Poetry and Ideas for Tussie-Greetings You are welcome to copy/paste anything from here that will help you with the message you want to send. You can choose some of this poetry, but be sure you have chosen the herbs that best express your thoughts and feelings towards the purrson. Exp: I send these herbs and flowers wrapped up in a pink satin ribbon to convey the wishes of my heart. Here is a touch of Angelica, a small bit of Chickweed, and a single Red Rose, all surrounded with a good lot of Catnip to let you know how I feel. Happy Birthday! I put together this little bouquet, To make you happy on your special day. I picked a bit of Angelica, Added a touch of Dill. I laced it with some Lady's Mantle, And put some Parsley 'round for frill. I found some pretty pansies, tucked them with some Marigolds. Then I wrapped them all in lace, and a purrple ribbon that holds. Please accept this with my warmest wishes, May your day be merry and your cake delicious ;) Sweetheart Roses are red, Violets are blue. The language of flowers, Says I love you! Wishes made A dream, a prayer, a wish come true. Of love's heart it asks of you. To take a chance on wishes made. Join the dance of life's parade. I wish for you Forget-Me-Nots, Chamomile for which I sought. Add a touch of Clover forever true, and Chrysanthemums just for you. Sometimes when we touch The honesty's too much And I have to close me eyes and sigh. I'm going to love you until I die Until we both break down and cry. I'm going to love you... Until the fear in me subsides. Winter in My Garden I'm cold. My paws tingle tiny ice needles. Numbness Why can I only feel pain? I draw in a breath. Thin, frozen air meets my tongue. I feel my heart glaze over. I step I stumble Where are the roses? I can't see. Traces of wilted petals in the snow. Claws scrape the surface of the well. No wishes. It's a cold winter night in my garden. (Suggested herbs:Calendula, Elder, Fennel and Lily of the Valley) There fell a silvery-silken veil of light, With quietude, and sultriness, and slumber, Upon the upturned faces of a thousand Roses that grew in an enchanted garden, Where no wind dared to stir Psyche, Edgar Allan Poe Its garden, too, glowed with flowers: hollyhocks had sprung up tall as trees, lilies had opened, tulips and roses were in bloom; the borders of the little beds were gay with pink thrift and crimson double daisies; the sweetbriars gave out, morning and evening, their scent of spice and apples Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte And here were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. Kubla Khan, S.T. Coleridge Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~

