Obesity has become a real problem in this country; we all know that. I’ve heard a lot of theories about why that is. Some of them make sense, but I have my own theory that I haven’t heard voiced elsewhere. I believe people began getting fatter in direct proportion to the length of commercial breaks on television. Think about it! We all have to do something to fill the one-third of airtime that is now devoted to advertisements. Makes sense to me.
I didn’t say anything about the passing of Robin Williams yesterday, because it was news to me when I was updating this page. I just didn’t know much. Plus, I knew there’d be a lot said by others, and I was right. There was a third reason, maybe. I didn’t want to make any comment that might be construed as negative at such a time. That comment would have been: I have always thought Robin Williams was best as a dramatic actor. Of course, that isn’t a negative thing to say, but with so many emphasizing his original and frenetic approach to comedy, I just didn’t see going into it. Also, let us remember Betty Bacall, who left us yesterday.
334 responses to “Back after This…”
Jackie, I read your post with terrible feelings. I have not signed my donor card, in fact I have put on there and told all my friends that I forbid it. All I know is that I once helped with organ harvesting from a beautiful sixteen year old girl who was brain dead. They took all they wanted and then just opened the aorta clamp, turned away, and let her bleed out. All I know is I wept over her and vowed that would never,never happen to me. And so I still feel, though I feel guilty about it. But I am used to that, as I am almost a catholic.
Late to the party today. For me, anyway. Started the day early so I could carry my Mom to an appointment late this afternoon. And then when I had time, no subject seemed to move me to comment. Until Jackie’s post about chasing a bull in “a very brief and sheer pair of shorty pajamas”. (OK, who here didn’t see that coming?)
That reminded me, of course, of the classic cartoon in which Janis (apparently not for the first time) hears the trash truck, grabs a bag, and charges outside in just a tiny baby doll gown and panties. When she returns, Arlo says, “I’ll bet you’re a legend down at the landfill.”
Lily, think not of the one beautiful child who was lost, but of the several who benefited, or whose lives were saved, by the courageous decision her family made.
Of all the countless Robin Williams quotes and comments, one he made struck me as totally true about Episcopalians. When he was asked about his religion he replied, “I am Episcopalian which is like being Catholic but with only half the guilt.”
Lily, the best comment I ever heard at a funeral was one of my best friends. The minister had known her all her life and he said “Norma was always a nut but all that is left now is the shell of the nut. She isn’t there and don’t grieve, the nut is in a better place.”
My friend died of cancer, multiple ones that she fought over and over. But she laughed and made me laugh until the end.
If you are a Christian and an Episcopalian, then the body is only a shell for the soul. What happens to it with death we only know that the shell is all that is left.
As a medical personnel I cannot understand how you could not see that.
Love, Jackie Monies
Dunno, Jackie, but every time I take that donor card out of my billfold I look down and see her beautiful face half obscured by the endotracheal tube and its tapings, her dark blonde bloodstained hair spilled all over the pad, and the back of the surgeon as he turned away from her after opening the clamp. I was overcome with weeping then and I am now. I cannot make myself sign that card. I keep seeing myself with my eyes raped and my chest and belly left open. I have talked to The Boss Of My Life about it, and she, no transplant surgeon or a friend to that ilk, didn’t dissuade me. As a matter of a fact, I know quite well that neither she nor The Man In My Life have signed that card. I guess it is just a fact about our little family that there is no sympathy to transplantation.
Jackie, there was a time here in California when the donor card was stuck to the back of your license and your signature needed to be witnessed to be valid. I knew at least one man who got his witnessed by Larry Niven. (For those of you who don’t know why, here’s an explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organlegger)
That is sad, Lily. Without being gruesome, have you not viewed an autopsy as well? What about a funeral home? I can assure you there is nothing lovely about being embalmed to look good in the casket for the viewing.
Yeah, I am among those who have seen it all I guess and heard the rest. I salute any who are brave enough to sign something that helps another to live and those family members who give for the same reasons.
Mike always says no one will be able to use anything I have as it will all be “condemned” by then but if they can, let them. I will no longer have any use for it any more! It will all just be cremated and burned that is left over.
Sorry, I have strong viewpoints too often!
