snake bitten

A friend says--The best stories are of life. You can't make this stuff up folks.

This It’s Saturday is not a “microaggression.” A “microagression” is a phrase used to refer to a variety of verbal and nonverbal forms of communication that said to show disrespect for a particular group of people, especially those who have encountered historical decimation, and may now include any group that some establishments have classified as victims (i.e. who think they might have gotten a raw deal a.k.a. snake bitten).

Joesixpack says--It’s a big pill to swallow!  Everyone’s “big pill” might be different!  Generally, it’s not if but when!  When I was a kid my parents thought I should take a vitamin pill as I was a runt.  I overheard my Daddy, Chester, tell our neighbor about my small stature one day--erv, didn't get enough tit (i.e. that is an old farm expression used when the runt of  hog litter had no tit to suck--sometimes farmers would just kill the runt)! I really think my Daddy, Chester, wanted me to be a bigger kid soooo I would have a better chance of competing in athletics (i.e. that has been my thought through the years—maybe I have been wrong all these years).  I would not take it.  We fought and fought about it.  My Daddy would hold me and pry my mouth open and my Mom, Anna, would put the pill in while I was hollering and screaming.  I didn’t want to take the pill. Many folks don’t want to take the pill—it’s in many cases a “big pill” to swallow. 

ItchieBitchie says--The teacher graded on the curve—the bell curve.  CrazyMarvin says—I think life is sorta kinda a bell curve.  Some of you are on the uptick side of the curve, some on the top side of the curve and others on the down side of the curve and still going down.  The ageing process is way different than the other parts of life (i.e. for some it appears they have a lot of pig pills to swallow and for some it appears they are on a diet of cream puffs). Life isn't always fair.  The only thing that is fair is the Butler County Fair and that is in June. Such is life.

It sure appears that some folks are more snake bitten that others.  I was with a super-senior friend recently that made a statement like—Some folks just amaze me how they get out of a snake bitten environment—very few do (i.e. might be at any part of the bell curve of life). And those few are just amazing.  Why do some and not others? Good question.  I think in some situations, it’s just a God thing; that’s the only way I see it.  My friend went on to say—I thank the Big Guy in the sky every day for my life.  GeorgeTheCrook says—We sent Jr to school; they didn’t learn him nutten; he learned more on the bus! Has Jr been snake-bitten?

Winston Churhill once said--Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it. 

LuckieEddie says—I really feel sorry for many folks that have no control over their situation.  It is harder for me to feel sorry for others who do have control over their situation but do nutten.  Saturday question—Which one are you? The runt became a grown man at 202 pounds (i.e. as Helen Shirley said--He was a huge, beastly, bulging man)!  It must of been tooo much of Arlene's cooking!  Now the runt weighs 178 and does take a vitiamin pill! Such is life.

It says in the paper soooo it must be right—Among those struggling with psychological issues in modern America are the rich “one-percenters” (especially the mega-rich “one-percent of one-percenters”), according to counselors specializing in assuaging guilt and moderating class hatred.  Sample worries: isolation (so few rich-rich); stress, caused by political hubbub over “inequality”; and insecurity (is my “friend” really just a friend of my money?). Joesixpack says—Soooo it seems to me that a guy could be snake bitten it you don’t have money or if you have toooo much money.  Huh, interesting. According to IRS, the top 1% in America make $380,354 (i.e. that is some of you folks).  Top 5% make 159,619, top 10% make 113,799. 

WorldClassLarry says—There are times in our lives when we are stagnant (i.e. our life is not exciting or don’t seem productive).  We are in these times maybe by choice or maybe we have no choice.  It’s a very unsettling time—eerie time—a time of unpleasantness—can be a boring time—a time which feels negative, unproductive—an isolation chamber time—time of no opportunities—time of stillness—time of life modification—time of inactivity—etc.  It appears like our lives have changed and we can’t do much about it.  It might be a time of quietness—time of a different life--time of inactivity—time of waiting-—etc.  I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—Be still and know that I am God! That can be a big pill to swallow especially if you are a type A personality.  SusieQ says—It appears that some handle it better than others for maybe many different reasons.  What do you think?

