CURRENTS is the official newsletter of the Credit River PROBUS Club. It is published monthly and emailed to members to keep them abreast of club activities and to promote the club’s central objectives. Submissions are welcome as are new ideas and should be emailed to Lydia Koop, lydia04@rogers.com.
President’s Message
Glad to be here, happy to be alive
In their 1998 debut album, “The Travelling Wilburys”, one song, The End of the Line contains the lyric, “I’m just glad to be here, happy to be alive”, sung by Tom Petty. This reflects the idea that we are all travelling to the end of the line, but we are also fully appreciative of our reality. The song says that, as long as we lend each other a hand, we are doing the best we can. However, sometimes you gotta’ be strong.” And ultimately, the best you can do is forgive.
Parisian-based photographer Peter Turnley mirrors this in a recent FB post, where he speaks of his gratitude each morning as he awakes, puts his feet on the floor and welcomes a new chapter and an opportunity to live. “Living is appreciating and connecting simply with life in all forms, with respect, sincerity, compassion, and grace.”
Turnley accepts that perfection in living is never the goal – in fact, he disputes that perfection even exists. “But I breathe and function as well as possible – and I try. He quotes a man he knew who believed that the best way to get through this thing is to go ahead and make a masterpiece out of it.
These ideas are what form the essence of PROBUS: the realization that we are pursuing a lifestyle of optimism, courage and gratitude. On this journey making our own masterpiece, we meet people who, initially, are strangers, and we may be unsure of our ground. But we want to connect, with respect and curiosity as well, and so we try – we put ourselves out there and as we meet each other, we realize how grateful we are to be doing what we’re doing and to be where we are.
When The Travelling Wilburys recorded The End of the Line, there were five musicians: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison. When they came to record the video for the song, Orbison had died. To honour his initial contribution to the song, the video shows a moving rocking chair with Orbison’s guitar and then a photo of Orbison. Orbison was both there and not there: Every moment is two moments. Watch the video here.
By Bob Warren, President
In the previous edition of Currents, the President’s Message talked about the potential benefits and joys of talking with strangers. Do you have a story about a time when you spoke with a stranger and came to realize the good feeling that came with that encounter? Perhaps you interacted in a store, a parking lot, a lobby, on a plane, or in a meeting. Somewhere, somehow, did you talk with a stranger and now have a story that you would like to share with your fellow Credit River Probians? Something that shows that we are all in this thing together?
Each month, if you would like to share, we will feature your story in this space: length should be around 300 words, but shorter is fine too. And you can sign it or be anonymous. Send your story to me: Bob Warren bob045@sympatico.ca. Below is the first of our stories.
A True Story from one of our members about the “goodness of our fellow man and the kindness of strangers.”
It was the early 1980s. I was alone, driving east on the 401. Destination: The Eastern Townships of Quebec. Suddenly, my car stalled and stopped. After checking under the hood, I realized help was needed. Although somewhat nervous, felt I had no choice but to hitch-hike to the closest service centre with a pay-phone.
Most cars flew past, but eventually a pick-up truck stopped. A man got out and loped toward me saying, “She’s quit on ya’, has she?” After a quick look under the hood, he offered to tow the car to the next exit (near Morrisburg ON)! We pulled into the first service station we saw and asked for their mechanic on duty. Unfortunately, he had left for the day. The “stranger” checked out their service bay and asked to use their welding equipment! Permission granted, he set to work repairing my car while I “entertained” his wife and 2 children in the small office.
After an hour or so, he had the car repaired and running! How to adequately thank this good Samaritan?? He refused payment of any kind because “This is just what we do…help others in need.” This was a family from Newfoundland, here on vacation, with no particular schedule. After some urging, they agreed to be my guests at lunch in town. Two hours later, after getting to know these good folks over our meal, we bade each other farewell and continued on our separate ways.
We exchanged Christmas cards for many years after that! How very thankful I was and often think of that life experience that proved there really are lots of good strangers out there. Hopefully these stories will help to boost your faith in humanity in these often-troubling times.
Nancy Rudderham
You can find this month’s complete issue and past editions of CURRENTS here.
Read your copy of CURRENTS or see the web to find out more about Activities, Events, and Travel in our club.
Direct comments about CURRENTS to Lydia Koop, lydia04@rogers.com. If you need to be sent another copy of CURRENTS please email crprobus@gmail.com.