#grieving tim

[best-pirate-band-in-this-alley]

Vivi truly has my best interests at heart, she is my ally, she gets me. which is why she prompted Grieving Tim to sing Golden Vanity this past Thursday. Grieving Tim didn't get the clues at first. Vivi said something about drowning - "like that sad story, remember?" Grieving Tim: the one about the goat? Vivi: no, not the goat The Professor: the one about the little waiter boy who drowned? Vivi: that's the one! Grieving Tim: the WHO? ...OH *starts playing* Vivi: *does a goat impression*

(after the song) Vivi: you know what, you could buy us all a drink later, that'll make you feel better Grieving Tim, frowning: ...will it? Vivi: yep! (*immediately turns to me to ask for the next tune*)

Diamond John was there, and to my profound delight he sang the part that I've been missing since 2024 when Syd did it. Idk why it's so important to me, it's just a subtle harmony but has this soft mournful vibe but it's also cozy and it makes me feel like I'm slipping into to another dimension... not to be dramatic or anything.

[best-pirate-band-in-this-alley]

4/30/26 bootstrappers things

firstly, excellent news: Grieving Tim was there :)

the Professor and Grieving Tim pretended to square up against each other in the early set. motives unknown, but highly entertaining.

also during the early set, a line of 4 cast members pulling closed drink carts passed by, Stringfellow called it a solemn procession, and they played ominous funeral type music as they passed. Stringfellow removed his hat. later on another closed drink cart passed by in the middle of Drink It Up Men I think, Stringfellow removed his hat again, and they started playing the song in a minor key.

someone asked Grieving Tim who he's grieving and he said "I don't like to talk about it" 💀 I've heard Syd prompt him to sing the Kangaroo by saying something like "why don't you tell them why you're grieving all the time" but also idk because I think Olin also used to sing that one so I don't think Fiona was the original grief backstory?? anyway I got asked for a request later and chose the Kangaroo (for unrelated reasons). and they always seem surprised when I pick the Kangaroo. they're always like "oh wow we haven't done this one in a while" which is funny because I request it relatively often.

they sang Drunken Sailor and for that one they ask each one what they'd do with a drunken sailor - everyone said something normal for the song and then the Professor said "admonish him for irresponsible drinking" 😭

when Grieving Tim was introducing the band and got to the Professor, Schooner Bob just went "he's always professin'" and it made me picture the Professor subjecting the crew to long lectures on random topics at sea as they all get increasingly drunker

about six weeks ago I told Grieving Tim about my performance coming up in early June and today he looked at me and said "one month remaining!" without any context, as he does (indeed it is coming up in a little over a month lol). then he asked me how it was going and told the Professor what we were talking about :p

[best-pirate-band-in-this-alley]

someone gave them tiny ducks and Grieving Tim wanted to see if he could play the whole song with the duck on his accordion (he did it!). Vivi put the duck on her violin for a little bit. you can barely see the duck on the accordion because it's the color of his shirt but it's there.

March 5, 2026

[best-pirate-band-in-this-alley]

Last time I missed Grieving Tim, Stringfellow told me “no accordion today. he got killed.”

This time, Grieving Tim wasn’t there and Stringfellow said “no accordion today…” and I said “did he get killed again?”

Stringfellow was like “he’s been…” *makes the drinking motion* “he can’t drink as much as the rest of us.”

Grieving Tim isn’t with them because he can’t hold his liquor and is passed out somewhere 💀😭

[ken-tells-stories]

8/28/25

I took a picture with the bootstrappers the other day bc it's been 1 year since meeting them and the pic looks like someone has threatened me and they're all ready to fight them. I'm all smiles and they're giving the camera their meanest faces, and Vivi has her elbow on my shoulder x) i wish i could draw because fanart of this would be amazing.

that same day Grieving Tim had me play his accordion (he wears his straps so LONG and the accordion came down to literally my waist lol so I could barely manage - he brought me a chair which was only slightly better. it was very fun anyway and I know at least a couple of them can vouch for me that I can actually play). Vivi walked up as I was playing (someone had "locked her in the pub" lol) and accompanied me :')

coming back from the raft I asked Tim if he'd be opposed to a selfie (for accordion reasons) and he said not at all, so we took one, and then we just. talked about accordion stuff all the way from the raft to their door? it was so nice. he kept asking me questions and he seemed genuinely interested and happy to know that it's been going well for me. i got to tell him so much. every time i'd think to myself that i'd overstayed and it was time to walk away he'd ask another question.

anyway i'm still thinking about this and about how the bootstrappers and my petosa are the only things that have gone right for me and preserved my sanity this year. and the petosa only happened because of them.

[ken-tells-stories]

The Bootstrappers on the Columbia on May 29, 2025.

[ken-tells-stories]

4/22/25 things

I was getting smothered with bubbles from a nearby child's bubble wand and it made Stringfellow laugh. i have this on video and it gives me warm feelings

Grieving Tim called me "keeper of the great requests" and said my requests are always good 😄

I FINALLY got to see them on the Columbia and they performed "The Wreck of the Athens Queen" which I've been waiting to hear since I learned they have it in their repertoire. they also performed "A Whale of a Tale" which I've never heard in person and "Humours of Whiskey" which I didn't even know they did

Grieving Tim's voice is so comforting :(

I'm seeing more of the Professor's personality lately and I love seeing him have so much fun

Furious Phil yelled at us to drink water and warned us at length about thieves. he just wants us to be safe lmao

I got a picture with them belowdeck on the Columbia. I asked for a quick picture and Stringfellow started teasing me saying "it better be quick!" 😅 And look at Grieving Tim, what a model

This was the happiest day I’ve had this year so far and maybe my favorite day at the park since I’ve been coming here

also the second picture is a screenshot of Grieving Tim in the corner bc he missed his verse and the Professor took it. i love them so much

[ken-tells-stories]

yapping about the pirate band again

on 4/3 Syd got mad bc I requested Whiskey in the Jar and didn't do the claps, but then I failed the clapping twice bc I forgot how it went and he was so exasperated 🤪 this might be my new favorite Syd memory, I'm still giggling about it

the Professor is pretty quiet but lights up when little kids say hi to him, it's really adorable

with the time change, the 2:30 set location has really bad lighting for video. but the warmer quality of the light is such that when Stringfellow is lit up by the sun there is something so magical about him. i cannot explain. but it makes me happy bc it looks like how my brain sees the Bootstrappers all the time.

also on 4/3 Syd gave his usual song categories to choose from (fighting, drinking, mermaids, etc) and a little girl requested mermaids. Stringfellow started playing "Coast of High Barbary," Syd was like ??, and he realized he was doing the wrong song. Syd said "you're doing great, Stringfellow" and Stringfellow was like "I thought she said murder on the high seas :("

Grieving Tim is a perfect foil to Syd, he is SO sweet to me 😭 He's always made me feel so welcome and seen, which is unexpected but v appreciated. He is also the only one my social anxiety can tolerate approaching or speaking to first. the two times i've requested a song without being asked directly, and the one time I wanted a picture, I've addressed him for it. otherwise i simply cannot, it is too overwhelming lol

unfortunately, when Syd sings high notes like the one in South Australia, or soft tones like in Golden Vanity, my head starts emitting little cartoon hearts and stars. i cannot help it. whoops. but how can he go from arguing with children over the crab in his hat to sounding so BEAUTIFUL

okay that's all bye