When I was a lad my Daddy, Chester, would occasionally take me along to the Willmar Livestock Sales barn for their weekly sale.  We would sometimes stop at the DQ and have a malt.  He would always ask me if I would like another.  He wanted me to get bigger was always my reasoning.  I always said no even though I could have eaten another one.  The reason I always said no was that I knew we didn’t have much money and I didn’t want to spend more money.  I think a malt cost 35 cents.  Ya must remember that our income was about $3,500 at this time.  I know when I was a senior in 1963 our income was $4,600 as my Daddy shared a lot of information with me. 35 cents was .0001 of our family income.  Sooooo, .0001 of a family income of $60,000 today would like paying $6 for a malt.  My mentality was snake-bitten. Crazy huh! What might seem even crazier is that Roseland Reformed Church in Roseland, MN (i.e. the church we attended) built a new building in 1956.  Our parents gave $1,000.  We didn’t have indoor bathroom yet! Crazy!

I recently called some long time clients and asked if I could stop over.  He has Parkinson’s and his wife is his caregiver.  She asked her husband and he said it was ok (i.e. some days he would rather not see folks as his disease gets him all goofed up).  Our conversation started normally but very soon he got right to the point—This is a terrible disease and I don’t like it a bit.  He shared his emotions, frustrations and feelings very openly. But erv, some have it worse than me.  Being an old German farmer, it was surprising to me that he would share his heart as most don’t (i.e. but we have a long, good relationship). Maybe the time was just right. Then his wife shared her emotions, frustrations and feelings.  Wow!  They know that Arlene’s and my life is somewhat similar and know that I understand. We visited for about 20 minutes and cleared the air I think.  We were frank, honest, and to the point.  Their “oomph” was being tested alright. Saturday question—Has your “oomph” ever been tested?

Kids, what time is it?  It’s Howdy Doody time!  One thing we are in control of and that is our attitude.  MissPerfect says—We all have feelings, pleasant and unpleasant; but it depends how we react to those feelings!  Soooo the reality of taking the “big pill” is how we react to it.  Sooooo we need to work on our attitude.  Adjust to our situations and modify our lives accordingly.   That is my opinion.  And it might not be easy but it does make life a lot better.  I’m certain about that. 

While running (i.e. or trotting as Ed calls my running) I went past a house where an elderly gentleman just died.  He was a farmer who owned a nice number of acres.  I thought--his kids just became millionaires.  ItchieBitchie says—I feel like I have been snake bitten by not being of a different family.  A friend (i.e. who might be smarter than the average guy) said to me—erv, when death occurs, money is of no importance.  Soooo true good friend but while on earth, money does give many options (i.e. good and bad options). Saturday question--Do you have a strong love of money?

Some folks appear they are snake bitten! Being a volunteer at Wheaten Franciscan Health Care, I was invited to their continuing education class called, Behavioral Health Diversity: Interacting with Emotional Instability.  I enjoyed the class as I have an interest in this topic.  I learned that addictions interact with many forms of mental disorders. Also I learned that these problems usually stem from three areas: Chemical imbalances, Genetics, and Environmental (i.e. these are the hallmarks and sometimes they interact).  ItchieBitchie says—You can’t fight fire with fire because it causes explosive results.  I also learned that being supportive is really important for folks who have these challenges (i.e. affirmation).  For most of us that is all we can do. There is not a quick fix.  It did not happen overnight and will not be fixed overnight. They also said--The best thing a caregiver can do for the emotionally unstable is to take care of yourself.  But sometimes that is a big pill to swallow.  

LuckieEddie says--The twinkling of an eye or a blink of an eye is to be 5.19 milliseconds, or 5.19 thousandths of a second. In the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. The experience, accident, event etc. is over. I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Soooo I guess in a blink of an eye; it will all make sense.  Of course if folks think they will die like a pig, it doesn’t make any difference.  Soooo there you go.

Mark Bullock on the subject of thanksgiving: “When you ask God in the morning / For His guidance through the day, / Thank Him for the many blessings / He in love has sent your way. / When you’re asking aid from Heaven, / Mingle with your morning prayer / A word of praise and gratitude / For all His kindly care.”

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--We are given enough compassion, to use in service each day.