Posted on Jul 2nd, 2009
by 
mimi
SUMMER ---growing up in a tiny perfect little town, not even a town, too small to even be a town. But it had everything a kid like me needed. My sister Helen and I still talk about how lucky we were to have grown up where and when we did. When everything was uncomplicated and just there.
Some things were big and wonderous - like the giant weeds along the railway tracks where we played and took the shortcut to Grandma's house. We'd look on and under the leaves and find snakes, grasshoppers, praying mantis, cacoons, butterflies. We had instant stuff for science projects.
There were wild strawberries to collect, and hickory nut and walnut trees, plum, apple and cherry trees in neighbours' yards, loaded with fruit to pick, , and vegetable gardens where kids could just pick a tomato hot off the vine, or pull up a carrot and rinse it off under the outside tap. We had creeks to explore and knew when the polliwogs arrived, and we watched the red-winged blackbirds building nests in the bullrushes. We hated when the boys would pick the bullrushes and use them as a weapons, almost as bad as the chestnuts on strings they whipped at us.
We could sit in the shade of a huge chestnut tree at Kathleen Tronovsky's house across the street , or climb the walnut tree next door and hide on the lower limb. There were roses in everyone's front yard that climbed sparkling white trellises. People washed their porches and steps with garden hoses and then washed the sidewalk in front of their house.
After the supper dishes were done, kitchen counters cleaned and the floor swept, the mothers would go out for a walk around town and stop and talk to the other ladies doing the same, or talk to people sitting on their front porch. I liked when I got to go with her and we got invited up to sit on the porch. Usually, the ladies would open their front door, go in and bring out a drink and some snacks for us.. In the evening, we could hear the grown ups laughing as they gathered on each others porches and talked till sometimes 10 at night.
I remember the hot hot summers when I was about 5, trying to walk barefoot on the scorching sidewalk, after putting on my stretchy bubbly blue bathing suit and getting to the grassy patch in our tiny back yard. My dad made a sprinkler for the hose out of vinegar bottle cap. He punched some holes in the bottle cap, and attached a wire e to it to stick in the ground. My sister and I would run through the cold water and scream in delight. We'd get sunburned and not complain....
The day would end, and the air was always fresh with the smell of flowers and the sounds of insects singing late into the night -- Moths banged on the windows outside as we fell asleep, the dark green blinds banged softly inside with each gentle breeze.
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Posted on Jul 6th, 2009
by mimi
It feels better than not breathing. Oh, yes, we take breathing for granted, ya ya I'm breathing involuntarily of course I'm breathing. No... wait, I've stopped breathing. Oh shit! not good- breathe...try to breathe, gasp, gasp,fuck! open your mouth dammit.
aaaaaahaaaahhhh, thank you god. I can't believe what just happened again.
Waiting to Exhale... breathing in and not being able to breathe out. Shit! what the hell? HEEEEELP! I'm in trouble, sit up, clutch throat, think! think! panic die? aaargh,
try to release my exhale, how? try to take another tiny breath in,no air moving, try to inhale to exhale. God. inhale, how? try! tiny breath in - ohmygawd, it let go. stunned, Must tell doctor about this. Try to forget about this freaky thing and put head back on pillow - drifting - click, click, sharp whistle in myear - oh no, it's happening again...can't exhale. Sleep sitting up for the rest of the night.
During the day - Involuntary Gasping. Sitting watching tv or reading,really relaxed mouth closed, a big gasp inside. This went on for years. When I told my family doctor about it, he was totally disinterested. The sleep clinic doctor was very interested in failure to exhale but offered nothing up, though diagnosed me with Sleep Apnea. He said I stopped breathing only 11 or 12 times per hour, and that was considered "on the cusp" for treatment by breathing machine at night.
The most magical breathing I learned through yoga, the complete breathe. It took me one year to be able to do that. It is wonderful to breathe into each section of your body and feel the energy,. I am most thankful to all my yoga teachers over the years who have been some of my best spiritual teachers.
