For me that view cuts my soul like a knife.

For it is so obvious for one and all to see,

Nothing but a failure have I managed to be.

An All-star in little league but nothing beyond

Because of the good curve I was never fond.

Number 1 on my high school tennis team

But at college not good enough it would seem.

A local league champion bowling on oiled lane.

But tried and tried for even semi-pro in vain.

Kayaking was inspiring and made me feel free.

But certified as guide and instructor never came to be.

High school valedictorian with scholarship to  college

Only to drop out several times and leave with minimal knowledge.

Worked up to position normally for those with degree

But during the layoff I was one of the ones set free.

Once a wizard at the  computer in days of DOS.

But now with Windows, at the keyboard I am at a loss.

Returned to table tennis after years and years away.

Yet despite uncountable hours of training never even1900 did play.

Never had a true best friend forever and a day

Just fond acquaintances who quitely drifted away

Never found the one true love or any love at all.

Never even found anyone interested in getting a second call.

My parents were marvellous and so caring.

I tried to make them proud with my daring.

But my failures hurt them so very deeply.

Even at their death I served them too cheaply.

And of all the disappointing failures I was in

Worst was never giving them grandchildren.

So if I should do that at which I am best

I must keep finding new things and not rest.

For in the new I will fail and look a joker

For my best is just a life that is mediocre.

Mark - For whom failure is an option, the only option

We could start a Gofundme page and see if we could get enough money to buy you a friend.  If we get more than a million we might be able to buy you a girlfriend.  Maybe get one with a baby so you could change diapers.

You've succeeded in inspiring me and many others. You promote a positive, healthy sport.

I learned basic on a commodore vic20. The general concepts I teach are the same now, more or less. High school is pretty basic.

Thank you for all what you are for the game, this forum and me.

We play in a large warehouse with roll-up truck doors on opposite sides that we open during play.  A large fan at one door is also used to create air circulation.   I feel pretty safe considering the size of the building and the cross ventilation (air flow is across table not from either end).  Still, I do not want to be in there when 8-10 people are playing.  I may be deceiving myself as too how safe it is, but we all have to make decisions about how isolated we need to be.

I am doing a lot of kayaking on Willamette River in Salem and hiking in some of the hilly neighborhoods.  I also ride my bicycle around the neighborhood near the club twice a week.  Streets are canopied by huge trees on both sides of the streets.  Four weeks ago I spent 4 days at a state park near Coos Bay.  I got to paddle 3 times and do a hike through part of the Oregon Dunes National Rec area.  Next week I am spending 5 days just south of Bend, Or.  Hope to get in one long bicycle ride along the edge of a huge lava field, a river paddle, a paddle in the caldera lake in Newberry Volcano, and a couple of hikes.

So you can see I am staying pretty busy.  If I keep this up through Sept I may end up in the best physical shape I have been in years.

Mark - Busy but not accomplishing anything of significance.

Did you have conversations beforehand to build trust? I imagine a sort of contract based on the honor system where people entrust their life to each other by promising to adhere to an adequate code of conduct re. covid.

Did you really have all those experiences?  Wow, you were busy and quite accomplished.

Smart.  Sadly  I'm stuck here.  At what remains one of the global centers of the pandemic.   After all, everything is bigger in Texas.