Our June session began with Carmyl’s overview of Jason Om’s memoir All Mixed Up, followed by an icebreaker in which class members wrote about memories of keeping warm in winter as children.
The June topic ‘I Changed My Mind’, was chosen by Carmyl, whose life affirming story of a spiritual realisation which led to her changing her mind, and prayers, about her daughter Bronwyn’s illness with incurable cancer, moved us all deeply.
The alternative topic ‘I quit’ proved popular, with James sharing a powerful story about his journey to quit smoking and how an ultimatum by a NZAF medical doctor finally motivated him to take action to do so. Ray described various instances of quitting, including a delightful story about deciding to quit playing the organ. Phiona wrote an evocative story about the impact of quitting school early on her life’s journey, while Neville wrote about an instance of quitting which he has always regretted, and another which he has never regretted. Bev finished her story about working with people with addictions with Henry Lawson’s quirky account of his addiction to alcohol…. “…I get drunk because I am in trouble, and I get drunk because I’ve got out of it. I get drunk because I’m sick, or have corns, or the toothache: and I get drunk because I’m feeling well and grand. I get drunk because I was rejected; and I got awfully drunk the night I was accepted”…
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Graham’s ‘Car Stories’ rounded off the session, with each vignette proving a wonderful vehicle to convey memories of people, places and events in his life.
Catch up stories on these topics will hopefully be shared on July 17, along with July’s somewhat outrageous topics, ‘True Confessions’ and ‘What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas’. Full details of these topics are on the 'As Time Goes By Topic List 2023' (which can be found by scrolling down the right hand column of this page if you can't find yours!)
Class members Heather Wallace and Graham Jensen have both been attending the Royal Melbourne Hospital while negotiating health issues recently – we are thinking of them and wish them well.
Bev Lee
The June topic ‘I Changed My Mind’, was chosen by Carmyl, whose life affirming story of a spiritual realisation which led to her changing her mind, and prayers, about her daughter Bronwyn’s illness with incurable cancer, moved us all deeply.
The alternative topic ‘I quit’ proved popular, with James sharing a powerful story about his journey to quit smoking and how an ultimatum by a NZAF medical doctor finally motivated him to take action to do so. Ray described various instances of quitting, including a delightful story about deciding to quit playing the organ. Phiona wrote an evocative story about the impact of quitting school early on her life’s journey, while Neville wrote about an instance of quitting which he has always regretted, and another which he has never regretted. Bev finished her story about working with people with addictions with Henry Lawson’s quirky account of his addiction to alcohol…. “…I get drunk because I am in trouble, and I get drunk because I’ve got out of it. I get drunk because I’m sick, or have corns, or the toothache: and I get drunk because I’m feeling well and grand. I get drunk because I was rejected; and I got awfully drunk the night I was accepted”…
.
Graham’s ‘Car Stories’ rounded off the session, with each vignette proving a wonderful vehicle to convey memories of people, places and events in his life.
Catch up stories on these topics will hopefully be shared on July 17, along with July’s somewhat outrageous topics, ‘True Confessions’ and ‘What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas’. Full details of these topics are on the 'As Time Goes By Topic List 2023' (which can be found by scrolling down the right hand column of this page if you can't find yours!)
Class members Heather Wallace and Graham Jensen have both been attending the Royal Melbourne Hospital while negotiating health issues recently – we are thinking of them and wish them well.
Bev Lee
