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Category Archives: Essays
Ralph Waldo Emerson reflects on aging
From the Poetry Foundation: “Ralph Waldo Emerson was a pioneering figure of what is now called “multiculturalism” who expanded the Eastern horizons of generations of American readers and writers, and he persuasively demonstrated how classical Indian, Chinese, and … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, end of life, Essays, Poetry
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The story of the rabbit and the dog – from the pulpit
Several years ago, we went to an Easter service at the Bellevue First Presbyterian Church. The pastor shared a story as follows: Two neighbor ladies were quite friendly. One owned a pet rabbit, the other a golden retriever. One day, … Continue reading
Turning negative thinkers into more positive ones
From the NYT passed along by MJF: “Most mornings as I leave the Y after my swim and shower, I cross paths with a coterie of toddlers entering with their caregivers for a kid-oriented activity. I can’t resist saying hello, … Continue reading
Your tongue
The amazing thing about our bodies is how unaware we are when everything is functioning normally. I’m worried about a friend who’s loosing control of her 12th cranial nerve, the hypoglossal nerve. Never heard of it? Well that’s OK. There … Continue reading
It’s time to slow down
One thing I’ve learned in my travels is that most cultures of the world consider the pace of life in America with bewilderment. I’ve heard things such as “Are you happy working such long hours; do you ever see your … Continue reading
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The Millionaire Turned Shoeshine Man
From The Atlantic: “Larry Woods goes by the name “Mr. Sunshine,” and he shines shoes for a living. It wasn’t always this way, though. “Back in the 80s, I was made,” he reminisces on his previous wealth. “My head was … Continue reading
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Withering Into the Truth
by Parker J. Palmer (@ParkerJPalmer), columnist (submitted by MJF) Though leaves are many, the root is one; Through all the lying days of my youth I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun, Now may I wither into the … Continue reading
The difficult C. Diff
Mrs. G was admitted from the ER to our ICU in shock. This quite healthy 80 year old woman had an infected toe about a month prior to admission. It responded to antibiotics and initially she did well. But when … Continue reading
The discriminatory immigration ban is illegal
From the NYT: “President Trump signed an executive order on Friday that purports to bar for at least 90 days almost all permanent immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries, including Syria and Iraq, and asserts the power to extend the ban … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Social justice
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Five-month-old babies know what’s funny
From Aeon: “Before they speak or crawl or walk or achieve many of the other amazing developmental milestones in the first year of life, babies laugh. This simple act makes its debut around the fourth month of life, ushering in … Continue reading
“Last Words” – now or later?
Sage advice from a Hospice Chaplain.
Trump’s feud with John Lewis – a telling story on MLK day
From the NYT: Days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald J. Trump is engaged in a high-profile feud with some of the country’s most prominent African-American leaders, setting off anger in a constituency already wary of him after a contentious presidential … Continue reading
A few more thoughts
Character, not circumstances, makes the man. — Booker T. Washington The moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point … a place where the unexpected becomes expected, where radical change is more than possibility. — Definition of “tipping point,” … Continue reading
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Baseball and life – lessons from Coach John Scolinos and the metaphor of the 17″ home plate
From Tom Gibbs – this is worth reading: In Nashville , Tennessee , during the first week of January, 1996, more than 4,000 baseball coaches descended upon the Opryland Hotel for the 52nd annual ABCA’s convention. While I waited … Continue reading
Ruminating on the present from the past
“Once you hear the details of victory, it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat.”— Jean-Paul Sartre “In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” — Napoleon Bonaparte “What’s past is prologue” wrote William Shakespeare “The pessimist sees difficulty in … Continue reading
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Wise Words From Some Of The Celebrities Who Died In 2016
From Scott Simon on NPR: “There’s been a lot of death in the news these last few days, between Syria and several celebrities. As we close the year, we might recall some things said by some people we lost that … Continue reading
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Dawn Walk
Dawn Walk – Edward Hirsch Some nights when you’re asleep Deep under the covers, far away, Slowly curling yourself back Into a childhood no one Living will ever remember Now that your parents touch hands Under the ground As they … Continue reading
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If only
If Only by Catherine Pulsifer If only every day Held the spirit of Christmas day To capture that feeling always Year round would be the best way If only every day We would be so kind To our fellow man … Continue reading
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To Die of Having Lived
Published author Rick Rapport has written about his personal experiences with patients, doctors and families in crisis when near death. Dr. Rapport is a colleague and Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at nearby Harborview Hospital. He has given permission to link … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Essays, Health
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This is the final resting place of your cast-off clothing
From Aeon: “When people in the West throw their clothes away, their cast-offs often go on a journey east, across the oceans, to India’s industrial interior. From the Kutch District of western India to the northern city of Panipat, garment … Continue reading
Sans Teeth, Sans Eyes? Shakespeare’s Views on Aging Aren’t That Simple
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” Shakespeare’s views on aging are evaluated in the following essay. As the psychologist author says, innumerable studies still could still be done to evaluate the complex and conflicting ideas expressed in Shakespeare’s … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, Essays
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What’s happening to our country? – a view by Rev. William Malcolmson
A friend send me this thoughtful commentary about our country. It’s both discouraging and uplifting in that it at least tries to analyze what’s going on in an historical sense. I converse with my 85 year old sister regularly in … Continue reading
A Neurosurgeon’s Crisis
What would you do if you were a 36 year old Neurosurgeon finishing a grueling 6 year training program at Stanford, a rising superstar, married, but just diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer? The cancer is treatable but … Continue reading
What’s your prize?
From Rosemary W. THE MAGIC BANK ACCOUNT THE AUTHOR IS NOT KNOWN. IT WAS FOUND IN THE BILLFOLD OF COACH PAUL BEAR BRYANT, ALABAMA, AFTER HE DIED IN 1982 Imagine that you had won the Following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your … Continue reading
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Judge John Hodgman on a Married Couple’s Bigger Bed
From the NYT: “Jeff writes: My wife and I sleep on an old full-size bed and are in need of a new one. I would like to buy another full because I am afraid if we start allowing space between … Continue reading