Giving Thanks

November 30, 2005 at 8:20 AM

Sometimes I’m surprised at how mean, selfish, and narrow-minded people can be. Sometimes I’m surprised at how nice people can be. Today I’m in the latter state of mind, and I want to write about it so that I can read it some time when I’m in a negative thinking mode.

I recently switched my ISP, and now I have to put my web pages on my free webspace from my new ISP, Verizon.net. This has turned out to be very difficult because Verizon has gone to great lengths to make things easy. Grrrrrrrr. With my previous ISP, I could write my code in a free HTML editor and upload it to my webspace with a free FTP program. Verizon uses templates, and I’ve been trying to figure out what was in the minds of the designers and how I can get around it. Verizon has an option that allows you to upload your HTML code via an FTP program, but I couldn’t get it to work. I used their templates and followed their directions for using meta terms to make webpages searchable on Google. It did not work. I tried making two subaccounts to play around with, and that just made things worse. Nobody, including me, is going to look at pages entitled re??4 or vzq???. I needed to learn how to make the Verizon method work or find a reliable, cheap website host. I posted a request for advice on another Internet forum where I hang out, and someone came to my rescue. This was not an easy task because I had made such a horrible mess of things. She was very knowledgeable and so, so patient. We had several conversations by email, and then we scheduled and made phone calls to each other. I gave her my user name and password so that she could get into my account and see what was going on. After about a week of consultations with her, I finally figured out how to do it. I’m working on my website now, and when I get a reasonable amount done, I’ll give you the links. I’d like you to look at my website and give me feedback. The woman who rescued me is someone I’ve never met. In fact, I hadn’t even corresponded with her on the Internet. She is just a very kind and patient person. I really appreciate her help, and I’ve told her so many times.

One of my students is a physical therapist. We often talk about the similarities between giving physical therapy and teaching violin. For both, you have to learn new motor skills which feel strange at first. After you repeat them many times, you develop muscle memory. You don’t have to watch yourself while you play because you develop proprioception. She told me that most of her patients come for therapy regularly and practice hard. She respects them and tells them so. I told her that they are such good patients, in part, because of the positive feedback she gives them. She is really a nice person, and she loves to help people.

I teach two of my adult students together. This arrangement is working well, partly because they are good friends. I don’t see any upstaging or ego battles between them. Last week, student #1 told me that student #2 was sick and student #1 would come for a lesson alone. When they arrived for their lesson this week, I told student #2 that I hoped that she was feeling better. She looked confused, and student #1 told her that he had told me that she was sick. Student #2 then told me what the real problem was. She had had a setback in another area of her life, and she was feeling too bummed to come for a lesson. Student #1 was keeping student #2’s personal problem confidential. I thought that was very sensitive and kind.

I complain about some of the strange men I’ve met in my adventures in dating. Recently I had a good experience. No, he is not the man of my dreams. However, he is a very nice person, and there are several other things about him that I like. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough in common for a romance, but I have good feelings about him, and I’d like to stay in touch with him as friends. I sent him an email telling him this and wishing him a good Thanksgiving holiday. He wrote a very kind email to me in return. He helps to maintain my faith in people and to give me hope that there is a good man waiting for me somewhere.

Many times, I have been surprised and pleased with the comments and emails I’ve received from people on violinist.com. It’s good to know that people care, especially people who’ve never met me but still feel connected with me somehow.

I know that I tend to feel more kindly towards the world when I’ve had enough sleep, enough food, and enough exercise. Good night, everyone.

Giving Thanks

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