The Language of Herbs and Flowers Agrimony: Protection and restfulness Aloe: Healing, shelter from harm. Amaranth: Heal a broken heart Angelica: Inspiration Anise: Youth and good dreams Basil: Love, good wishes,wealth and hate Bay: Achievement and fame Bayberry: Good luck Beebalm: Virtue Borage: Bravery and courage Calendula: Sadness, hopelessness Chamomile: Wisdom, fortitude Catnip: Good luck and playful love Cedar: Wealth, power and longevity Chervil: Sincerity Chickweed: Attract love and maintain relationships Chives: Usefulness and protection Cilantro: Hidden feelings, concealed merit Clover: Luck, prosperity and health Coltsfoot: Peace and tranquility Comfrey: Saftey for travelers Chrysanthemum: Cheefulness Customary: Sweetness Damiana: Promote lust Daisy: Purity of thought,loyal love and innocence Dill: Good cheer, survival in the face of odds and irrisistable to your lover Dragon's Blood: Increased potency Elder: Misfortune, zealousness and sympathy (good luck to newley weds) Eucalyptus: Healing False Unicorn: Uplifting Fennel: Grief, power, and endurance Feverfew: Preventing accidents and fevers Forget-Me-Nots: True love Fumitory: Hate Garlic: Strong protection Geranium, Scented: Happiness Geranium, Unscented: Folly Ginger: passion and success Goldenrod: Encouragement Hazel: Fertility Heather: Guard against violent crime Holly: Protection Hops: Sleep and pleasant dreams Horehound: Protection Iris: Pure heart, courage and faith Ivy: Protection and good luck for brides Jasmine: Spiritual love and wealth Lady's Mantle: Protection Lavender: Devotion, strength and chastity Lemon Balm: Sympathy and regeneration Lemon Verbena: Enchantment Lily of the Valley: Return to Happiness Maidenhair Fern: Discretion Marigolds: Heightens the energy within Marjoram: Joy Mint: Refreshment Mugwort: Pleasant journeys and happiness Myrtle: Promotes beauty Nasturtium: Conquest, patriotism, optimism, splendour Oak: Powerful protectant and fertility Orange Flowers: Attraciveness Oregano: Forgetfulness of former loved one Pansy: Conquest, patriotism, optimism, splendour Parsley: Merriment Pennyroyal: Harmony Peony: Protection Peppermint: Healing and cleansing Periwinkle: Restore memory Poppy: Prosperity Rose: Love, success Rose,Burgandy: Unconscious beauty Rose,Coral or Orange: Enthusiasm and desire Rose, Pink: Simplicity, happy love, grace Rose,Red: Passion and desire Rose, White: Gentle love, innocence and purity Rose, Yellow: Infidelity, jealousy, perfect achievement Rosebud: Heart innocent of love Rosemary: Remembrance Rue: grief and repentance Sage: Long life, healing and prosperity Salad Burnet: Cheerful disposition Santolina: Full of virtue Savory: Interest Scullcap: Peace, tranquility and relaxation Slippery Elm: Stops gossip Southernwood: Constancy Sweet Woodruff: Humble spirit Tansy: Hostility Tarragon: Lasting involvement Thyme: Daring Valarian: Stops couple from fighting Violet: Modesty and devotion White Violets: Innocence Willow: Protection and blessings Witch Hazel: Heal a broken heart and cool passions Yarrow: Health and keeps a couple together for 7 years. Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~

Tussie-Mussies You can create your own meaningful bouquet from your garden, meadow or even the local supermarket. It's really very personal and not two are alike. You might start with the flower with the main message, something colorful is nice. This goes in the center and then complimentary herbs are chosen to go around from what you have on hand. You may find whatever looks best, has the perfect sentiment. Trim and pull the bouquet together and wrap the stems in a bit of plastic with a damp cotton ball to keep them fresh. Then put the stems through a paper doily or some stiff lace and wrap the stems in ribbon, tying off in a bow. You are now ready to give a gift with charm, beauty and meaning. Oh, don't forget to send a little note saying what each herb means. You would not want them to think your basil meant hate, when it really meant love. Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~

Bouquets With Meaning A pre-dawn mist drifted across the upper bows of the old oak trees as Sebastion, a young lord of the court, slipped cautiously out into the kitchen gardens of the castle. Glancing over his shoulder in hopes of not being seen, he spead along to the herbs. The fragrant plants let off an exotic aroma as he chose carefully from among them. He hurried out the back gate and into the formal gardens when he heard the grumpy head cook bustle into the kitchens. The first sunray of the morning reached out and touched the dew dampened petals of a perfect red rose. Carefully he used his dagger to cut the bloom, trimming off the thorns. His mind filling with thoughts of Lady Rosilyn as he inhaled it's sweet fragrance. Rosilyn awakened early, even though she had arrived home very late from the gala ball. A soft smile played at her lips as she went about her morning duties. However, as the day wore on, a quiet doubt began to shadow her eyes. Maybe he did not feel as she did. Perhaps it was only her beautiful older sister he wanted to be nearer to, as so many before. Hoof beats in the courtyard brought her out of her reverie. As she rushed to the door she brushed smooth her morning dress. A page was at the door and he swept off his hat, bowing low, he held out a small bouquet. "To M'Lady Rosilyn from Lord Sebastion." Blushing and taking the flowers, she hardly remembered to thank him as she rushed off to her quiet windowsill to examine the nosegay closely. Her heart was in her throat and a light shown in her eyes as she saw there: basil, chervil, a ruffle of dill, sweet lavender and the perfect red rose. Her heart was forever his. These lovely little bouquets have been a familiar British accessory for centuries, but it was the Victorians that raised them to the level of language. For in a tussie-mussie, each plant has a meaning. A young lord might send his lady fair a bouquet of forget-me-nots (true love), rosemary (remembrance), and a bit of southernwood (constancy). If she didn't find the bouquet convincing she might send back yellow roses (for infidelity) and larkspur (for fickleness). He'd better rush back with white violets (innocence) or a lot of Rue (repentance). After laying waste to several flower borders, they might get the matter sorted out, or perhaps she would finish the liaison with a handful of fumitory (for hatred). Today's revival of the tussie-mussies seems to have sidestepped the lovers' quarrel (an herb patch is unlikely to replace e-mails) and concentrated on creating pretty, meaningful, and fragrant bouquets for brides, new mothers, departing friends, new neighbors and anyone in need of a kind word. The little bouquets have even entered politics. As legislation to form the National Herb Garden wobbled through cpngress, various legislators recieved pleas for support in the form of tussie-mussies. The legislation did pass,which might give pause to anyone inclined to dismiss the power of a handful of flowers. Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~