Breathing is an important part of meditation. I can also use the breath to control my pulse - and blood pressure. My doc was shocked when he took my BP and said it was a bit high. I told him I would lower it by the time he came back in a few minutes. I was able to breathe my BP lower. I can make my pulse rate go up or down on a hospital monitor - long hours in the emergency room taught me that. I think it is how biofeedback works. Can't tell you how to do it. It has something to do with how we breathe. Don't take it for granted - it is a magical thing. - each breath. Love the fact that you are breathing!
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Posted on Jul 13th, 2009
by mimi
I can hear my parents' voices.....
YOU DON'T HEAR THIS ANYMORE
Be sure to refill the ice trays, we're going to have company.
Quit slamming the screen door when you go out!
Be sure and pull the windows down when you leave, it looks like a shower is coming up.
Don't forget to wind the clock before you go to bed.
Wash your feet before you go to bed, you've been playing outside all day barefooted.
Why can't you remember to roll up your britches legs? Getting them caught in the bicycle chain so many times is tearing them up.
You have torn the knees out of that pair of pants so many times there is nothing left to put a patch on.
Go comb your hair; it looks like the rats have nested in it all night.
Be sure and pour the cream off the top of the milk when you open the new bottle.
Take that empty bottle to the store with you so you won't have to pay a deposit on another one.
Don't you go outside with your school clothes on.
Put a dish towel over the cake so the flies won't get on it.
Quit jumping on the floor! I have a cake in the oven and you are going to make it fall if you don't quit!
Let me know when the Fuller Brush man comes by, I need to get a few things from him.
You boys stay close by, the car may not start and I will need you to help push it
off.
There's a dollar in my purse, get 5 gallons of gas when you go to town.
Open the back door and see if we can get a breeze through here, it is getting hot.
You can walk to the store; it won't hurt you to get some exercise.
Don't sit too close to the TV. It is hard on your eyes.
If you pull that stunt again, I am going to wear you out!
Don't lose that button; I'll sew it back on after awhile.
Wash under your neck before you come to the table, you have beads of dirt and sweat all under there.
Get out from under the sewing machine; pumping it messes up the thread!
Be sure and fill the lamps this morning so we don't have to do that tonight in the dark.
Here, take this old magazine to the toilet with you when you go, we are almost out of paper out there.
Go out to the well and draw a bucket of water so I can wash dishes.
No! I don't have 10 cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees?
Eat those turnips, they'll make you big and strong like your Daddy.
That dog is NOT coming in this house! I don't care how cold it is out there, dogs don't stay in the house.
Sit still! I'm trying to get your hair cut straight and you keep moving and it is all messed up.
Hush your mouth! I don't want to hear words like that! I'll wash your mouth out with soap!
It is time for your system to be cleaned out. I am going to give you a dose of castor oil tonight.
If you get a spanking in school and I find out about it, you'll get another one when you get home.
Quit crossing your eyes! They will get stuck that way!
Soak your foot in this pan of kerosene so that bad cut won't get infected.
When you take your driving test, don't forget to signal each turn. Left arm straight out the window for a left turn; left arm bent up at the elbow for a right turn; and straight down to the side of the door when you are going to stop.
It's: 'Yes Ma'am!' and 'No Ma'am!' to me, young man, and don't you forget it!
Bring back any memories?
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Posted on Jul 16th, 2009
by mimi
Old fashioned Banana Split dishes, and some catnip oil spray.
When my grandchildren visited, we made banana splits. Alex, 8, cut the bananas, Gracie 3 got out the spoons and butterscotch syrup, Samanthana, 5, got the whipped cream and ice cream out of the fridge and step stool for Gracie.. I cut up and sugared the strawberries then scooped the icecream into unofficial banana split bowls. Everyone assembled their own Split and Alex operated the whipped cream can for the final touch. I will get maraschino cherries for the next assemblage.
I also want some Catnip oil spray, because the mosquitos up here are feasting on me. I must be especially delicious. I cannot even go out on the deck at my daughter's house because she is at the edge of the woods. I told here I would go outside there maybe in November. I read that Catnip Oil works better than DEET --and without all the toxic stuff. :
"Reported to be ten times more effective than DEET (the nasty toluene based chemical used in commercial insect sprays), Taos Herb Company's Catnip Oil Spray is an all natural alternative for pesky insects. It should be applied more frequently than chemical products. Contains: Purified deep well water, certified organic alcohol, Catnip oil, Geranium oil, Lemon Eucalyptus oil, vegetable glycerin.
