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WITandWISDOM(tm) - June 27, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Habits are cobwebs at first; cables at last. - Chinese Proverb Source: Carol's Thought for Today, http://home.comcast.net/~mrs.carol/ ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: A Second Life © By Cynthia Groopman February 28, 1988, will always be the beginning of my second life. Sixteen years ago I received a prescription cough medication. Although pleasant tasting, it would change my life and my vision forever. I awoke at midnight from a fitful sleep with a pounding headache and red eyes that felt like they were going to pop out of my head. Everything seemed hazy. My dad and brother accompanied me to the local eye and ear hospital. In the taxi, tears began to stream down my face. What was happening to me? I thought. I was 39 years old, active, vibrant and enjoyed life. I was an elementary school English teacher. An intern and nurse awaited me in the emergency room. The intern looked into my eyes and measured the pressure, which was 55 in each eye. When I showed him the cough medicine bottle, he said that I was one in five who experiences an adverse reaction. Immediately the doctor and nurse went to work to lower the pressure with injections, liquids, pills and drops. I was in the emergency room all night and into the wee hours of the morning. I had laser surgery, and the pressure was lowered. The sight in both eyes, however, was gone. I found myself in a dark and isolated world. I thought to myself: What purpose do I have now? In the taxi going home, I listed in my mind some goals to reach by the year 2002. I was just imagining things and thought that this would allay my fears. In the beginning it was like a bad dream. Going to the doctor. Using drops and Just sitting around and moping. I felt I had to retire from my job. The medical board asked me stupid questions. I then underwent intensive rehabilitation and was taught new skills, including cane travel. I began taking adult education courses from the Hadley School for the Blind. Later, I would become Student of the Year. In 1991, I became a social work, educational and recreational volunteer professional at the local seniors center where I began to utilize my skills as a teacher. I taught ESL, conducted groups and spoke to the homebound and counseled people. I was named Volunteer of the Year and blessed by the Monsignor. I was adjusting to life because I had a purpose. I was photographed for Time Magazine, using the Reading Edge machine and inspired others. Time passed, and I realized that the goals I had verbally listed on that February night were becoming realities. I began to write poetry and was one of the best poets for three years. I was awarded a Citation of Honor for volunteer service, the Hero of Winter Exceptional and Role Model Person. My fondest dream came true when, in August 2001, I had a Bat Mitzvah at age 53. Today, I mentor children and talk to groups about blindness. My letters appear in our local papers, and I am interested and involved in social actions with senior citizens. The ability to use the computer was my last goal, and I had special technology lessons. My life is full. I have insight, the ability to grow, lead a productive life and see the light of the Lord. My life is truly rich and blessed, and yes, now I know the true purpose of my life. God gave me an unconquerable soul. By Cynthia Groopman, mailto:Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net Submitted by BJ Weymouth ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. - (Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder) This is how it develops . . . I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox, when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only 1 check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of soda that I had been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the can of soda aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the soda is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the soda, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye – they need to be watered. I set the soda down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day ----the car isn't washed, ----the bills aren't paid, ----there is a warm can of soda sitting on the counter, ----the flowers don't have enough water, ----there is still only 1 check in my check book, ----I can't find the remote, ----I can't find my glasses, ----and I don't remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming! P.S. I just remembered. I left the water running in the driveway! Submitted by Betty Lou Boyd ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Since spaghetti is now 'pasta' and a TV set is a 'home entertainment system,' the manager of my grocery store did his best to jazz up the lowly egg. He still has some work to do. A sign he put up in the dairy section advertised "Boneless Chicken." Source: The Lame Humor List, http://absoluterobeo.com ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Clinics in a Chinese city are letting patients walk the streets while they have IV infusions to save bed space. The move, in Zhijin town, Guizhou province, has reportedly proved popular with patients as it means they can go about their business. The sight of patients doing their shopping while clutching their drips has become common in the town, reports China News Network. "There are dozens of small clinics in town, and they are competing to give better service," said one patient. "The clinics are also happy, since they get more free space." After the infusion, patients have to take out the needles themselves. Source: Ananova (06-15-07) http://www.ananova.com Here is one of the IV Infusion patients: http://tinyurl.com/34439r