Hi Kath, this sounds really promising. I will save this. Thanks for sharing. Love, Linda Kath wrote: > New spine treatment promising > Damage reversed from osteoporosis > Associated Press > > WASHINGTON -- Bone-thinning osteoporosis was stealing Mary McGrath's spine, > painfully cracking one vertebra after another. Doctors offered no help > except ever stronger painkillers, leaving her increasingly sedated and > bedridden. > > Then a final broken bone brought her to a hospital that offered a new > option: Doctors squirted a special bone glue through a needle into her > spine, stabilizing the crushed vertebra. An hour later, the Virginia woman > woke up pain-free. > > It's called vertebroplasty, and this treatment, plus the even newer version > named kyphoplasty -- which uses a balloon to restore some osteoporosis > patients' lost height -- promise to help many Americans suffering the > severely painful spinal fractures that until now doctors have been > hard-pressed to treat. > > The treatments aren't widely available yet -- only certain specially trained > spinal surgeons and interventional radiologists offer them -- and studies > still are under way to prove just how well they work. Thus, the National > Osteoporosis Foundation cautions patients to get checked carefully to see if > they'll benefit. > > But proponents say the treatments mean many patients no longer will need to > suffer months of pain and bed rest in hopes their spines will heal -- or to > develop osteoporosis' telltale dowager's hump. > > "Up to now we haven't had any option for them," says Dr. Isador Lieberman, a > spinal surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation who has performed more > than 100 kyphoplasties. "Now, why suffer?" > > "The gratifying aspect is the relief is almost instantaneous," agrees > interventional radiologist Dr. Calvin Neithamer of Inova-Mount Vernon > Hospital in Alexandria, Va., who performs a vertebroplasty a week. > > Osteoporosis thins the bones of some 10 million Americans. Some 700,000 > patients a year suffer spinal fractures as a result. They're excruciating, > as sitting or standing compresses the broken vertebra. > > About two-thirds of patients become pain-free after a few months of bed > rest, but the rest have chronic pain. And spinal fractures accumulate, > stealing height and causing digestion and breathing problems as they bend > patients. > > How do the new treatments work? > > With vertebroplasty, doctors use special imaging equipment to guide a needle > about the size of a cocktail straw into the crushed vertebra. Then they > inject bone cement, stabilizing the bone to prevent further collapse. > > Kyphoplasty is more complicated. First a catheter bearing a balloon is > threaded into the cracked vertebra. Inflating the balloon with a special > liquid jacks up the collapsed bone so the cement can be injected, restoring > some height. > > They don't work for everyone, but small studies suggest anywhere from 75 > percent to 90 percent of patients get pain relief. They are outpatient > treatments, but they do come with some risks, such as nerve damage if the > needle hits the wrong spot or the cement leaks. Also, specialists must > ensure the back pain is caused by a compression fracture and not another > reason. > > There's little data comparing the therapies, and some doctors call the newer > kyphoplasty still experimental. Lieberman, however, says kyphoplasty is > better because it can reduce cement leakage by easing bone compression. In a > study of his first 30 patients, to be published this summer, 70 percent of > the treated bone had half the lost height restored. > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > folk·lore 1. traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or > art forms preserved among a people 2 : a branch of knowledge that > deals with folklore 3 : an often unsupported notion, story, or > saying that is widely circulated Merriam-Webster

