Dear Gentle Readers,
That quote - - which could well be broadcast by a sailor when asking for assistance from a passing ship - - is courtesy of one of the more irreverent and entertaining writers on the planet, Alexander McCall Smith.
Radio communique at sea … ‘ten souls.’
Not ten people, not ten passengers, not ten customers … well, isn’t it a lovely sentiment?
Which puts me in mind of our pool community.
In a way we’re a beleaguered bunch. Misunderstood and under-appreciated by the general public. We’re a relatively small island in a turbulent sea.
Do we have internal squabbling? Of course we do. We have our rivalries, our disputes, grudges, jealousies, enmities. Selfishness and shabbiness abound … the usual scrum of human behavior.
Yet I like to imagine that, when needed, we can pull together, that our little collective is able to rise above pettiness. It’s not exactly us against the world, but it kinda is. It takes a pool player to understand, to appreciate, to ‘get’ another pool player.
Advice is tendered. When appropriate, sympathy is offered. Actual money is occasionally donated. A friendly hand is extended in a timely manner.
Case in point?
The outpouring of affection for Mr. Beard.
I know a few pool players. And, I’ve been a yappy presence in some live-stream chat rooms. In addition, many of you - - in a couple of these pool forums - - have inexplicably come to despise my brilliant posts. (Which, by the way, bite me! Jaspers.)
Yet my overall sense is that pool players share a common bond, recognize mutual interests, relate to one another on an often subliminal level. Traits not shared by, nor with, outsiders.
Recognizing gentle souls is my life,
Sunny
P. S. I’m a fifth generation New Yorker. Not a Pollyanna. I don’t pay retail. (Unless absolutely required for a specific fashion acquisition.) So don’t misinterpret my seemingly naive romanticizing of our brethren for … well, for anything!
If you do, I have a choice rejoinder in mind. Just a couple of words.
That quote - - which could well be broadcast by a sailor when asking for assistance from a passing ship - - is courtesy of one of the more irreverent and entertaining writers on the planet, Alexander McCall Smith.
Radio communique at sea … ‘ten souls.’
Not ten people, not ten passengers, not ten customers … well, isn’t it a lovely sentiment?
Which puts me in mind of our pool community.
In a way we’re a beleaguered bunch. Misunderstood and under-appreciated by the general public. We’re a relatively small island in a turbulent sea.
Do we have internal squabbling? Of course we do. We have our rivalries, our disputes, grudges, jealousies, enmities. Selfishness and shabbiness abound … the usual scrum of human behavior.
Yet I like to imagine that, when needed, we can pull together, that our little collective is able to rise above pettiness. It’s not exactly us against the world, but it kinda is. It takes a pool player to understand, to appreciate, to ‘get’ another pool player.
Advice is tendered. When appropriate, sympathy is offered. Actual money is occasionally donated. A friendly hand is extended in a timely manner.
Case in point?
The outpouring of affection for Mr. Beard.
I know a few pool players. And, I’ve been a yappy presence in some live-stream chat rooms. In addition, many of you - - in a couple of these pool forums - - have inexplicably come to despise my brilliant posts. (Which, by the way, bite me! Jaspers.)
Yet my overall sense is that pool players share a common bond, recognize mutual interests, relate to one another on an often subliminal level. Traits not shared by, nor with, outsiders.
Recognizing gentle souls is my life,
Sunny
P. S. I’m a fifth generation New Yorker. Not a Pollyanna. I don’t pay retail. (Unless absolutely required for a specific fashion acquisition.) So don’t misinterpret my seemingly naive romanticizing of our brethren for … well, for anything!
If you do, I have a choice rejoinder in mind. Just a couple of words.
