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One of Ours

(24 posts)

Started 11 months ago by Cate
Latest reply from teigyr

Cate

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JOE ALBANESE, one of the musicians killed yesterday was reported by the Seattle Times to also be a talented leather-worker employed at Johnny's Shoe Repair on 22nd (just off Market). He had probably worked on many of our shoes, purses and such. Thank you, and RIP.

Posted 11 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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Sad meaningless actions.

Posted 11 months ago #
Alferd Packer

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Thanks Cate, I had a few pairs of shoes worked on there. Really brings it closer to home. Egan's hosted Drew and Joe in the Band, God's Favorite Beefcake at least once. I think the Tractor and Conor Byrne's are going to do something in the way of a benefit for all the victims.

Posted 11 months ago #
Nora Bell

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Alfred, I hope it gets posted here when they do. This was just so random and senseless. RIP.

Posted 11 months ago #
eric

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terrible, awful.....

i actually met the killer on a couple occasions about 10 years ago. a good friend lived in the U district at a punk rock house and i'd see bands play there, etc. . he was in that scene and was around often enough. even though i only met the guy a few times, i always remembered his last name and that he drove an old beat-up military jeep as his car. he'd been in my old apartment once, i believe.

i figured this out yesterday AM, drinking my morning coffee. saw his pic on KOMO news' site, then the name, then got a real queasy feeling.

i haven't seen him since back then, but i know a few folks that still knew him recently. just a really weird feeling, not sure how to put it in words....

one of the musicians killed was also very good friends with some of my co-workers. definately hit close to home on many fronts.

so sad for the victims' friends and families, by-standers, and whoever else this touched.

Posted 11 months ago #
Alferd Packer

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Nora, et al,

Thought I saw something in the slog, and here's a little more. They're calling for talent for the show. http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2012/06/01/news/ballard-venues-team-host-benefit-show-ravenna-sho

The musicians and Stawicki's other victims will be remembered at the benefit shows, both taking place on June 19 at the Tractor Tavern and Conor Byrne Pub.

Organizers are asking any interested bands to contact them at booking@tractortavern.com.

Posted 11 months ago #
BriarRose

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Wow between cate and gracie the 24/7 posters here are SURE to find a way to make it all about themselves.

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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It's never about you, br. sorry

Posted 11 months ago #
lyl

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BriarRose for the win

Posted 11 months ago #
eric

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come on BR. it was sort of a big deal, and it did indeed touch many lives. i generally like your insight but think you are being a cold jerk. are people not supposed to talk about it or have any feelings for the situation? weather you were refering to me at all or not regardless, you are deliberately being an ass.

why comment at all if its not about you, me, cate etc....?

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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eric =+1, waited awhile to say that...too long.

I can't imagine what those who knew them at all, any of them, are feeling.

Ballard touches a lot of souls, hopefully mostly for good.

lyl thinks it's about br, or lyl, or the price of tea in facebooking China...

Posted 11 months ago #
iPlod

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br, if you can't stick a little of yourself into it now and then, why it ain't any fun.

Posted 11 months ago #
Cate

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br - In a society where lives are lived, increasingly in the ether and in large urban areas with limited social supports for many, I thought that allowing for the personal lived experience to be shared helped humanize the experience of living. I even thought that was part of the purpose of a community forum like this, to shrink the world to a more human scale. But I could be wrong.
Namaste.

Posted 11 months ago #
lakreitz

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Cate +1
I appreciated your comment and took it in the spirit of John Donne's poem of interconnectedness "..any man's death diminishes me for I am involved in mankind.."

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-whom-the-bell-tolls/

Posted 11 months ago #
PDaddymom

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BR - mean people suck. I feel sorry for you.

Posted 11 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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BR, your comment doesn't even make sense. Cate was pointing out a poignant crossing of paths.

Cate +100

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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it is intersting how we internalize certain events and evaluate how they immediately affect our lives.

I know a friend of a friend of one of the victims. somewhat removed, but certainly difficult to swallow nonetheless.

what about the poor bellevue woman? no one seems to be bemoaning her loss. was it because she was in her suv and removed from the artsy seattle scene? she wasn't one of ours, but just as ruthlessly gunned down for no apparent reason.

peace out, every one y'all

Posted 11 months ago #
BriarRose

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She wasn't 'cool' great idea. She was not someone that wannabes wish they were like.

Posted 11 months ago #
PDaddymom

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GI - I doubt she was left out on purpose. As far as being "one of ours" she was a member of the human race so in that respect was one of us and we grieve her loss. Cool has nothing to do with it.

Posted 11 months ago #
PlantLover

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I was at an event at Town Hall yesterday and there was a memorial with lots of flowers and candles in what was presumably the parking space where it happened. I don't think she has been forgotten.

Posted 11 months ago #
Nora Bell

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I doubt any of the victims of this will be forgotten.
Cate - as usual you know just how to say it.

Posted 11 months ago #
teigyr

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I think BR has a point in that people tend to make things about them and run with it.

All of this is about the people who were gunned down and their friends, it is nothing to do with us except for we are sad.

I think whatever was to do with "it's all about me" was curtailed with BR's statement, thankfully. Trust me, somebody had a boyfriend or family member who had something happen that was *almost* like this but almost not and we would've heard about it though it had nothing to do with THIS.

It's all an interesting perspective on law and gun control. I'm not sure more control = fewer deaths however there seems to be a lack of denying permits due to concern. I'm all about background checks (including family member statements) but not so much about outlawing it altogether.

Posted 11 months ago #
GAM

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I think in this world of horrible news stories it is very easy to become detached. There are just so many of them! To have a personal connection highlighted helps us realize the victims are indeed people, not just statistics.

I've never used our local cobbler, but the OP reminded me that the people we lost I probably passed at one point on the street. While I don't know any of them, I was touched by Cate's note because it gave me a personal connection to the story (however tenuous in my case). There is nothing wrong with finding something in an event to identify with. Perspective helps us understand and relate. We are all processing these horrible events in our own ways. I appreciate Cate's post. I never once thought it was about her, for goodness sake, but it was certainly a Ballard-related angle to a bigger story, which makes this forum a logical place to post it.

And really, if we can't filter things through our own perspective, exactly whose perspective should we be focusing through?

Posted 11 months ago #
teigyr

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No there's nothing wrong with perspective and I think that's how we view tragedy and life. I think though there are some who turn it around to themselves. Heck, I feel horrible and I do know people who know people involved. I'm not so sure it's about this thread in particular or Cate but there are times it's gone SO much to someone else that the original sentiment is forgotten.

BR calls it like it is and I think it's partially to do with that, that this thread didn't go in that direction.

Posted 11 months ago #