5 Frugal Birthday Parties by Rachel Webb - Rachel@Note-Ables.com Letting your child host a Birthday Party is a great way to show your child that they are important to you as well as a fun way to encourage them to befriend other children their age. It can also teach them how to graciously accept and give gifts and other social skills. Notice I said "letting your child host the party", as opposed to you throwing a party for them. What is the difference? Children should help plan their own party, unless of course it is a surprise party! Kids really enjoy choosing the theme, making a guest list, address the invitations and helping to decorate. Hosting a birthday party does not need to be an expensive affair to be fun. Here are ideas that will keep your party budget under control. 1) A table cloth can help make clean up a breeze but if you have several birthday parties throughout the year buying disposable paper tablecloths can really waste your money. Purchase a party tablecloth that can be laundered and used at other parties. Choose a color that is non gender specific like yellow, green, or red. 2) If you want plates, cups and napkins that match your theme, purchase them in a party set for the best economical value. www.PartyShopMom.com offers lots of theme parties in a box. Colleen Caldwell is a frugal mom herself. E-Mail her and mention this article for a 10% discount and details. 3) Try buying crafting supplies for a make-and-take party favor - its a great way to combine an activity and the favor in one and can often save on the budget too! 4) You can really save money by making your own invitations instead of buying them, or decorating the birthday cake instead of purchasing from the bakery. Themed cake pans can be rented for about $5 at party stores but you can also purchase them onsale for about the same price. 5) Young children love balloons and they can serve double duty as not only the decorations but a take home gift. I have found that It is often much cheaper to buy your own balloons and then take them to the local grocery store to have them filled for you. If you are needing a lot of balloons, check into the price of renting a helium tank to save money. Below are some themed party ideas that are kid tested and mother approved! Best of all - most cost under $20! DINOSAUR BIRTHDAY PARTY FAIRY TALE BIRTHDAY PARTY JUNGLE ANIMAL BIRTHDAY PARTY UNDER THE SEA BIRTHDAY PARTY HIGH FASHION TEA PARTY Author Rachel Webb designs 100% Magnetic Fridge Calendars made entirely out of heavy duty magnet. Both Affordable and Decorative they are a great way to Schedule Family First! Visit: http://www.Note-Ables.com or E-Mail Discount@Note-Ables.com and mention this site for a $2 off coupon! Recommend This Article To A Friend! Don't miss out on any of these great money-saving ideas...have them delivered right to your e-mail box every Friday by subscribing to Creative Homemaking today! Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~

