hope yours was celebrated well; and perhaps you'll be able to enjoy more on the weekend!

Current Mood: accomplished
Crossposts: https://kaffy-r.livejournal.com/604496.html

Happy Birthday, cathica

The most estimable

cathica, who has not been seen around LJ/dreamwidth for a long time, certainly not regularly, had her birthday yesterday (Nov. 8). It's been a while since I ventured back into birthday wishes. I think that's because I got overwhelmed by several things a couple of months ago, and some of the fallout included birthday wishes.

It seems as if wishing this very talented author Happy Birthday, even one day late, might be the right way to restart my tradition.

cathica writes some of the most gently horrific dark fiction it's been my shuddering delight to read. I am always glad to hear that she has had another of her tales published. She is also someone to whom I have written letters, both typewritten and - pause here for your astonishment - handwritten. When I receive a letter in return, it is purely lovely.

cathica was also the starting point for my 9th Doctor/Rose/Jack novel "Hearts and Moons Recall the Truth"; she provided a prompt for a long ago ficathon, and I could not conceive of letting that drop by the wayside.

In short, I am very glad to have made your acquaintance!

I hope you had a fine birthday; I hope no bears interrupted it, nor painfully poisonous plants intruded in any way!

Current Mood: calm
Current Location: the home office
Crossposts: https://kaffy-r.livejournal.com/604189.html

These Are My Favorite Fathers

I grew up without a father, courtesy of my mother's divorce. I did grow up with a grandfather, but that was a very different thing. So I didn't have any idea of what a father might be, or how someone could be a good father to a child.

I found the answer in Bob.

From the days when we were preparing for Andy's arrival,, to the moment when Andy was placed in a tired father's arms for the first time, and through all the years to follow, Bob showed me what a father should be.

He was brilliant at it - patient, goofy, ready to undertake 3 a.m. feedings, creative, gentle, and filled with love. Of course there were days when he did or said the wrong thing; of course there were times when he and Andy were at angry loggerheads. There were angry arguments, wild disagreements and times when both of them wanted to pitch the other out windows.

But those times pale into insignificance when compared to the way he approached fatherhood, and the values he imparted to our offspring: the aforementioned patience, creativity, gentleness, and love.

Now Andy says he wants to be as good a dad to his son as Bob was to him, and looks to his father for help and advice. I know he, too, will be a good father.

Happy Father's Day, my beloved husband; thank you for showing me what a good father is. Happy Father's Day, my beloved son: you will be a magnificent Dad.

And Happy Father's Day to everyone who is celebrating with a wonderful father.

( Saving bandwidth. )

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: The AC
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/582284.html

Happy Birthday, Mum

( Under here. )

My Mum's birthday is today. She was born in 1927 and as of May 30, 2021 she would have been 94. She was wonderful, frustrating, strong and strong-willed, kind and nit-picky, full of poetry and fear for her loved ones, a provable SFF lover who might have denied it if the acronym had ever been explained to her. And she was so much more; I could trot out a plethora of words or phrases to describe her. I will, instead, link to the eulogy I wrote for her 2013 funeral.

I'll just say Happy Birthday, Mum. I love you. I'm glad you've gotten to be with Rob again. I hope to see you again sometime.

Current Mood: lonely
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: Chillhop Music on Twitch
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/580022.html

Nothing But Good Wishes ...

... to the lovely

sallymn and the formidable

lydy .

I met

sallymn via Live Journal and various online fandoms, and I immediately liked her friendliness, quiet (and more than occasionally gloriously goofy) humor, and her icons, several of which I still have, use, and appreciate. May your recuperation continue to be ahead of the curve, may your retirement and your studies be equally fulfilling, may your days be filled with the music you love, the television shows you like, and people you adore!

I met

lydy - have I mentioned she's formidable? Have I also mentioned that she's formidable in a magnificently positive way? - via traditional science fiction fandom. Her thought processes are incisive, her use of language both precise and poetic, her worldview challenging, her bravery unquestionable, and her friendship (for such I hope I have) a great gift. Perhaps someday, relatively soon, we can make another journey to Mipple City and enjoy your company again. Until then, many happy returns of the day!

