Subj : Brother Darrell's To : August Abolins From : Daryl Stout Date : Mon Feb 22 2021 10:14:00 August, AA> reminds me of the line "This is my brother Daryl and my other brother AA> Daryl.." in the Bob NewHart sitcom. Years ago, I was in the Singles Ministry of a local church, but I got the coffee and donuts for the entire group prior to "Sunday School". You wouldn't believe how many folks MUST HAVE their coffee and donuts to get started in the morning. :P Having worked for Burger King in central Arkansas for 5 years over 40 years ago, I was well acquainted in how to prepare the coffee (even though I never drank it, and never acquired a taste for it...my beverage of choice was iced tea). They had 2 worship services, with the "Sunday School" in between. So, I would go to the donut shop beforehand...to purchase a few dozen donuts...usually glazed, chocolate iced (my favorite (had to get a few extras for myself )), and some cake or assorted donuts. I also bought several things of orange juice, for those like myself, who didn't care for coffee. Well, the married couple who was in charge of the Singles Ministry, always greeted me with "My brother Darrell, and my other brother Darryl"...but, I had no idea what he was talking about. That is, until one night, I stumbled on an episode of Bob Newhart, with the character "Larry". "I'm Larry. This is my brother Darrell, and my other brother Darryl. And, we come bearing some unfortunate news. We had a fire down at the restaurant". One of the other characters (who must've been on The Andy Griffith Show years ago) asked "A fire??". Larry replied "No human casualties, but all of our major food groups were scorched". I lamented "Oh, Jeez!!" . After the Sunday School class was over, it was time to clean everything up, washing the containers, taking out the trash, etc. -- basically, doing work behind the scenes. So many people think things like this "magically happen by themselves". Well, one Saturday night into Sunday morning, I got hit by a bad case of food poisoning, flu, or gastrointeritis...with violent nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I obviously was in no condition to go get the donuts, or do much else...especially when "doing it out of both ends simultaneously". When that happens now, I have to call 911 to get an ambulance to the local Emergency Room, as I can't quit "doing it out of both ends", and am likely becoming dehydrated. Yet, I heard the next week that "my name was being cussed out, etc." because "the coffee, orange juice, and donuts, weren't ready". That ENDED my work with that...I thought "you ungrateful people!!". It was as bad as years ago, when this one single female lamented "Lord, if you don't give me a man, I'm gonna die!!"...and THAT TURNED ME OFF!! No wonder I didn't get married until I was 43, but I never dreamed that I'd be a widower at 47. At this stage of life (I'm in my early 60's), folks have "too much baggage"...some in bags, and others with trunks...be it physical, mental, emotional, familial, financial, or something else. I don't want or need the extra drama in my life, and have basically "taken myself off the market (although I hardly consider myself as a piece of fresh meat). I never remarried after my wife died...and while I dated a few women, the "baggage" issue came up. While I am busier than I was when I was married, I must admit that some days, it gets awfully lonely. If it weren't for the hobbies of ham radio, the BBS, and square dancing (all of them have computer work in some way), I probably would be in an insane asylum right now. Daryl .... Sure, when... OINK! FLAP! OINK! FLAP! I'll be d@mned!! === MultiMail/Win v0.52 --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (1:19/33) .