"
Today my son is taking me out shopping for these 2 items. Life is good!
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Posted on Jul 22nd, 2009
by mimi
It is hard to understand why US citizens would not want universal health coverage.
It is a huge lie about big line ups and having to wait - anyone who is critically ill is treated immediately. For elective surgery that is a different story. I have never paid a single cent for medical treatment, except for presciptions prescribed during an office visit. At age 65, seniors do not pay for any medications. There is no charge to be in a hospital, except if you want a TV or a private room - I had a private room in the cardiology dept. because it was available.
It is total nonsense that anyone is in danger in Canada because of universal health care. Some people who have money can buy their way to medical services by going to the USA. A Canadian woman mortgaged her house for $100,000 to get immediate treatment in the USA.
The Canadian government has refused many attempts to have a Two Tier health system, where people with money could buy a place at the head of the line. People with money can buy treatment in the USA or other foreign countries but not in Canada.
I have had the best of care for free whatever the procedure - when I went for pre-op for a day surgery, an X-ray showed some unexpected lung problem. I was called by my doctor to come in and had an appointment with a respirologist within days, land a bronchoscope and lung scan within a week.
It is time for the US citizenry to think Universal - that everyone have health coverage. That people not lose their job and lose their health coverage, that they have a job but can't work because of illness and then lose their house. What is the problem here with such negative thinking. People who don't want a government insurance can continue to buy something more to their liking, but it is ridiculous to deny others government insurance. Come on, think a little about the common good.
PS -- The Greatest Canadian?? - in last's years poll - Tommy Douglas - the father of universal health care for all Canadians. He stood up to the doctors who went on strike when he was Premier of Saskatchewan. We are all grateful to this mighty mite, a man of small stature, but a giant in the eyes of Canadians who have benefitted from his vision, courage, and his determination.
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Posted on Jul 26th, 2009
by mimi
Sionna asks -" What would it be like if you couldn't see?"
It's pitch black and I cannot move my feet. I am momentarily helpless because I have no idea of up and down or sideways. My only clue is that I can feel my feet on the ground, but my brain won't allow any movement, because with no visual clues, it's not getting any signals to tell it what to do. I fall to the ground and crawl on my hands and knees, feeling for some familiar object and hold on and make my way toward a location where I know there's a table lamp or light switch. I am a stroke survivor who has perceptual problems and lost my balance in the deal. I cannot go out alone at night, each dark spot appears as a hole. Light and dark causes me brain frenzy.
If I were totally blind, I would miss looking at my granddaughter Gracie's spiraling, cascading brown curls with assorted barrettes strategically placed to keep them out of her giant bluegreen eyes. I would miss seeing granddaughter Samantha's long hair swinging as she skips across the room and does ballet jumps. I would miss seeing g'son Alex's beautiful gaze of wonder when he contemplates the world and how it works. I stare at his big blue eyes and toothy smile and freckles that the summer sun has scattered across this nose and cheeks.
After my stroke, I was told that my eyes were not my best sense, that they were fooling me. What I was seeing was not being processed and sending signals to other parts. Through therapy for several years, I was able to learn new coping skills and establish new neural pathways for signals to travel on.
I am thinking that if I were to become blind, I would continue to cope with my new situation, and with help from people and agencies who help the blind, I would accept my situation and try to make the best possible world for myself. I am hoping this never happens.
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Posted on Jul 27th, 2009
by mimi
Stop already with these what if-to be questions ;>((( What next -- what would it be like to be ---an amputee, to be a quadriplegic,
It is useless to speculate about things you haven't experienced first hand, or aren't experiencing currently. What would it be like to stand on the top of Mount Everest, to bungee jump, to be married to an abusive partner, to be childless, to be born with 1/2 an arm missing, to be in prison. to be Paris Hilton?
Honestly folks...who thinks up these questions? If you want to know what it's like to be blind or deaf, try communicating with a real live person who is blind or deaf and LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN.
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