from Rebecca! Happy gardening! If you want color and blooms all summer long, annuals can't be beat! Here are five very easy annuals to grow: 1. For sunny locations, one of my favorite annuals is ALYSSUM. 2. If you think you can't grow flowers, MARIGOLDS will prove you wrong. They're truly one of the easiest annuals to grow. They come in a wide variety of sizes -- from 6 to 36 inches, and their color is usually yellow and orange. If you want to encourage more blooms, make sure you pinch off their heads after you plant them. And they also like sunny locations. 3. Another great annual for sunny spots is the PETUNIA. They come in enough colors to match any color scheme. And there's so many varieties that you'll find one that creeps, crawls, or cascades -- whatever your need! 4. To brighten up a shady spot, check out IMPATIENS. They come in a wide variety of colors. They'll grow 6 to 36 inches. The only thing they require is moist, fertile soil. 5. The vivid foliage from COLEUS makes this a great plant for the shade garden. It'll grow about 36 inches tall (as long as you keep it pinched). Don't forget to watch "Rebecca's Garden" on TV this weekend! Check your local TV listings or log on to http://tv.tribune.com/showfinder/search/0,1001,rebecca,FF.html to find out show times in your area. Here's a sample of what's on THIS weekend's show: MODEL TRAIN GARDEN Take a train trip without leaving the garden! Model trains and miniature landscapes -- learn about this growing trend in gardening, while enjoying two of the country's favorite hobbies! TUSSIE-MUSSIES These tiny bouquets represent love, devotion and romance. Find out how to create arrangements that express your feelings with flowers. VEGGIE GARDEN MAINTENANCE Keep your garden healthy and happy with Rebecca's three-step maintenance plan. Until next week, keep those hands dirty! ----------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to visit us at http://www.rebeccasgarden.com ! Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~

Thanks Pat~! Wowee~! kath > You can see the picture here http://www.netlaughter.com/bigcat2.htm > > > wish i could attach the pic cat is huge~! > > This cat is amazing > > Rodger Degagne, a former employee with AECL in Chalk River, may be > embarking on a new career as Feline Breeder. Relaxing in his spacious > home on the shores of the Ottawa River, Mr. Degagne recalls how 15 years > ago he befriended two stray young cats on the old AECL research facility > at Chalk River. The kittens had appeared in late summer and apparently > had gotten under a security fence around the old labs abandoned since > the late 50's.

Thanks Linda. Let us know how you like it. Sounds good~! :-) kath > This sounds great Kath. Think I will make this > on Friday. Thanks for the recipe!! > Love ya, > Linda > > Kath wrote: > > > Mustard & Herb Chicken Breasts > > Serving Size: 4

loved it thank you sweet for all you do. kisses missi > > THE FIDDLER AND THE SEA NYMPH - Sweden > > MANY YEARS ago a dancing society of Brasta, a village in the parish of Stora > Mellosa, planned a great Christmas festival, to which, on the appointed day, > old and young flocked from far and near, knowing that Sexton Kant, of > Norrbyas, would be there with his fiddle, and assured that fun would run > riot. Kant, it is related, was no ordinary fiddler, not a little proud of > his skill, and ready at the least word of praise to laud himself to the > skies. > > When the merry making had gone well into the night and the pleasures were > at their height, some one remarked that not many could measure themselves > with Father Kant, when he let the bow leap over the strings and played in > "tour voices," as he himself called it. Nothing further was needed. Kant, > always ready to begin where the others left off, declared that the devil, > good player as he was reputed to be, could not compete with him in the waltz > which they had just heard. This boast came near costing Kant dear. When the > dance ended and he set out in the night on his way home, he met, near the > hill of Bjurbacka, a young woman clad in white, who saluted him and > addressed him as follows: > > "If you will play a polka for me, Father Kant, I will dance for you." > > So said, so done. Father Kant sat himself upon a stone and applied the bow > to the strings of the instrument. Instantly he lost all control of himself. > Such a polka as now came from his fiddle he had never expected to hear, much > less play. The tones seemed to come without help from him. The how hounded > over the strings and his arm was forced to follow. One melody followed > another; his arm became numb, but the music continued in the same wild > measure. > > Kant now understood that something was wrong. Finally he burst forth: > > "God forgive me, poor sinner. What have I brought upon myself?" > >

IM not and that scares my family. I seen death in the eyes I know with all my heart the soul moves on. IM not afraid to die my fear is for those I leave behind. Hopefully i have taught my children my views on death and when the good Lord comes to claim me. my family will know IM with Richard and i will haunt them often :) missi > > >

peanuts are grown?? hmmmm never seen a peanut tree. miss > > Gentle Friend -- > > You can buy "seed peanuts" not "peanut seeds" in any of the > larger seed stores (you can't grow them from roasted peanuts). A > container in a patio garden will probably yield enough peanuts > for > about half a peanut butter sandwich. A better solution is to go > to a natural food or health food store, and buy raw peanuts. > They > can explain how to make natural peanut butter (I used to do > this, but my recipes are all paper and filed away). It's really > quite easy. > > John > Goshen IN, (Not a major peanut growing area) > > PS. This suggestion is also a good way to make cashew and other > > nut butters. > > >