Oh, and speaking of Minnesotans, it's Bob Dylan's birthday. He's weird and at least a bit of a genius (I know people will say I've under- or over-valued him. but there you go), certainly a poet, and someone to whom attention must be paid. Good on you for making it this far, Mr. Zimmerman!

Here's one of my favorite songs of his. I love its propulsive feel, and the story he tells.

Watch on YouTube

Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: Hurricane, Bob Dylan
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/579356.html

Still Here

So an insurrection happened. And may still be happening. We'll see how the next 5-6 days play out. I'm still dealing with a lot of poisonous anger, which doesn't seem apt to go away any time soon, especially with the increasing evidence of help for the traitors outside from inside the halls of Congress. Perhaps I can talk about it later. Right now, no, except to say I'm counting down the days to Jan. 21. Perhaps I can take a breath then.

A woman I like, respect, and care about,

ljgeoff , had a birthday on the 14th. She is most estimable, most formidable, a woman of will, and nearly infinite love. Oh, and she writes beautiful fiction even as she works and cares for those around her. Would that more humans were like her.

I am coming off of *thinks* 11 days of back pain, a lot of which was spent on my back. That kind of pain makes it very hard to focus on posting or writing. Instead, I've watched a lot of Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert show clips during the times I could sit up at my desk. I truly hope I can be more productive soon but I'm having a different stress reaction now in my mouth, about which the less said, the less gross this sentence will end up.

But I'm here. I'll get back to reading posts and responding. Take care, love each other, be safe, and hope like hell we get to Jan. 21,

Current Mood: sad
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: The furnace. It's chilly out there.
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/570946.html

Birthdays; Again and Always

As we get older, our attitudes towards birthdays can change. Certainly, I know that my birthday brings more thoughts of my eventual mortality than it once did. Strangely, those thoughts are positive, as I look back on an eventful life and forward ( I hope) to a good many years of adventure to come. And it still gives me pleasure to send birthday greetings to friends, even if I’m habitually and criminally late in doing so.

On Oct. 30, the long silent

viomisehunt celebrated a birthday. When she was active on LJ, I enjoyed reading this lovely woman’s posts about fandom and about her beloved family. She wrote about Dr. Who, and shared her thoughts gently and articulately. She also shared her non-fannish successes and her heartbreaking losses. She was a delight. I hope she is in good health, and that she was able to enjoy a birthday with loved ones.

erikvolson, he of the red hat — beer appreciator extraordinaire and delightful SFF fan — had a Nov. 5 birthday. He lives in the same city I do, and I bang my head against a wall for not keeping in touch with him. He hasn’t posted on his LJ journal for several years, so all I can do is wish him the very best, and hope that someday we can get together again in some fashion. Happy Birthday, Erik!

cathica celebrated her natal anniversary on Nov. 8, and I truly hope it was a celebration, free of bears and fauna interested in invading the house. I first knew her as a result of her glorious and sometimes gloriously dark Dr. Who fanfic. Then I read some of her original work, which was again gloriously dark; she is a mistress of SFF-based horror and has won awards for the horror she envisions; brava! So to a fellow Bluenoser, I extend all the wishes I can, and I hope she will someday return to LJ.

kerravonsen marked her birthday on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11. I hope she was able to spend it with at least some of her family, and that the day was filled with love. She is a woman of many talents in both her writing and the 3-D arts she creates. I wish I had half her delight in creating art and her patience and hard work doing so. She is a union supporter and a person of faith. Though she and I may differ in many ways, I am very glad to know her.

Current Mood: thoughtful
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/569323.html

Joe Biden Has Won.

Yes, we still have to win the two senate seats in Georgia.
Yes, we have to gut McConnell's power by those wins.
Yes, more than 70 million people voted for racism and misogyny.
Yes, we need to push Biden further to the left.
Yes, we need to shove Pelosi left with him.

But Joe Biden has won.
He won with 74 million-plus people.

We have won.

Current Mood: excited
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: MSNBC
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/568509.html

Something That Is Not Bad

I love Mythbusters. The show was a healthy dose of fun done with science, and science done with fun, both in the service of using logic to prove or disprove myths, folk tales, and urban legends. It was a lovely mix of careful planning, goofy tech and giddy silliness, teamwork and things Blowing Up Real Good. I loved Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman (Adam more than Jamie, I freely admit); I loved the junior host team of Kari Byron and Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara. So I was shocked and very saddened when Grant died unexpectedly this summer of a brain aneurysm.

