Gremlin GONE

The frontiers are not closed and the doors are not all shut.

Maxwll Maltz
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Until about 3:30 yesterday afternoon, Monday, September 12, all my frontiers were closed and all my doors were shut. Among all the other dead gremlins of my recent computer problems that litter my apartment there was one that would not die. I didn't want to discuss it on these pages, and in fact mentioned it to only a very few people, because I didn't want to cause the anger and frustration to those of you who would be affected.

On the first day of Summer I posted this question. "Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?" Then for the next several weeks I received 21 excellent answers from you. Most of you genuinely thought about the question. Your answers, both pro and con, were well thought through, articulate, compassionate and, in some cases, very personal.

On September 3rd, while AOL was working on another problem the entire file disappeared. The AOL technician managed to retrieve it. But on the 8th I discovered that it was missing again. Since then I have been frantically trying to get it back. Multiple phone calls were made to AOL. Verizon and HP seeking information, advice and hours of work. It was no use. No one could figure out what happened to it, how to find it or how to get it back. Altogether, from the 8th until 3:30 yesterday afternoon, I spent about 18 hours on the phone, and that's no exaggeration.

I thought I was going to write a journal entry for you with my humiliated apology for having lost all your superb efforts and deeply felt words. I was sure I would have to express the shame, rage and wretched sorrow I felt. I was already composing the entry.

But not wanting to give up I made one last, almost hopeless call to AOL, expecting once again to be told they couldn't find it and weren't able to restore it. Instead, my call was answered by a magician and miracle worker named Chris who spent an hour going in and out of esoteric files, charts and tables. Suddenly it appeared. SUMMER QUESTION ANSWERS, with everything in place.

If I could explain to you the anguish I have been through during the past week over this issue then you could appreciate my joy. Please share it with me. And if you haven't answered the Summer Question yet, WELL?............

DB - The Vagabond
Never Give Up
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SUMMER QUESTION

The end of Summer is fast approaching, people.

It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you.

Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

dbdacoba@aol.com

21 interesting answers so far.

You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.

DB
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I Am Astonished

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out 'till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

John Muir
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Hello Afghanistan, may you have peace and freedom.
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Yesterday I had a phone conversation with a technician from AOL. He was very good, knew his business and helped me out grandly. It was a friendly conversation which took about an hour. Toward the end of it I found out that he was in Manila.

Good heavens !! Young folks don't know. For a man born before there was TV, commercial jets, dial telephones, electric typewriters, space travel and computers, to have a simple phone conversation with a man on the other side of the Earth is astonishing. I like being astonished.

My physical life as a writer is very small and snug. Near my left knee is the computer, near my left elbow is a table with books, notes and about 100 pages of quotations from the wise and not so wise. In front of me is the monitor and key board. To the right is another table with the idiosyncratic printer below. It's a small world.

But it's far from lonely. With my email and journal friends it sometimes resembles a big, noisy party. I have to go on a couple of errands every week, but to just shut down the computer and go for a walk is a rare treat.

But when I go out I enjoy the fresh air, the sky. the river, the trees. I like to see the birds, the squirrels and the grand old buildings. My mind soars. My imagination swirls. I am reminded of the elasticity of nature and the tumult of ideas and I am astonished.

DB - The Vagabond
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SPRING QUESTION
(This is not a contest)

NASA has planned to send a two man mission on an 18 month trip to the planet Mars. It would take 6 months for the astronauts to get there and after 6 months of exploration another 6 months to return.

Should they do it and why, and if not, why not?

dbdacoba@aol.com

4 answers so far

I eagerly await your answer.

DB
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