Yay~! :-) Don't stop now. (not so subtle hint) :-) That was a neat site Patti, thanks again kath > Yipee, I did it right! It went through!!! Cool. > Patti > > > Great site, Patti! Thanks for sharing it! > pat :@) > > > http://members.aol.com/wmjbkr/confections.html

Together We Can Make It Bob Butler lost his legs in a 1965 land mine explosion in Vietnam. He returned home a war hero. Twenty years later, he proved once again that heroism comes from the heart. Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby house. He rolled his wheelchair toward the house, but the dense shrubbery wouldn't allow him access to the back door. So the veteran got out of his chair and crawled through the dirt and bushes. "I had to get there," he says. "It didn't matter how much it hurt." When Butler arrived at the house, he traced the screams to the pool, where a three-year-old girl was lying at the bottom. She had been born without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. Her mother stood over her baby screaming frantically. Butler dove to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. Her face was blue, she had no pulse and she was not breathing. Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department. She was told the paramedics were already out on a call. Helplessly, she sobbed and hugged Butler's shoulder. As Butler continued with his CPR, he calmly reassured Stephanie's mother. "Don't worry," he said. "I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. I'm now her lungs. Together we can make it." Seconds later the little girl coughed, regained consciousness and began to cry. As they hugged and rejoiced together, the mother asked Butler how he knew it would be okay. "When my legs were blown off in the war, I was all alone in a field," he told her. "No one was there to help except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into her village, she whispered in broken English, 'It okay. You can live. I be your legs. Together we make it.'" "This was my chance," he told Stephanie's mom, "to return the favor." By Dan Clark Reprinted by permission of Dan Clark (c) 2000, from Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Paul J. Meyer, Barbara Russell Chesser and Amy Seegar. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« You're Just Jealous Because The Voices Are Talking To Me Richiele Sloan ICQ #63829109 (Missi) »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Hi Angie, You expressed my feelings here too. kath > Probably for many reasons do people fear death. It's an unknown and we have > to experience it alone . Many people fear being alone, or leaving their loved > ones. I guess there are many reasons, even just the fear of change. And it's > beyond our control and us humans, well, we like to be in control, don't we? > :) > angie > > << Why is everybody so afraid to die? > >> > > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning" > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« >

LOL~! Too True~! :-) used to be that way here Janis, but John does about all the cooking now. I remember my shock though when we were first married...... I said "let's bar-b-que" and he said sounds good. He thought I was going to do the grilling. LOL~! :-) Being a country girl from Illinois, it was a surprise to me that he didn't even consider he would be cooking. ??? back there, it's strictly man's work. <Tim Toolman Taylor sound> Now though, it's totally his domain. He's the fire king. <G> kath > Barbecue > > > It's the only type of cooking a "real" man will do. When a man > volunteers > to do such cooking, the following chain of events is put into motion. > > 1. The woman goes to the store. > 2. The woman fixes the salad, vegetables, and dessert. > 3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along > with > the necessary cooking utensils, and takes it to the man, who is lounging > > beside the grill, drinking a beer. > 4. The man places the meat on the grill. > 5. The woman goes inside to set the table and check the vegetables. > 6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. > 7. The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman. > 8. The woman prepares the plates and brings them to the table. > 9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes. > 10. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off." > 11. Upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no > pleasing some women.