I recently learned that Imahara's mother and his friends have created a foundation named after him, aimed at supporting underserved young people interested in STEAM education: science/technology/engineering/art/math.

I watched this video, and it made me feel even more sorry that he died so young and very glad that his loved ones are honoring him in this way. Also, it made me love him even more for being an SFF fan - watch all the way to the end, fellow Whovians, for a special joy.

Current Mood: calm
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: "Trying Times" Roberta Flack
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/568133.html

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays

There are so many people whose birthdays took place this month, and who I really like, and to whom I didn't wish felicitations. All of you deserve so much more than what I'm going to try - describing each of you in 5 words or phrases - but believe me, you are all important to me.

*deep breath* Let's try this:

rmjwell (4 Oct.) photographer, burlesque-booster, ex-Chicagoan, smart, funny.

supergee (6 Oct.) trufan and zinemeister, American football fan, dryly witty, kind, world observer.

heatherbelles (6 Oct.) fun-loving, history maven, LINDA founding mother, Whovian, museum expert.

carbonel , (11 Oct.) low-key, yarn artist, slash fic fan, word-and-music-lover, Cubs faithful.

brithistorian (15 Oct.) K-Pop aficionado, art specialist, family lover, SFF and fic fan, welcoming.
Andrew Louis McNeill Berlien (20 Oct.) Beloved son, musician, husband, photographer, funny as hell. (I'm so lucky that he's my son.)

editrx (21 Oct.) stalwart, gifted editor, martini connoisseur, brave, deserving of good things.

a_phoenixdragon (21 Oct.) effervescent, unstoppable, gloriously talented writer, tough as nails mom, delightful Whovian.

elisi (22 Oct), Who fan, meta mistress, gentle, poetic, kind.

lolmac (24 Oct.) laugh-out-loud funny, Richard Dean Anderson LOLmeme creator, fic writer, good person, missing-in-action and missed.

cosmiccoz (24 Oct.) sweet, artistic, determined, Whovian, Black Sails fan.

*pants slightly*

Current Mood: melancholy
Current Location: livingroom
Current Music: MSNBC
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/567757.html

Argh.

Two weeks late, I wanted to say Happy, Happy Birthday to the redoubtable and impressive

azriona , who world-hops in imagination and geography, and is a really lovely fan, fanfic writer, and excellent human being. I hope it was a good day for you!

Current Mood: exhausted
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: CBC Music Nightstream
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/566223.html

Many Happy Returns of the Day ...

... to

strannik01 , a dedicated journalist who deploys a dispassionate and careful eye as he chronicles news in some of Chicago's "news desert" communities, bringing stories of sadness, joy, and anger to readers who might otherwise miss important aspects of our city. His views, while objective, are informed by his own history, which is exactly as it should be. He also shares some of my fannish loves. A fannish reporter, FTW!

I've had the pleasure of hanging out with him (and he's been very patient with my chronically late arrivals), enjoying his wit and commentary. I look forward to more such interludes. And I hope today he is able to celebrate another year - and the beginning of a better one. Happy birthday!

Current Mood: calm
Current Location: the home office
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/566005.html

My Brother the Cop

In what is surely the universe's warning to me about creating badly written and structurally unsound posts, replete with unnecessary phrasing and unneeded facts that would, ultimately, serve only to muddy the metaphysical waters, my original attempt at this one disappeared. I have no idea when or how, since I had the tab open and unfiddled-with for a day or so. Checked in this morning and - hey-presto! - it was gone. Thank you, universe.

No. Really. Thank you. I needed to do a better, tighter, more direct job. That didn't happen, but I do think this is a better post than my original effort.

My younger brother is a retired cop.

( More underneath. )

So I end this with two thoughts.

Look for the occasional good cop apple. They're out there, trying not to drown in the Fucking Racist, Classist, Misogynist Ocean of Shit that is modern policing. Get them out of that ocean, and tell them "It's time for you to help drain that FRCMOofS and create something newer and better." I think they will be eager to help.

