When it really happens: SHTF...

[fjruple]

I talked to the guy, he’ll keep the peashooter for me until we’re released and I can go see it. He sent me the pictures I posted in high resolution. The thing really looks great!!!
I can’t wait anymore...

Now you have to look for its mate in .38 Special. LOL

[Ovidio]

OMG...

[Ovidio]

One interesting effect of this crisis is that I have a lot of time for thinking...
Thinking is something that scares lots of people. I like it, instead, probably because, being a “rampant manager”, as a dic’khead called me today, I always need to act and bring home results. Just to explain, a friend said that we can’t grow without end. When I told him that growth, improvement, positive lookout are in the very nature of the human being, he “insulted” me calling me rampant manager. In a very derogative way.
He can afford to decide if he wants to do more or not. I fight in the world market, and each order I lose, other people, in other countries, get to eat. Not my colleagues. I told him my company grew from 35 to 150 people because I’m that bad, and that I have to renounce to lots of things in terms of family, private life, fun... I stopped arguing once I understood that this guy can’t understand his privilege. He thinks humankind should just “happily decrease”. My health is worth to me more than discussing with a “kid”. A stupid one at that.
But again, food for thought.
My “extreme” experience today has been going to Mass...again. I knew they were celebrating it behind closed doors, illegally, and after two months I just had a real need for some food for my soul.
I’m a believer. I had my time, during my teenage and a tad further, where I let the Church go. I’ve never been forced to go, I’ve always been led by example. That allowed me to have my “free” time without anyone making a big fuss of that. So, when I got to know my future wife, I just knew, from the start, that I wanted to marry her in front of the Lord. And it came from me. Me alone.
That thought surprised me at the very beginning, but it was such a strong feeling, that it brought me back in the “herd”.
I kept being a very independent “unit”, but I believe and go every week to Mass.
After running around the world, getting crazy for one thousand things, arguing with my boss, colleagues, customers, kids.. Mass is a moment where time, suddenly, stands still. And I can switch off and think again, looking at things from another perspective.
We are blessed by an old Padre, who passed hell in his life. He was persecuted after WWII by the communist Jugos in formerly Italian Dalmazia, has always been among the simple people. He knows the man. He also understands me. We have a drink or two together at times.
He wants me to read during Mass, because I have learned at school and in the Army, how to read in front of an attendance. Times, pauses, looking up at people, tone... He says that reading the right way makes all the difference in the world.
Today, after so much time, I decided I would not respect the provisions from the government, and restore my constitutional right to faith.
Don’t lough at me, but I was really emotioned. In our small, 1100 years old church, 6 people, plus the organist and the sacristan...plus the “Don”.
I sat down in a corner and breathed-in every second.
During communion I had to move away fast, because I got a wave of emotions I thought I could not handle in a “manly” way.
I decided I’ll never again allow a goverment to take away my rights from me.
All in all, today has been a wonderful day.
I found my balance again, met friends after lunch (my neighbour’s birthday) and before dinner (another Alpino invited me and family for an aperitivo).
Now I’m writing here.
Usually I don’t like social media. This and another Italian forum (very little activity there, unfortunately) are the only two places I post to.
But a few people here wrote that this thread is helpful, and I really think that this might be real, so I thought that also such thoughts could in some way be of interest and match the experience of others. These are special times indeed.
I’m no bigot, but I’m very comfortable with my faith, also in public.
So...I decided to just share some thought after a very special day.

[Ovidio]

I’ll look for a good one or I’ll go and take a few, Steve.

[mrclark303]

Good for you Ovidio, the church I was married in is a beautiful small Norman church, 900 years old (a relative youngster compared to yours), and sits next to a ruined Norman castle about 5 miles from my house.

I'm not really a church goer, but we always visit on our anniversary and it's an absolute haven of calm and tranquility.

The peace and quiet in there is wonderful, you can hear a pin drop, a real pause button on the modern world.

[CINDERS]

What ever solace you seek it is yours and yours alone to share with whom ever or what ever you believe in such is the comfort in solitude.
I try to live by the Desiderata and its meaning and often ponder at the vastness of space and theorise there are more intelegent beings than us out there and if Hollywood thinks nukes and jets will stop aliens that maybe use worm holes and antigravity propulsion then they certainly have more than tabacco stuffed into their smokes.

Good for you Ovidio enjoy your rekindled spirit.

