Comments for As it happens

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by Sara Bennett

Sara Bennett — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:27:41 +0000

I love your stories.

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by Will Runyon

Will Runyon — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:21:48 +0000

A screw up, or failure, was once regarded as simply part of life and work, just like success. Either way, you learn something and get it better the next time.

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by Andrea Rabinovitch

Andrea Rabinovitch — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:20:40 +0000

Thanks Babs,
I enjoyed this simple little life lesson. As for screw-ups. “I did them my way!”

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by modestine

modestine — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:45:17 +0000

What you say is true, Mirel. All we end up having to live with is a great sense of remorse and shame!

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by Mirel

Mirel — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:22:50 +0000

I’ve certainly had my share of screw-ups, both personal and professional. I usually console myself by comparing MY screw-up du jour with the mistake made by the NASA engineers who let the Challenger go up despite those cold brittle O-rings. “At least it wasn’t the O-rings!” I say to myself — “Nobody died!” Then I feel compelled to add, “Kineh horah.”

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by modestine

modestine — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:20:15 +0000

David, what astonishes me the most about your comment is that Olivia is old enough to attend boarding school. Can that be possible?

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by modestine

modestine — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:19:15 +0000

I really hope you’re right!

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by Diane

Diane — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:13:45 +0000

Glad I’m not the only one who does things like this, more often than I care to admit. I bet when you’re not actively looking for your mother’s poems, they’ll turn up. That seems to work for me!

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by David Harrison

David Harrison — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:38:31 +0000

Another thoughtful piece from the emerging Montaigne of the Internet! I understand the plea for pity, given in our ineffaceable humanity, but of course we cannot expect it and it is best, within our limits, to clean up our act. At some level mistakes simply are not rectifiable and we have to pay the price, with no reduction or reversal. I tried to explain this to my daughter who, although a strong student, was not strong enough to go to the boarding school she wanted to attend. She partied a lot during a critical semester; we told her that she would not get good enough grades if she did (and we did not attempt to force her to stop; we felt she had to see this for herself); and sure enough, both events happened. The school, of course, did not let her do over the crucial semester. The decision was final and now, for better or worse, she has to live with the consequences. The lesson was good for her, as it is for anyone, the earlier the better. Some actions are irreversible, as are their consequences.

Comment on A plea to tolerate the screw-up by Pesha

Pesha — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:31:56 +0000

Without screw-ups we would all be a lot poorer for the loss of great stories. So, keep the material coming!