11 Comments
User's avatar
JBR's avatar

Meanwhile Alice ... of Alice's Restaurant... died this week. A story of downs, then fame and up, then Isolation in Provincetown. Amidst the loss of humanity, and civility, and decency in our electronic, hedge fund, all advertisement all the time and fees for everything economy, a moment in the blissful Hudson River school and recalling moments spent enjoying it, has great meaning and value. A moment of a new Morning amidst the ongoing mourning.

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Thank you for reading, JBR. And I had more memories of the past as I read about Alice and the song she inspired. We’ll get through this together, a day at a time.

Expand full comment
Don A in Pennsultucky's avatar

I use PayPal as a front end for my Visa. I don't have to expose the card # to make a contribution. I also use it for purchases sometimes. I know that it takes a cut from the transaction but I don't think it adds to the cost. Call me lazy.

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Yes, Don A. That’s the idea I thought I was following. It makes no sense that such small amounts would be something I would have wanted to pay over time. But obviously the algorithm has no common sense. And I’m beginning to despair about its evidence anywhere.

Expand full comment
Lee Penman's avatar

A friend of mine used to have an employee in her store who was always using the "hell in a hand basket" term. You reminded me of her.

On the Paypal thing (but not entirely connected) I used StubHub to sell tickets for the first time ever recently and ended up with a $120 charge for failing to transfer a ticket when it was indeed the recipient who did not pick it up. I have e mailed several times, now it is a matter of picking up the phone - which I keep delaying:)

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Oh, Lee, I definitely feel for you. Our smallish sums may not mean much to the lords of the universe but they mean the world to us. Besides needing the money, it’s also the principle.

Expand full comment
Lee Penman's avatar

I think they rely on people thinking the effort is just too much.

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Well, they don’t know the power of a persistent old woman with time on her hands. You’ve renewed my intention to ask them to retract the credit ding (besides reinforcing my desire to avoid credit purchases altogether).

Expand full comment
Lee Penman's avatar

OK, game on, I will call StubHub Customer Service tomorrow:)

Expand full comment
Jim Sanders's avatar

Metaphorically, my head has been in the hands of basket many times in my life only for a new me to appear. Shiva may be destroying the old but Shakti is creating the new.

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Thank you, Jim. Now I have to look up those terms which are new to me. Always learning . . .

Expand full comment