I was unable to fit the written transcript in the You Tube video description section, so I’ve included it here, along with the video. As time permits; from now on, I will also caption my videos, because that’s what I’d rather see myself. I also recognize that various factors may render that method useless to a viewer, however, so I will always attach a written transcript, either in the description section or here. I have only just begun this practice, and I appreciate your patience.
Background: This is my way of sending a message of peace across the world. I confirmed this with debstef, FYI, before uploading, in fairness to him. I wouldn’t blindside anyone with something like this.
The reason I chose Debstef to be the first person is because my Dad would have loved his video about speaking the “Queen’s English.” We always called it the King’s English, but the last member of the Royal Family to visit the Commonwealth of Virginia was Queen Elizabeth, so Queen’s English it is.
My Dad’s name was Roger. He was a good man who loved and cared for people. The thing my Dad did for me was teach me what I needed to know to survive without family, to not embrace the want of revenge, and to love all people, even my enemies. My Dad was my hero.
Big Bottle Bonanza: I must admit, I do love that bottle. There are a lot of video replies — my competitors, I guess. I love them and I don’t want them to think this is about the bottle. Stefen is going to start this for me anyway, and that’s the most important thing. If he gives the bottle to someone else, that’s a person I love anyway. God, yes. This just looked like a good way to jump in and ask Stefan, although I DO LOVE THAT BOTTLE! HA! Honestly, though, I think it best to back out of the actual running for that, although … did I mention that I loved that bottle?
Transcript of Video:
“Okay Stefan. We haven’t talked in a while. I’m sorry. I’ve been busy. Do Qualcomm dogs have as much salt in them as Jack Murphy hot dogs? I don’t care what the signs say. It’s Jack Murphy stadium. Okay! (silly editing stuff)
Big Bottle Bonanza. I’ve got a story. I’ve been thinking about how to do something like this for a long time, and you just may be my answer.
My Grandfather — died a long time before I was born — was older when my Father was born. And my Father was born in 1903. I was born in 1958. You’re not even qualified to date me unless you’re like 85 years old. I’m an old lady! Anyway, my Dad and I were very close. I was his shadow, he was my best friend, and stuff like that. He was a great Dad.
(Picture of my Dad, Roger, when he was seventeen years of age.)
I never knew my Grandfather. My Grandfather was an architect in my home town of Alexandria, Virginia. I don’t live there now. He was also a musician. He built an African American church, among other buildings, in our hometown, and played the organ in it on the first Sunday.
But, these are a pair of — look at this — please. See ‘em? These are little shoes! Aren’t they cute, huh? Ha Ha! Wooden shoes! My Grandfather, made these, carved these, I don’t know what kind of wood, for my Dad, when my Dad was a little boy. Aren’t they cute? Look at that! So these belonged to my Dad when he was a little boy. So, they would have been made around 1910.
I’m the last person in my family standing, and I’ve got all the stuff. Anyway, the most important thing to me, the most important thing I own, are these little shoes. And, I was thinking about um … how I’m kind of, how I love people and stuff? And I love people more than things. I say that I love people more than anything I own. A person who comes to my home is going to be more important than anything I own. I always say that, but I keep wondering how can something like that actually be true, because … and I think about these little shoes.
Very good memories, hmmm? He died in 1973. It’s okay. He was so good that he did all the great Dad stuff in the short time I had him.
But, um … I don’t have any children. I don’t have anybody to leave things like this to. And so, um … my Dad loved people too. He was a lot like me. If there is anything good in me at all, it’s not me but my Dad. And I don’t think I probably would have made it if he had not been my Dad. I don’t think I would have made it. I can’t keep these little shoes forever, so I thought it might be fun, if I sent them on a little trip around the world. And, I’ve never left the United States and, I mean I’ve been to Tijuana. That’s not, you know, I mean I lived in San Diego, you know I went down to Tijuana. Maybe my little shoes could, huh? And my Grandfather never traveled either. I don’t believe. But maybe the little shoes he made my Dad could. And, so, it would mean somebody trusting me with their address, their mailing address, and I would have to trust that person with mine. Anyway, uh … I lived in San Diego, and I miss California a lot. So, here’s what I propose:
This is pretty important to me. I wonder if you would be interested in starting a … kind of a chain thing? And help me to get these little shoes to go around the world. And we could use You Tube for this, because, maybe there’s somebody else you know, you could trust them to put these little shoes in their hands. When you get them, you could make a little video, and pass them on to somebody else. They make a little video, and, uh … we’ll keep track of the shoes.
And what this means is we have to establish a level of trust in at least one other person on You Tube, this level of trust. And the reason I trust this system is because I trust you to make a sound decision, and I believe I’m making a sound decision in asking you to be the first person to receive the shoes and make a video. And I’m wondering if you’d be willing to do this?
Now, you don’t have to send me your bottle. I actually do love your bottle (laughter). And I must admit, few times in my life have I coveted anything. But when I saw your bottle, I thought, “I’ve got to have that bottle!”
Would you like to participate in this? And, um … I send these shoes to you; I bid you peace. I send you my love — friendship love, huh? You get them. You make a video, and then you choose someone. And then you send them these shoes. They’ll make a video. And, uh … they’ll choose someone. And these shoes will walk their way across the world. And each person receives the shoes and makes a video with the little shoes.
I guess eventually, it would be kind of neat if they came back to me. But, that kind of thing is not going to always happen. I release these shoes to the care of the world — people I love very much. And so, I know I may never see them again. And, that’s okay, because I will love whomever has them, and if something along the route happens to them — if they get lost — that’s okay because I will love the person who lost them. And that’s more important than these little shoes.
I really don’t have anything that means more to me, so I’m wondering if you would do this, and if you will, then uh … I’ll get these to you quickly. I’ll get to the Post Office tomorrow. Okay. That’s my thought.”
End of transcript
I have a further thought. It occurs to me that these shoes are the only things I have that are truly “passed down” things. My Dad was very specific about this. That fleeting thought, “How can I do this?” shakes me a little. ”How can I let these shoes leave my hands, to destinations yet unknown!?” I’ve nothing left of family but memories and things, and now I’m letting go the most important of the lot.
Then I thought of all the people who would hold those little shoes in their hands. They would know I loved them very much to do this. They are the reason I’m doing this. It’s the biggest thing I can think to do. After remembering that, I’m comforted. I know I’ve done the right thing. And my Dad would have loved this.