Love, Jackie Monies
Sure, Jackie, I have seen several autopsies as well as a lot of final surgeries. But autopsies are not all the same thing. They take samples, close you back up, and let the funeral home in. I have left it in my will that I am not to be embalmed but just to be cremated. There will be no funeral, either, as I have that in my will also. No memorial ceremony, either. I have it in mind that a final Viking funeral would be kinda grand. But at least it won’t be that horrible thing where they take what they want and throw the rest away, an abandoned husk. That is my horror.
David/Austin: Sounds as if you’ve got a pretty good handle on things. Another person I’ve known for more than 65 years has no kidneys and also no bladder, thanks to cancer, so a transplant wouldn’t help. I pray for her daily. In the meantime, she lives only because of dialysis…who knows but that she may last longer than many with two functioning kidneys. Indeed, so may you. Glad you’re keeping the faith and being patient while awaiting answers.
Good morning Villagers…..
…..too deep a many subjects for me, I say.
Except, I can relate to David and Jackie…we too had to chase one down the country road late one night on a four wheeler and fully clothed…..got her back though.
Bryan….love the movie Birdcage…too funny.
Jerry, I heard also that Mr. Williams was in the beginning stages of Parkinson’s…
David…keep the faith, we need it. Could you keep me in your prayers…I need them right now…under heavy duty and stress at work.
gotta go….there’s 16,000 cages to clean, all that’s left are feathers and chicken poop.
Simply….how long did you have to hold down your finger to scroll and copy? 🙂 Thanks, ’cause I couldn’t link to your link.
…..and GR 😉 you never answered my question 🙂
Lily, transplant donation is a personal decision. Tbere is no reason to explain or rationalize your choice, to anyone. I’m sure the recovery surgery is horrific. I know how intimidating it was to see the OR setup for my first (living family) transplant.
I struggle about praying for a transplant, because I know that it means someone has to die. I’ve madw my prayer somewhat more specific. That prayer is that if someone who has chosen to be a donor happens to have an accident that they are able to donate and that a kidney will be a match for me. I am appreciative that some decide to be donors, electing that sacrifice to improve someone else’s life. That has nothing to do with anyone’s decision about donation. I have no right to ask about their choice. I would ask that everyone consider donation and make a choice. It would be a shame if possible donor organs were lost simply because some never considered making that choice.
Anonymous was me. New old phone didn’t have my data.
Lily, you have a really big heart. Don’t feel guilty.
I am going out to plant seeds for fall flowers. Planting seeds is restoring of my faith and a time to think and meditate. A seed that comes up and sprouts is symbolic, it is the renewal of life from the old and the return from the earth to the living world.
David, during Mike’s chemo and the month he spent in the hospital his kidney(s) failed and they were able to do emergency surgery and keep them draining and working until he was strong enough to have additional surgery. Would they have used one of mine if needed, nope, I doubt it. Too many chances for mine to stop working every day of my life. Would I have given it? Yes, he has everything else.
Jerry I have another internet friend in Florida who is in early Parkinson’s. I got to meet him last fall, so funny and strong I thought. A Viet Nam vet and helicopter pilot he worked up until the FAA took his license away. He has a wonderful full size poodle who he is training to be his assistance dog but was previously his duck hunting partner. So far I saw demonstrated the dog’s ability to go pick up a bag with his adult beverage inside!
So many of us here are “walking wounded” I think, finding comfort in Jimmy’s humor and art. That is JJ’s purpose in life I think although he may be like my Thai potter friend who I noticed put special marks on only certain pieces he felt deserved them. I was told my another friend that those marks were a form of “prayer marks”, so I asked him about them. He said they prayed over every piece, prayed that it might sell!
Good bye until tonight, too much to do,
Love, Jackie Monies
As David said, organ donation is both a personal decision and a decision one does not have to justify to anyone else. My sister had chosen to be a donor, but her body was so ravaged by what she went through in her losing, eight-month battle to live that none of her organs were deemed to be usable for transplantation. I’ll never know, but I believe that the knowledge that some part of her was still living and helping someone else to live would have somewhat eased the sorrow of her passing for me.
But that chapter is closed, and now I must concern myself with the living.
As Lily to my west said yesterday, today has brought a lovely, unseasonably cool morning to the Deep South. Must be another sign of global warming. (Relax, everyone, that’s just a joke.)
Debbe 😉 The answer to your question is, “I know how to do a lot of things, hon.” 😉 And I know you’ve had happier paydays, but Happy Payday.
