Are We Going Overboard with Correctness?

 

 

When I was in elementary school we did not get a day off for Columbus' birthday.

Our teachers read us stories about Columbus and his journey that gave him the distinction of discovering America.  It was only years later that students were allowed this day as a holiday.  Some school systems still do not recognize it as a holiday.

 

My husband and I were sitting in a café in a hotel in Durham last February and the local news was on the television. There was  an item from the Asheville City council.  The day before they had passed a regulation to change the name of Columbus Day to "Indigenous Day."

why are we so afraid of hurting someone's feelings, or giving someone an award they worked hard to attain?  Why is there no winner in children's sports?  Is it because everyone deserves a prize?  Would Johnny's emotional growth be stunted if he did not make the honor society and his friend did? There was an article in the paper after graduation in a high school in North Carolina concerning not allowing honor club members to wear the club logo on their graduation gowns. Another school system was considering doing away with honor clubs.  I wonder if the administrators making these unthinkable decisions did not work hard enough to qualify for these honors. Are we to make the classroom one where everyone is the same mediocre student with no goals or new ideas?  Competition should be encouraged.  Striving for the best one can do is what made this country the one people are willing to do whatever will get them within its borders. 

Most people over thirty-five have figured out that life is "no bed of roses" but it is better the more we strive to do our best.  I believe that social media tends to make us paranoid about so many things.  And we encourage this by baring our lives with fluff that isn't important. I don't really care what you ate for dinner unless you are planning to send me a fabulous new recipe.

You won't be around to make your child's decisions and protect him from this big cruel world forever. Give him some tools to ensure a stable lifestyle.  Encourage him to be around positive people.  Give him a thirst for learning by reading to him even before his is born. Give him opportunities in place of things. Give him respect and he will learn to respect you and others.
And please don't buy into the philosophy of changing the name of "National Ice Cream Day" to "Frozen Cream, Sugar, and Fat Day!




MEMOIR MOMENTS AND WRITING TIPS: In the Blink of an Eye

MEMOIR MOMENTS AND WRITING TIPS: In the Blink of an Eye:           For most of us our lives are not humdrum or boring.  The ones of us who are retired wonder how we ever found time to work.  Of ...

In the Blink of an Eye

 

        For most of us our lives are not humdrum or boring.  The ones of us who are retired wonder how we ever found time to work.  Of course we didn't do all the "fun" things we are involved in now.  Some of us find ourselves going to the doctor or doctors more than we would like to do.  For months and perhaps years you keep those appointments and you are doing pretty well.  I had my primary care doctor to say to me recently, "if you were as good as you look on paper you would be a picture of health,"  So when a test shows something wrong and scans and MRIS are ordered we know we are probably in big trouble.

 

      In just a blink of an eye you are in deep trouble and wondering why things happen so fast.  I don't have an answer for that but I have the knowledge of how it affects the patient and the whole family.

 

Here is my story:

 

My husband's cancer had been kept under control for about eleven years with the uses of hormones.  Last fall he began to have problems and after each visit to the emergency room he felt better for a few days.  These visits became routine until his doctor decided to do more extensive tests.  The results were not good.  The cancer had metastasized into several vital organs and his bones. He was accepted into a study at Duke University Medical Center.  That was a good thing but it meant travelling four hours each way every two to three weeks.  In the meantime he developed severe back pain for which he took radiation treatments.  They were very painful and he was unfortunate to contract the shingles. I won't go into all the details but because he couldn't get down enough liquids and nourishment his electrolytes were in a shambles and he was dehydrated.  After five days in the hospital he was released to continue his treatments.  We, my husband and I, talked about Hospice Care.  He was back in the hospital the day after returning home.  We mentioned Hospice to a nurse and before we could blink he was signed up.  The following day the equipment was being brought into the house. In three days a bed was set up in my office and he was receiving wonderful care to ease his pain and make him comfortable.

    

 

In the blink of an eye our roles had changed.  My husband who had been my caregiver was now my patient  to care for.  I loved the role but my physical disabilities were still with me.  We decided to hire help for me and for my husband.  My daughter was there and she needed  more assistance.

In the blink of an eye our home had become more like a wing of a hospital.  There were walkers, wheelchair, A hospital bed, oxygen equipment and various other signs of illness.  The telephone and doorbell rang often.  In the blink of an eye our home had changed.  We had schedules to keep,  meals to serve the sick in bed, extra laundry to do, and dispositions to keep mellow.

 

In the blink of an eye our whole lifestyle had changed.  But we are thankful that Hospice  is here and that we have friends and family to give us support. We especially appreciate the many prayers offered for strength and peace.  We pray that when your 'blink' comes you will have the same support.