GOODNIGHT, MOM I listened from the kitchen to an unremarkable conversation occurring in the bedroom. "You need to put your slippers there by the edge of the bed." "Oh, OK..." "If you don't, you'll forget they are in the middle of the floor. If you have to get up in the middle of the night you might trip and break your neck!" After a girlish giggle, the second voice answered, "OK, I'll move them now." "Good girl. I don't want you getting hurt..." "Thank you. It's nice you are here to help me..." But the conversation was not unremarkable -- there was only one person in the bedroom. My mother could best be described as the original earth-mother with Victorian sensibilities. In another time, she loved to garden and feel the warm earth in her hands. Recreation was being driven along some mountain road watching for wildlife -- she never learned to drive. She was always simple in her lifestyle and had spiritual ideas that were a curious blend of the 1960s and a more pious, religious era. She saw God in all things natural, and yet was very modest and believed it was very important for people to dress modestly. She did not attend church, but tithed, read scripture and many religious magazines. She believed in "live and let live" and yet was highly offended at the freewheeling, open expression of the 60s. Her health and her mental function had been deteriorating slowly in the past year, and for the preceding year she increasingly talked out loud to herself. It was not a conversation, but a monologue -- not so unlike what we often do if we bump our arm and say out loud to ourselves, "Now, why did you do that?" The only difference was that her monologue was increasingly frequent. But that changed one day. Probably some unknown, unseen bit of plaque on the wall of an artery somewhere had dislodged, and then obstructed a small blood vessel that fed some small area of my mother's brain. Suddenly, she became fearful, even paranoid, and the monologue become a dialog. There was a child-like voice, and one that seemed adult, which I called "the protector." That voice alternatively praised, reminded, and admonished the girlish voice. But, and I don't say this with impertinence, for several weeks that two-in-one person got by and together made almost a whole person as we had innumerable doctor visits and tests. Unfortunately, the two voices soon became three and then five. The diagnosis was Alzheimer's -- although it is not classic Alzheimer's, as I understand it. Whatever its name, does not change the fact of what it is. The realization came to us, her family, but not to her, that her 85 years of independent life was gone. We faced the horrible choice that all too many face -- how to care for someone who requires more physical and mental care than a family can provide. We made the heart wrenching decision to place her into a nursing home. I sat one night in her wheelchair, by her bed, as she sat on the edge of the bed. I asked if I could help her undress and put on her nightgown. She answered, "Why, thank you." She unbuttoned her blouse as she chatted with her unseen companions. The medications made them less intrusive, and her less fearful. I helped her take off her blouse. "Can you unhook this?" she said referring to her bra. I knew at that instant the mother I had known and loved all my life was in a very real way gone from this world. She would have never disrobed in front of me. Certainly the body lived on, but her essence was gone. I got her into her nightgown, and tucked her into bed. I touched her cheek with the back of my forefinger, smoothed her hair behind her ear, and said, "I love you, mom," as I kissed her on the cheek. "See you another day." "Goodnight," she said as I was walking out the door of her room. I turned and smiled, and then turned again and walked out of the door of her room. I heard the protector voice say, "Who was that?" "I don't know," another voice responded. The girlish voice said, "He's nice." Their conversation faded as my footsteps echoed down the polished hallway, as I walked towards the Alzheimer Unit's locked door. A nurse's aide let me out of the unit, and I walked past the nurses' station and out the door. It was raining lightly as I walked across the parking lot. But, it must have been enough to blur my vision. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« You're Just Jealous Because The Voices Are Talking To Me Richiele Sloan ICQ #63829109 (Missi) »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Your morning thought for the day: A diplomat can tell a man he's open minded »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« You're Just Jealous Because The Voices Are Talking To Me Richiele Sloan ICQ #63829109 (Missi) »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Sheesh~! LOL~! Duh @ the Park Ranger. kath National Anthem > Students Silenced While Singing National Anthem

missi, I saw it on the news not too long ago. It was out in the middle of nowhere that's for sure. Elsie At 11:42 AM 5/11/01 -0400, you wrote: > > Did you ever hear about it? A phone booth miles from anyplace, ringing > > with calls from around the world. Naturally this wonderful strangeness > > could not be tolerated by the park service bureaucrats. > >