h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hey Ariel I like these kind of 'warm and fuzzy' stories of yours! You know, my grandfather also had a violin, and it's still in the house! I was lucky enough to know this grandpa for a while, the other one (my father's father) died before I was born. But this grandpa, the one with the fiddle, was great. He tinkered with everything. He could do almost anything. He was brilliant. He was the son of a farmer from the Free State but he got involved in all kinds of other things, he was a good businessman, a good engineer, all kinds of things like that and he taught himself everything! I remember he was into radio at was having conversations with people from all over and I listened to that, even though I didn't understand it, when I was very young, in his and my grandma's apartment. My grandpa also built his own aeroplane, but it never flew unfortunately.

He was also into music. He played the violin and also the saw, using the violin's bow! That violin is now in the closet in the guest room. Its strings are either limp or broken, and I don't know where the bow is. I once tried to play it when I was younger, but not with very good results!

My grandpa died when I was seven or eight, but I still have many memories of him.

I'm so sorry I didn't see this note sooner... thank you for sending it. Your gandpa sounds wonderful; I'm glad you have such memories of him. Maybe you should consider learning how to play that old fiddle, too?

best,
Ari

Hey Ariel - it's great to have you back! Will you be staying around for a while? I missed you quite a lot!

Well, before I can learn to play that old fiddle, it'll have to be fixed! I won't mind if I could, though!

Thanks for the kind words!

I heartily recommend repairing the old fiddle. There was something very healing about that tangible connection to a past, something wonderful about seeing how the varnish had been warn by my grandfather's hands and now mine. I think its something of a connection, a sense of circles being completed.

Lets see.. I don't know how much I'll be around... a bit probably. This is a very difficult time to be honest. I'm feeling particularly sad the last few days.

best,
Ari

Yes, I can imagine why. Do you live in New York, or do you only know many people there? Whichever way, my sympathy and support.

New York is home... I grew up there. I think its worse being exiled here in Texas (for work).

It is very bad to be in exile ... I may soon have to leave my own country altogether.

Your new intro to your userspace touched me ... I agree with what you say.

Sympathy, again.