And, more immediately, read this New York Times article on William J. Lewinski, the reprehensible (there's that word again) prophet of American policing's "shoot first, cover it up later" philosophy. Many thanks to

minoanmiss , who brought this guy to my notice back on May 31, and who advocated sending the PoS a message about how he is, in fact, a PoS peddling "Us Against Humanity" attitudes among police he trains - the snicker quotes around the word trains are more than implied - and suggesting that he, you know, STOP RIGHT THE FUCK NOW. You may well have seen this and done that, because I am, as usual, late to the party, but if you haven't - here you go.

Write your note and email it here: https://www.forcescience.org/contact.

Current Mood: determined
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: Hambone's Blues Party, WDCB Radio
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/559949.html

Mum

This would have been her 93rd birthday. I miss her. Here's what I said about her the day she died.

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: the home office
Crossposts: https://kaffyr.livejournal.com/559773.html

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy ,,,

... I missed two birthdays this week, and they aren't birthdays I wanted to miss.

Happy Birthday (on 24th May) to

sallymn , whose sweet nature shines through her every post. I love the music she introduces me to, I love her quiet but very definite sense of humor, and the way that she can, in general, brighten a day. We also share some fandoms, which is wonderful as well. I understand that you had a very good birthday, and that makes me happy. May you enjoy another 365 days of good friends, good humor, good weather, and good luck!

Happy Birthday on the selfsame May 24th to

lydy , a woman of great good sense, somewhat frightening intellect, a sense of humor that is to be cherished, and a beautiful smile. I met her through our shared interest in classic science fiction fandom, and I've never regretted it. It has been far too long since I saw her in person, but I haven't given up hope that I will at some time in the not-too-distant future. May your sourdough starter be just as you'd like it to be, may cats always be there when you need them, may knitting or crocheting be in your future, should that be your desire, and may the coming year be good to you.

Current Mood: calm
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: Miles Davis Quintet "So What"

I Blame My Lack of Brainzzz ...

... for forgetting the May 5 birthday of the inestimably excellent

jjpor , who is one of the best fic writers I've ever had the good luck to read. His Doctor Who stories are well paced, densely plotted, with real, lived-in characters. In a fair world, his adventures and mysteries would be turned into award-winning episodes of the show. And not only is he a gifted writer, he is a lovely person, with a wry and dry sense of humor. Many belated happy returns of the day! I hope you are surviving with a surplus of good humor and a deficit of worry or concern about our strange and frightening times, and I am very glad that I have had the luck to get to know you on These Here Intarwebz.

Current Mood: nauseated
Current Location: the home office

It's Probably Past Her Birthday Now ....

But many, many happy returns of the probably previous day to

thisbluespirit , one of the loveliest people I've had the privilege of getting to know online. She's one of the people I wish to one day meet in three-dee life, (I won't say RL, since I consider These Here Intarwebz also RL),if I ever make it to that side of the Atlantic, and if she's up for a Canadian visitor from Chicago. Not only is she kind, and funny, and a tremendously talented fiction writer, she's someone who can draw me into her adventures in family history, her love of James Maxwell (totally understandable) and David Collings (the latter especailly. Oh, my, don't I wish I'd had the chance to meet him, and aren't I sad that he's somewhere chatting with Ruby and Gold and not here, although him being Silver, he can more than hold his own in conversation, but I digress!) ... and of course, Sapphire and Steel, to which I'm now addicted.

I hope that you are in good health, that you are navigating these uncertain times with the aplomb and cheer for which I admire you so much; I hope the weather treats you well, and that you can get out of the house, even if it's just to a garden; I hope I can be online a little more, and can interact with you more. No matter what, I'm so glad I know you - Happy Birthday!

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: the home office

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kaffy_r

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Grasping at Grace (and Growth)

Transformation is Inescapable

Entries tagged with good people

Dept. of Remembrance

Dept. of Endings

Dept.of Spread the Word

Dept. of Love and Memory

Dept. of Thanks

Dept. of Wonderful

Dept. of Loss is Inescapable

Dept. of Family

Dept. of Birthdays

Dept. of Birthdays

Dept. of Father's Day

Dept. of Beloved People

Dept. of Birthdays

Dept. of Placeholders

Dept. of Birthdays

Dept. of Thank God

Dept. of Good Things

Dept. of Never Catching Up, Redux

Dept. of Delayed Birthday Wishes

Dept. of Birthdays

Dept. of These Things Are Important

Dept. of Birthdays

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