[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

And a mug of my new Keemun tea sent to me by that wonderful East India Company! Yes, Astra, it is their Keemun Downy Bud Tea Loose Leaf, and a very nice brew indeed. I think I still prefer that unbranded keemun I got from the Chinese Import shop, but only because it was a bit more potent in my mouth. The flavors are almost the same.

It is my favourite so far.
But I am not giving up

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

As Libertine as I am, I do have to force myself to remember that there are those who are not, and they actually DO get offended by some of our pictures and comments. While I don't understand 'why,' I do appreciate that they 'do' and so we need to temper our pleasures in the interest of fair play for all here.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I don't think that there is much wrong with recognizing that the board wants to be family friendly and conforming with that.

Fair enough.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I would not at all object to an "Adult Only" sub-forum, similar to the Religion and Politics snake pit, where "anything goes." I'd be a very happy member of that group.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

A more adult forum area would be nice but probably won't happen because it could easily get out of control.

I would love to have one. I have been thinking about it too but one has to be realistic. We will never get one here, so I zip it.

On the other hand, I like to call thing as they are. This is an adult forum regardless what they call it

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

My son's mother told me that she is planning to sell their home and move north so as to be in the same town as my newly married son. When I married her, we specifically moved 4,000 km away from our parents. I wonder how he feels about this...
But then, we were hippies. My son is much more conservative. He even wore a Tux for his wedding. (His mother and I didn't even wear shoes to ours.) Where did I go wrong?

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I lived all of my adult life far from family. But none were more than a plane ride away.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I choose a College 6 hours and 30 minutes away from my parents so that I would have a bit more freedom. They told me I could no further then a 6 hour drive so I pushed the limit. I don't think I was actually worried about seeing them a lot but it was important to me to be as far away as I could be.

I finished school when I was 16 years old (I started the school one year earlier than others). I could go to a university in Ukraine. My dad had friends over there and they told him that I would be accepted no problem.
No way! I choose Moscow to be as far from my parents as possible (1250km – 24h on train).
In Israel I stayed away and fend for myself for as long as it was possible (6 years). After the Army service I came to my parents flat. I told myself that it would be 2 years maximum. When I saved enough money to re-enter the University I would be off. Then I met my future wife over the Internet and the plans changed. 2 years turned out to be 5 years. My parents treated me differently. Also, they were old and ill…but now I am even further away from them then I ever planned to be.
They are sincerely happy for me or my brother who is in Canada. However, they are deeply unhappy to live without us. My mother was always like

Originally Posted by aceflor

but our children come waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy before him.

For the life of me I could not understand this attitude. My brother and I were and are the reason my mother lives for. To a certain degree my dad too (although wife was/is always before children, albeit following very very closely). Typical Jewish family?
I believe there is only one person in the world one can really love, really be devoted to. That’s why when I read The Shadow of the Wind, I got goose bumps and still get them when I read this quote “One loves truly only once in a lifetime, Julián, even if one isn’t aware of it.” Nobody can substitute the second half. Children, parents, friends…don’t come even close.
I read this today:

We were given: Two hands to hold. To legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find.
Unknown

I do not regret that I stayed/stay away from my parents. I think I am a bad son, but it is my life and I have only one. I do feel sorry for my parents though. Children meant a world for them and what they have now? Alone and ill in Israel? Both of us left them? They would be better off if they lived a full life when they could instead of investing into us. They disagree with me and regret they don't have one more...



Oh well,
my cup is empty. Green Pu-erh was in there. I am off to make another cuppa.