Good morning, all. A beautiful morning for my run, here, with just a hint of cool in it. Rounds are over and only one ER visit, but that was just to a patient of ours having trouble with a port. I told The Boss Of My Life about our conversation last night, and asked her how many times she had asked the family of a brain-dead person for transplant permission. She said, none, in thirty years of training and active practice. But, she added, a general surgeon doesn’t get put in that position very often. Usually our patients are on the road to recovery or so sick that their organs wouldn’t do anyone any good. The only brain-dead patient with intact organs I have seen since I came to work for her got helicoptered to Tyler and died the next day. I have not a clue if anybody was asked but I do know her family was pretty hysterical. If she was a donor, nobody said anything about it.
Unintentionally at first, but then with intent, I have not turned on my television for the past nine days. I still follow that news which I consider important on the InterWebNet, but I have eliminated that which passes for news and entertainment on the idiot box. I have to say that, as of today, I seem to be a better and much happier person for that.
Ghost, I am in for an iced tea break, no sugar, lots of lemon and watered down. I do NOT watch any network or cable news shows which just irritate the fool out of me, as we say in the south. I made that decision a LONG time ago and I have been far happier person. I read the internet news and pick and choose what I read.
One daughter is a news junkie, no make that both of them! Mike is too so I go in the office and shut the door, try to not hear it.
My mom runs a television all night long so I need to go get ear plugs to drown her out. I was out planting fall herbs and flower seeds on the decks and she had door open and t.v. blasting while she picked green beans! I asked her if Brownie her dog enjoyed the news, as she was out on porch barking her head off.
No peace for those of us trying to not know! I know but reading is far less offensive than the news casters and their repetitive blither.
Getting off soap box and going back to the flower seeds.
Love, Jackie Monies
OK, this is a personal comment, I am not unsympathetic to the plight of others. But for one full week all the television stations in Houston, TX reenacted my kidnapping at least three times a day.
It continued to be a “news story” for longer than that.
But I am grateful for one thing I think of every time I walk thru the room and Fox news is on. I am so grateful it did not happen in the current news atmosphere because it would have been nonstop, over and over and over. The kind of sensational news they thrive on. I don’t think I could have survived it.
Thank God I have never been on Fox or CNN.
Love, Jackie Monies
I’m with y’all. I never watch TV News, and usually just use the TV to play old movies and TV shows I like, such as Buffy and Angel and Bones. I get my news form Wikipedia and Facebook
You have my sympathy, Jackie. I suppose it goes back even further than the days of bloody spectacles in the Roman Colosseum, but I still fail to grasp how one person’s tragedy can be regarded as someone else’s entertainment.
Not that the InterWebNet is without warts. It still somewhat astonishes me how many people in the Blogosphere or Twitterland are willing (nay, eager) to jump into (with both feet) on one side or the other of a situation about which they have absolutely no firsthand knowledge and blatherate. But as Jackie says, at least such is easier to filter out on the InterWebNet.
“The legendary humorist, cowboy, trick roper, newspaper columnist and movie star Will Rogers and noted pilot Wiley Post died on this date in 1935 in a plane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska. Rogers was 55; Post was just 36. ” I told you those things were death traps!
Dear Ghost, Congratulations on turning off the TV. It’s my choice also and makes my days and nights peaceful and untroubled. To our dear Jackie Monies, you are a wonder of nature and a remarkable person. To think that you can put up with other people keeping the TV on so much … it would drive me bonkers. I live alone and have the radio on all day, with classical music; I can pick and choose what I feel like hearing, between FM and Internet radio. The music is beautiful and I feel in touch with the composers and the performers; it’s a good feeling.
I made the choice long ago to be an organ donor, but more recently have decided to donate my body to a medical school. Our very best friends (he was Best Man at our wedding) did this; he died a few years ago, she is still alive; they were very open about it. Then when the first husband of our daughter Alice was dealing with a malignant brain tumor, he made the same decision and it was carried through, so we were familiar with it all. My late husband Chris did the same thing and his body went to the Harvard Medical School. His ashes came back a year later … by Parcel Post! … and I still have the box in the house; it’s comforting to have it where I can see it.
I’ve done all the paperwork and given copies to the children. The medical school at Dartmouth College wants everything intact, so no organ donation; but at my age maybe that’s best.
In 1935, 34,494 people died in motor vehicle accidents. (There were 33,561 fatalities in 2012.) Now those things are really deathtraps.