to Jack on the Life philosophy

[Guest guest]

Jack,

This wasn't Sher's philosophy, this was my reply to the barking I

heard. This was a joke my brother sent to the family a couple weeks

back. The best reply sent was my cousin who said my Dad got the

last 2 phases reversed. He used to be a barker and now is

entertaining his grandkids. My Dad is 71 and I promise you was

giving my husband and my sister in law (who is only 29) a run for

their money in the pool entertaining the kids. The 3 of them were

swimming under water so the kids could surf on them and then bucking

around like horses giving the kids rides and making waves. My Dad

is inspiring and I tell people it's so him just showing off to his

37 year old daughter how much he can do while I am " currently "

limited. My Dad still ref's kids soccer (he says he can only keep

up w/ the little ones, he's ref'd my whole life), plays golf as many

days a week as he can, and does yardwork to outdo any gardener. My

kids are having a blast w/ him in this " monkey " stage which I hope

lasts for the next 30 years. He has his occasional barking moments,

but thankfully they are not the rule.

Kerry

37 IPF '01 S. IN

> >

> > Hi everybody... I was looking at some of my past writings and I

> thought you might enjoy this little piece. I so miss writing (and

> can see today where I could have " done a better job " on this).

> Writers and artists have a tough time knowing when to " stop

> tweaking " .

> >

> > My illness has taken from me the ability to write as I used to.

> Well...anyway. ......... ......... ...

> >

> >

> >

> > Senior Mental Health Program Newsletter Vol. 7 No. 3 Fall, 2003 -

> Page 8

> >

> >

> >

> > PET PEEVES

> >

> > I don't know about you, but words like

> >

> > " Honey " , " Sweetie " , and " Dear " are pet

> >

> > names for my husband, children and grandchildren.

> >

> > I do not like these words delivered

> >

> > to me from a waitress along with my meal.

> >

> > Nor do I appreciate the familiarity of these

> >

> > words when spoken by a store clerk, the

> >

> > person who cuts my hair or the lady at the

> >

> > checkout stand at the grocery store. Waiting

> >

> > in my doctor's office, I am immediately

> >

> > piqued when the receptionist and/or nurse

> >

> > call me " Sweetie " . I have a name. I won't

> >

> > get confused. Please don't patronize me

> >

> > with friendly gestures. Respect me by using

> >

> > my name.

> >

> > I know, I know, people who use these words

> >

> > wish only to be friendly, helpful, warm, encouraging,

sympathetic,

> comforting, affectionate and kind. Everything I may need in

> >

> > particular circumstances. What I don't need

> >

> > is feeling impersonal in my particular circumstance.

> >

> > I think " Sweetie " is adorable pinned

> >

> > on my granddaughters, who of course are

> >

> > sweet beyond measure! " Sweetie " doesn't

> >

> > go with my outfit and I don't need a label

> >

> > pinned on me like a name tag at Nursery

> >

> > School. I will not get lost. I promise. I have

> >

> > on occasion, asked the bearer of these

> >

> > cheerful greetings to please not call me

> >

> > " Sweetie " or " Dear " and I tell them what I tell

> >

> > you, it sounds so patronizing. Well, then we

> >

> > are each embarrassed and falling over each

> >

> > other to explain ourselves. More often than

> >

> > not my husband and I roll our eyes at each

> >

> > other, grimace and say nothing.

> >

> > Another one of my pet peeves is when I see

> >

> > a senior treated like a twit! You know what I

> >

> > mean. If you don't see or hear well, conversation is directed at

a

> third party as if your brain is dead and you can't make your own

> decisions. " Is she tolerating her medication? " a nurse asked me

about

> my blind

> >

> > grandmother. " I don't know, ask her, " was

> >

> > my immediate reply. " Would she like soup or

> >

> > salad? " was asked of me on another day

> >

> > but my answer was the same, " I don't know,

> >

> > ask her. "

> >

> > I love seniors. I am one, and nobody asked me about my pet

peeves

> but at least nobody calls me " sweetie " when I voice my opinion.

> >

> >

> > MamaSher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR./ Nasturtiums

> > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

> >

>