posted on December 22, 2000 09:25:58 PM newDCJ: I'm working on it...we could have a contest to see who can get the most studlets to push our wheelchairs about...
posted on December 22, 2000 09:29:14 PM new
Tegan, hello! I always love to read you, you are sincere and bright-spirited, with your flag firmly planted in what's good and right.
The thing to get about Marwin is that he generally posts the exact opposite of what he feels, a very odd sort of agent provocateur.
If I can't shake this cold by Christmas, I'm going to be annoyed as all get-out. That's a good reason to be grumpy...it appears to me at 37 that one gets ill more frequently and feels it more intensely with each passing year. I look forward to the day when I give myself permission to be grumpy and unpleasant with frequency.
So far, every age I've been through has its startling beauty and its minor tragedies (greying at the temples ranks high amongst these), and I've never been a fan of generalizations, but neither do they push my buttons to any great extent. If the only way you can bear to live in the world is by boxing it up into little understandable segments, you will reap your just punishment, which is the diminishment of the enormous enjoyment to be had by relishing the unpredictability of everyone and everything.
Darn ya, plsmith, finish swilling your beer and puffing your smokes and come chat with me before I have to go!
posted on December 22, 2000 09:34:26 PM new
S-kitty, you may have the studlets, I won't compete with you. I shall have the distinguished gentlemen of a certain age and experience. I expect in my 80s that good conversation will be highest on my list of priorities.
posted on December 22, 2000 09:54:29 PM new
Marwin - I agree there are some mean and cranky elderly people, but I'll bet you any money half of them were like that when they were young. The other half are probably in ill health, lonely, and on a fixed income that doesn't keep up with the economy.
Having a chronic illness I can relate to the latter. Sometimes I have more pain then my mother who is in her 70's. I was very active before I got ill and sometimes I get so angry that I can't do what I used to do, and it makes me cranky.
I look at my ex-MIL who is in her late 80's and wonder how often she thinks how much longer she has. Her husband is gone, most of her friends are gone and her health is failing. Yet, she tries to be in good spirits and upbeat. She still get's her hair done every Fri. and gave a wonderful gift to her hairdresser.
This Christmas why don't you take some gifts to a nursing home and see how happy you can make a few elderly that may not otherwise get a gift or visit from anyone else.
posted on December 22, 2000 11:49:35 PM new
That pleasure's been mine plsmith. Didn't you post something somewhere here about this being a *family* site - try and remember next time you *sin*....
Michelle
*edited to add so my comments kinda make sense: I deleted a post containing a couple of profanities. In the spirit of the season, I'm gonna let them slide - just this once.
[ edited by MichelleG on Dec 22, 2000 11:51 PM ]
posted on December 23, 2000 12:03:13 AM new
Aw, shucks, MichelleG, it looks like my entire post was wiped out just because a couple of fun terms made it past AW's censor...
Now, as to your seasonable spirit, I take it that you mean you wiped my words without formally scolding me for having typed 'em? Heck, in the true spirit of the season (families fighting with one another; flights cancelled; online orders not shipped) I think it's only fair that you serve whatever gruel is supposed to reward such impudence. I might even ask for more!
Now come on... just between you and me, MichelleG ... isn't your job more interesting when you have to do end-runs around the spell-checker and ferret-out we sneaky spellers?
posted on December 23, 2000 12:14:12 AM newNow come on... just between you and me, MichelleG ... isn't your job more interesting when you have to do end-runs around the spell-checker and ferret-out we sneaky spellers?
posted on December 23, 2000 12:24:22 AM new
Well, since you're awake, I'd submit to you that this "family" site is not -- legally -- available to anyone under 18 years of age and that, therefore, the ADULTS who haunt this house of horrors are quite familiar with the terms I used above which you've since sent below...
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that they've ALL either been the recipients of, or the purveyors of, those very acts AW has deemed "unmentionable" ...
But, really, MichelleG, I don't want to fight. My purpose here tonight was to give krs a memorable birthday present -- albeit an overdue one. My choices were limited, given what he likes, and, unfortunately, everything he likes *you* find offensive enough to wipe. What's a late-comer to do?
posted on December 23, 2000 12:24:35 AM new
Aha! A weakness! What's granted one in charity or the spirit of the season must of course be granted all 'till season's end.
Michelle grants that everyone may say whatever they want until January 2, 2001.
posted on December 23, 2000 12:26:53 AM new
Wait! There was a gift? For me? MichelleGee, it cannot be that you would deny me such a rare and heartfelt indulgance by the lovely PlSmith!?
posted on December 23, 2000 12:32:47 AM new
Ha! You mean you missed it? Darn you, MichelleG... my one chance to curl his toes and you fluffed it off like a parking ticket!
posted on December 23, 2000 12:40:48 AM new
Ah but plsmith, when they wrote those pesky CGs they included that bit about "explicit sexual references". So, familiar or not, recipients or not, offensive to or not *most* adults - the AW PTB deem them inappropriate. But you knew that already of course
Michelle grants that everyone may say whatever they want until January 2, 2001.