[fjruple]

Ovidio- I totally agree with you. Most of the young generations are clueless especially are politicians. I have an old saying which my father passed down to me, he said, "Son there are two types in this world, one's that are lead who have no mind of their own and the leaders who take charge of their lives. Which one do you want to be concerning the *ssholes you see around you each day." Generally, I do not follow any specific religion, I believe in God and take to reading the bible in moments of peace to get a better understanding of what is happening in the world. This pandemic has strip the thin veneer of cloak of decent that has been covering the eyes of many good people in this world on the true agendas of the world's leadership. Resistance to infringement of our rights is OK but always have a plan.

[Aragorn243]

Today I returned to work. It was interesting. Went to my local supplier to pick up a few small odds and ends that I knew I could use on the job I haven't seen in six weeks. A sheet of drywall, 9 corner beads and a bucket of lightweight spackling But they didn't have the lightweight spackling. What's up with that? They have only had business from clueless homeowners for a month and a half and they are out of lightweight spackling. Oh well. Didn't really want to work hard today anyway so off the the job site. Poked my head in, asked if they wanted me to wear a mask and thankfully they did not. That would not be fun. We talked for half an hour or so, shared experiences, showed off a few pictures of my pandemic Beard now removed, and my renovated front porch which is how I spent my time the past couple of weeks. Later in the day, off to other suppliers. First stop, Home Depot, just kept on driving. Long line of homeowners standing to get in, most but not all wearing masks, the line is cattle chute style and no space in between. Yes, they decided to have a line with social distancing and they did a switchback with no spacing in between. Off to Lowes. Now this is kind of amusing. Online chatter is a constant stream of derogatory chatter towards Lowes because they aren't limiting the number of people in the store. I'm like, I'd rather simply walk into a store that isn't crowded at all than stand in cattle chutes until you can tell me I can go in to a store that isn't crowded. No Home Depot for me. I've been to Lowes about four times now, two different ones actually. Home Depot I've driven past three times and refused to go in. I did place a phone order with them and then insisted they bring it out to my car as I was not standing in line to pick it up at customer service like they wanted. Lowes had the spackling. Lots of clueless homeowners in there but it's NOT CROWDED AT ALL. These are very large stores and under state guidelines can have about 1000 people in there at any given time an at most there are maybe 100-200, same as our local Walmart. Thus there is NO NEED FOR A LINE TO PACK PEOPLE TOGETHER IN. Then it was off to the real supplier, roofing/siding. Pull up at a little after 3:00 and the gates closed. WTF. They are closing at 2:00 now. I guess they didn't get the memo that construction was back online this week. OK. quick phone call to the other roofing/siding supplier at the other side of town and off I went. Get there, must wear mask, not unexpected. Only one person in the showroom at a time, unexpected and unneeded. These suppliers have at most 4 or 5 guys in there at any given instant and the counter is 30ft long and there is 15ft of space in front of the counter. 6' spacing is simple. But I followed the rules and waited to get my three pieces of trim. They also asked that you call your order in in advance. Great except when you are trying to color match 30 year old siding. I guess I could take a photo and send it to their hardline phones but I don't think that would be very effective. Anyway, it's a start I guess. Kind of feels good to be back to work I guess. I was getting used to the "vacation" however which I think a lot of people are going to share, at least till all their money runs out.

I understand the church thing. My wife mentioned a church service in our car we could go to and since we haven't been in a while and it's important to her we went. I also got a bit choked up when we started but the minister lost me pretty quick. She wasn't inspired either so we won't be going back to that one. I have the ability to cast church services from my phone to the TV and we did Easter service that way. A good friend is the pastor of a small New Jersey church and we "attended" his rather than our own. I'm not a huge fan of our new pastor. He's OK, his messages are interesting but he's an "can I get an Amen" type of guy and it's like fingernails on a blackboard when I hear that. I'm not a Baptist and I wasn't raised in the South. We've actually been considering moving but haven't yet and with this going on, no way to test the waters elsewhere. Both of us have positions in the church, he's been interfering with my wifes and she's not happy. He hasn't messed with mine as I'm a Trustee and outside of his control. I think we are the only group he hasn't messed with. He's never even attended a meeting. It's a hard decision since we've been there for 30 years and have a lot of good friends there and we both understand the church is the people and not the minister but it's still tough. This one more so than most because he's changed things so much and while change is needed to grow, his changes are growing us in the negative direction.

[Surpmil]

For those who prefer, stay home and listen to a Fellow of King's College. ht tps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vm2o4EGTNk

[Gil Boyd]

Yes really sad when people have no care for others...........its all about them!!

Ovideo,
I don't know who we think we are as a country to start speculating the misfortune of others but this appeared this morning after a lot of research. Surely not a second wave in Italy???

Italy WILL face a deadlier second coronavirus wave, grim Imperial College London study finds | Daily Mail Online