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GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE

I’m Reviewing the Situation

Paul C. Fanning, DTM

My mother had one constant delight in her in their “trade”.

life—and no, it was not me, but something else. “To renew, or not to renew, that is the
One of the great English traditions has always question”! For me, this is where I began my
been the stage-theatrical productions whether aria, my song of contemplation, as I weighed what
they be of the Bard himself, or the latest musical. indeed does being a member of Toastmasters

I have a box in the hallway closet that contains mean? I wrestled with the question. I agonized
at least two photograph albums or “memory” over the reasons both pro and con. Let me share
books containing the playbills from the Royal with you a little of that process.
Theatre stage productions and ticket stubs for This past year has been a difficult and different

1950’s movies shown in the posh movie houses. life for me. At one point of time, I was a member
We had some 100 or more recordings, some on of three Clubs: a traditional Club near my home,
78 rpm records but mostly the standard 33 rpm and two specialty Clubs—a storytelling Club and
with colorful inserts and/or record sleeves and an evaluation-only Club. I have been reduced to

covers. Many an afternoon or evening we would only one Club, Feedbackers, a Club that was most
play those records. I became familiar with all beneficial to my growth and development as an
the “greats” of the 1950’s and 1960’s, such as The evaluator the past four years but I have been to
King and I, Brigadoon, and Camelot. no more than two Club meetings and, as past

Ergo, I must beg your pardon and indulge in president of the Club, one executive committee
a little “play” myself by introducing this month's meeting in the past twelve months. I am now
column’s subject—membership renewal for back to work, working three nights on and three
October 1, 2022-March 31, 2023. Apropos to my nights off. I find myself unable to attend any

theatrical theme would be the whimsical Oliver, meetings with the work, sleep, and reality of life
from 1968, with its delightful melody of Fagan after retirement I now find myself in. It is not
(the mastermind thief) contemplating “going that I do not want to go to Club meetings, but
straight” and becoming a respected member of when one begins their work shift at 6:30 pm, I

society with his “I’m reviewing the situation” find I am my busiest at 7:15 pm when the Club
song. Spoiler alert—he doesn’t, of course, and meets. That also means that I get off work at
ends up with nothing but his star pupil The 7:00 am and need my beauty sleep (yes, I admit
Artful Dodger walking off together to be a new that it is not working in my case!) and will be

24 ONE COMMUNITY