At your own peril krs. I'm working some serious overtime over the next few days - can't guarantee I'll still be so generous towards the end of the holiday weekend!
krs If you missed your *gift*, it's you're own fault for not turning on your email preferences, now isn't it??
posted on December 23, 2000 12:47:43 AM new
Perhaps it is, Michelle, but can you imagine my using that feature at all?
Contrary to the believe of some members, I am not here 24/7, I only try to create the illusion that I am. But I have the habit of clearing email promptly, and with that feature I would have to come back more than I do.
All of that being the case, i'm sure that you regret having done this little part to disrupt the flow of relations between a man and a woman who seldom have opportunity to consummate their mutual regard, now don't you?
posted on December 23, 2000 12:54:11 AM new
I wasn't ignoring you, Pat. I wanted Michelle to have ample opportunity to sat that she's only doing her job.
posted on December 23, 2000 12:58:25 AM new
You are very welcome, Michelle. It serves us
all that I don't use that facility. You know, I've never even tried it though, so maybe it wouldn't be as consuming as I've imagined.
I did try the ignore feature once, but only found that I was unable to ignore pattaylor, at least that way.
posted on December 23, 2000 01:18:05 AM new
*sigh*
plsmith
I have deleted your last post because it contained explicit sexual references which violate the Community Guidelines - as you were well aware. I am issuing an informal warning and urge you to review the Community Guidelines before posting again. To continue in this current manner may result in the suspension of your posting privileges.
posted on December 23, 2000 01:30:50 AM newI am polite, courteous, light hearted, easy going, humorous, amenable, no pressure, entertaining, educational, in a word delightful! lol
Marwin, nothing pushes Pareau's curmudgeon button like seeing "amenable" misused, because we all know you sure didn't mean "tractable."
I don't find global slams on seniors polite, courteous, light hearted, easy going, humorous, entertaining, educational, or in any way delightful. I think, though, you've managed to show us why you might be having problems with the old sticks.
posted on December 23, 2000 07:15:15 AM newNevertheless my observations are real and multiple
I've worked in cardiac care for the past fifteen years both in the hospital setting and in the clinical setting. The large cardiology clinic I work at sees over 26K patients in a given year--this does not include repeat visits. The majority (>90%) of our clientele are seniors, and are on Medicare. Most of them are badly out of touch with the pace of modern medicine, high tech, large volume of patients and long waits. Most come from an era when there were no answering machines and certainly no voice mail. Most expect to be treated courteously and in a friendly manner. Added into the mix, is that many know little about health, and even less about cardiology--they're often scared to death, fearful of dying. In spite of this, as a group, they are far more tolerant, friendly, patient, courteous, and intelligent, and better educated than the younger clientele.
Way back in the Jurrasic, attending college, I had the fortune to work in a nursing home (everyone's nightmare). After acclimating to the environment, I found that these poor souls, living in the worst of conditions (at least in comparison to the rest of us), were searching for friendship, care, and a little love. Not much different from you or me.
Not arguing with your experience, but my experience has been vastly different than yours. Take a lesson from the old folks and learn it now, we're headin' that way too.
posted on December 23, 2000 09:23:01 AM new
"Yes, of course I was aware the elderly are one of those icons one is not supposed to touch. "
People Marwin, not icons, people. Think of them as people who have seen more pain and sadness than you are ready to comprehend.
My drill sargeant used to tell the terminally homesick in our platoon," If you can't change your lattitude try changing your attitude"
At the time I thought it was a really dumb saying. Not anymore.
I found that I have been able to use that advice to change the outcome of many a situation. With some people you do need to take some extra time to get to know them.
If your life has thrown down this gauntlet and introduced you to many more grouchy old folks than the rest of us are seeing maybe you should pay attention. Since you have now started to address it all that is left is to figure out how you personally can improve these encounters.
Iswanson and the rest have given you some pretty good advice on how to do that.
Think of it as a test. (It may well be)
posted on December 23, 2000 10:16:44 AM new
mawrin, I would suggest you go to this web page. www.score.org (Service Corps Of Retired Executives).
Senior citizens, offer a lot to all ages. The knowledge they all have is an untaped gold mine of experince & personal education, in all phases of careers, from the homeless to being President of this great Nation of ours. Learn from them it's free. Don't wonder why they may be crankie!.
posted on December 23, 2000 10:27:41 AM new
Fred...indeed. Wisdom and gold mines of it, thank you for sharing yours with me so freely. I wish you and your lovely family a fine Christmas.
