Send Those Positive Vibes

A friend revealed that he has cancer and I don't know what to say to him. I'm sure that he doesn't want to hear the generic and meaningless, "sending positive vibes your way." Which I doubt assists in lessening a persons fears. Unless one can commit to physically being there whenever needed, I don't know if there's much to say. The truth is that a simple hand on the shoulder is much more assuring and powerful.

I don't know .... maybe to a glass half full type personality, positive vibes would help and be welcomed? Personally I think they are of little value. I know that no one that is out there (well maybe one or two people if it were my own health situation) sending the more powerful, negative vibes. No one that matters anyway. I'm pretty confident that everyone is rooting for their friends recovery.

Dreams

It's funny how one evening dreams can be horrible and frightening (two nights ago), then the next night, wild, sensual, sexual and thrilling (last night). Even coming close to equaling the emotions of the real life experiences being dreamed about. If only they could be conjured up on demand. But I suppose if that were a reality, a person just might never get out of bed, preferring to summon up dreams about excesses of food and pleasure.

Random Midweek Notes

• Shoe shopping and I found a pair of shoes that I actually like as far as comfort. I had previously resigned myself to the thinking of this outcome being an impossibility. That my feet would never know true happiness again. I'm tempted to return to the store and buy all they have in stock in my size.  
• Shoe shopping is something I hate because I always feel so exposed and vulnerable when trying on shoes. An easy target for someone looking to grab a wallet and run. And desperate to find something to wear with the least amount of effort. I don't want to try on more than one or two pairs of shoes. 
• I love my everyday walking around backpack. It must have thirty-five different pockets and then another ten or fifteen hidden chambers that I haven't discovered yet. It's much like some of the women's purses that I've seen on the home shopping television channels. I'm finding that I just want to fill it up with stuff. To be prepared for anything and everything. I feel like Batman with his utility belt.
• Seems like the most commonly asked question of sixty-somethings is: "When are you planning to retire?" I have no answer for that question. I just hope that I know it maybe a year or two before the time is obvious.
• The doctor couldn't help but notice the abnormality that is my pinky toenail. So I told him about the youthful days swimming with friends who would refer to it's sighting as "The Toe" and feign terror as if it was a Godzilla-like monster in a horror movie.
• No more music purchases solely on the recommendation of a trusted friend. No offense to trusted friends but music is personal. I need to make purchases based on my own impressions.

(Overly?) Medicated Blues

I've never been someone who uses any medication except for whatever seasonal hay fever drug I was trying in a given year but suddenly, due to medical issues previously documented, I find myself on three different prescriptions plus an occasional prescription pain killer. Managing it all is making me a little nervous. There's too many differing instructions. Twice a day (Which I struggle with), once a day, with a meal, two hours before or after a meal, with lots of water, and also my question, can I take any of these together? etc …. At least I've yet to experience any of the possible side effects that are mentioned. I wasn't too terribly thrilled at the prospects of an upset stomach and constipation. I look forward to the time when I can get off a couple of these …. Though I'm beginning to wonder if this will be a rest of my lifetime regimen. A question to ask during my next doctor visit.

I had the idea that a dry erase board hung on the kitchen wall would be a good tool to track daily usage and maybe even make it semi near fun experience but I'm thinking now that I need a little more sophisticated system.

And speaking of side effects and instructions for use ….. the prescribing doctor never mentions this. It seems it's the pharmacist who is the bearer of all the mostly unpleasant details. Keep in mind, this discovering how the system works is all new to me. This is likely old news for most people.

Maria Bartiromo Blues

"Blues" in the title as in it being a bummer that this didn't really happen. ….. I'm being taunted by the sleep and dream world. Had a dream overnight that I was going to hang out with Maria Bartiromo!!! Wow!! That we were friends and she was coming over to watch movies and listen to music. I woke up though before she arrived. Just my kind of luck I suppose. I would have loved to hear what she thought of the vinyl collection …. even it was only a dream. Even if it was in her Brooklyn accent. Maybe in another lifetime I might get so lucky?

Seasonasl Allergy Blues

It's perplexing!! I just can't seem to figure it out. There doesn't seem to be a pattern from day to day. Whenever I assume that grass pollen's are my problem, it turns out that maybe it's the tree pollen's ….. and vice versa. I'll visit websites and one pollen count is off-the-charts high and the other is practically non-existent and I'll mentally prepare for the worst and then end up having an uneventful, no sneeze, no sniffle or tears kind of day (like today),  Even able to walk in the park with no reaction. ….. Then go to sleep, wake up a few hours later and it hits full force!! Actually starting while you slept because one eye is already clouded over.

And why when it attacks the eyes, does it usually go for one eye instead of both? It doesn't seem to have a preference with the nose and nostrils.

Baseball These Days

Why are umpires needed in baseball, besides a home plate umpire to call balls and strikes when just about any other ruling it seems can be questioned, reviewed and overturned? ….. and often are, seemingly one or two a game. You don't need umpires for the obvious calls (just go with the honor system) and the others can be made by someone with  a monitor and access to different camera angles. It just doesn't feel like humans are making the judgments anymore when everything can be reversed.

If it's decided to keep most judgements eligible for review then teams should not be able to hold up the game while managers look at a call in their dugouts and decide if they want to have the umpires formally review it. The team decision to review a call ought to be made instantly and not after ten or twenty seconds to look at a replay and think about it.

Homeless Issue

This is difficult to write about without sounding insensitive ……

The efforts of the city in past years, to drive homeless people from their out-of-sight, out-of-mind campsites seems to have resulted in people sleeping all over downtown Salem benches and sidewalks. I don't pretend to have the answers (other than more money) but this is one issue where I would be willing to pay some sort of tax to help with the problem ….. to provide adequate and available shelters for those in need.

People complain that most make the choice to avoid employment and be homeless and don't deserve assistance but in occasional encounters, I see what appears to be mental illness in many of the homeless and they likely would be skipped over by potential employers.

I don't know how to sort those who genuinely need help from those who are just lazy and don't want to work ….. The situation does need increased attention though on the local government level and soon!

Lessons Learned

Going through a health scare and the accompanying moments of doubt certainly gives one a greater appreciation for day-to-day life.

It also serves as a wake-up call that you are not a kid anymore and that attention is needed towards maintaining your health. No longer can you assume that all is forever well.

It also serves to increase awareness of others around you and the issues that each person is dealing with, often alone (which is frightening) and in silence.

Old grievances with others suddenly cease to matter.

You're extremely grateful for the smallest of gestures.

You see and hear things around you. You see people with major issues. There's a sincere realization of how each moment in a life matters. Because everything can change so quickly. Appreciate all that you have.