Netflix jogged these frustrating memories by completely usurping the service outage experience with stellar customer service. Not only did they own up to the responsibility for the outage (I had no idea of the cause) but Netflix also jumped ahead of me by offering a credit to my account. Netflix even let me know when it would be applied — most companies seem to take forever crediting your account.

It’s too bad I don’t have to recall that far back for a taxing credit-deserving experience with other companies.

In this case Google is the nickname given to an infant by a caring burglar in “The Transfer of Google” by E. J. Rath from Everybody’s Magazine in the January 1908 edition. Google is found home alone one evening by a nurturing burglar. The relationship between these two needy souls has each fulfilling a need in the other’s life. What makes one feel better than to be cared for by a loving person (regardless of their status) or to care for someone in need? (Okay, maybe I read too much into the story but it is cute and worth a few minutes of your time to read.)

Much like the burglar searching for treasures, our searches for information have their own Google. Sometimes too much time can be spent and I too can end up feeling like our besieged burglar, knowing I need to move on or, as the burglar states,

Well, I can’t waste no more time with Google.

But you just can’t let them go.

These were almost the last words for The Doctor and his cohorts as he notes next, “I’m really glad that worked. Those would have been terrible last words.”

This prompted my daughter, who is a complete Doctor Who fanatic, to ask us about good last words.

Of course I offered up “I love you” and there was an offer to provide life guidance. The young lady suggested a person estranged from another could hopefully get the chance to say, “I’m sorry.”

A good conversation thanks to The Doctor. Thanks Doctor, for this and for saving those gasmask people.

Now a choice awaits me. Shall I continue to enjoy my virtual life at sea while in the city by the bay or jump ship for that distant silent shoreline across the hall?

You might remember our Chinese Dragon Puppets from a previous art literacy program.

Three souls expressed in our creative clan of dragons.

Over the past year or so I’ve posted seven weekend chore videos that have been viewed over 30,000 times. I know it isn’t impressive compared to many videos, but my expectations were low. I didn’t really expect a video showing how to clean a bathtub drain with a lift-and-turn stopper would get over 14,000 views. Apparently I’m not the only one that has had trouble removing that stopper.

Perhaps some of my shyness related to the quality of the videos. Usually I’m on my own so the chore is performed and filmed just by me with the camera on a tripod or in one hand while I work with the other. No fancy lighting, just the camera’s microphone and I try to get it done in one take. (I did have to retake one portion of the Fisher & Paykel Diverter Valve Repair.)

Now of course I kick myself if I perform a chore and don’t tape it. Initially my family thought I was a bit silly posting the videos but the many positive comments received are proof that many of us need help with these small household chores and could all benefit from a shared and expanded memory.