Evidently mandated: Journal Entry Assignment: Things I Never Knew Until Now
Sept. 22, 1980---Today I was warned not to get my white pants dirty, but someone in this class pushed me, namely S.
Sept. 25, 1980--Today I signed up for trumpet.
Sept. 26, 1980--Today was boring. Nothing really happened,except that I played kickball.
Sept. 29, 1980--Nothing happened today so I'm going to write about Saturday and Sunday. I went to the Red Coach that made me sick. Oh! Today I was goalie.
Sept. 30, 1980--Today I woke up at 7:00 a.m. and watched "Dr. Who." Besides that nothing really happened.
Wed., Oct. 1, 1980--Well, today I decided to go grasshopper hunting for Mr. Scerbo, but played soccer after I found out you had to squish their heads. But I played a good game of soccer. I was goalie, they scored one and we scored two.
Thurs. Oct.2, 1980--I really don't believe it. Tomorrow is my birthday. Well, gotta go.
Fri. Oct.3, 1980--Today at 5:00 a.m. I WAS ten. Out on the playground I played soccer and I got massacred. Not in soccer, though. Anthony saw my journal and man did I get it.
Mon. Oct.6, 1980--Today, nothing happened, so I'm writing about Saturday and Sunday. I got a lot of presents. One of them is Empire Strikes Back figures. And a bike, a digital radio, shirts, and a huge silver coin collection.
Tues., Oct.7, 1980--Well, nothing really happened. Oh, I forgot today we had silent lunch, but I didn't really care. I sort of liked it.
Wed. Oct. 8, 1980--Today was boring. Nothing really happened except Mr. Jones came in and said, "There is to be no talking for fifteen minutes."
Thurs, Oct.9, 1980--Today nothing really happened.
Fri., Oct.10, 1980--Today I found out that there will be no contact activities. I don't know about soccer, But I hate Mr. Jones's rule anyway.
Wed. Oct. 16, 1980--Today in lunch Mr. Jones came in and said that there will be no talking until five of. And made Michele B. stay in his office for a week. But it was a serious crime, coming back from the lunchline.
Oct. 20, 1980--Today nothing really only that we fought out on the playground. Oh, today I'm going to run a mile. You see I've been running a half mile, now I'm going a mile.
Thur., Oct. 23, 1980----Today in lunch (well., I'll just use a couple of names) someone crumpled a "Scooter Pie" and passed it down and somewhere along the line it was thrown. It was thrown about 15 minutes until as I hear Greg threw it on my food, and I was so mad I threw it on the table as hard as I could. Oh, and before that Sheeran threw the Scooter Pie away. But Gary took one of his and threw his. After that Mrs. Simpson came over and made me stand up on stage after the whole class was throwing it. Most everyone stuck up for me but it didn't help.
Thurs. Oct. 27, 1980--Today nothing happened except we had silent lunch.
Wed. Oct. 29, 1980--Today was a normal day nothing very exciting happened just the same old thing.
Fri. Oct. 31, 1980--Today is Halloween and I'm going to be an electronic game, and out on the playground Scott and Gordon were fighting with their fists. I wasn't.
11/3/80--Today there was a "big" fight scheduled with Gordon and Strope but Gordon didn't come out.
11/5/80--Today was a normal day except I missed the bus and my father drove me to school. Oh, I almost forgot yesterday was the election and Reagan won but I wished Carter was elected for president.
11/7/80--Today while we were fooling around I saw Gordon smoking and Greg told.
11/10/80--Today, man it was cold. I was just wearing a jacket and my hands were freezing about ready to fall off. In lunch the mustard was spilled all over the table.
11/2/80--Today was normal. Dickie got whopped in the head by Mike.
11/17/80--Today was normal. Nothing really happened, just that we were supposed to have silent lunch but we didn't.
11/20/80--Today Mr. Scerbo took us out in the snow. We made snowballs about 100 pounds. I got soaking wet because of the snow. I kept on sliding into the little snowballs so they wouldn't be competing with ours.
11/12/80---Today was normal only that we went out in the snow.
12/1/80--A lot of things happened during Thanksgiving vacation. I had a wonderful time. I just don't know where to start.
12/2/80--Today we played smear the ***. Nothing else really happened. You could say it was a normal one. Oh, today Mr. Estramonte was in.
12/3/80--Today I got another point in SS, so that means I'm tied with Mark S. And also two work periods. Oh, today we didn't have recess. We had a work period.
12/4/80---Thank God it's Friday. This week was really long. Lots of homework and a cold. But today wasn't that bad. I played checkers and Bermuda Triangle.
Mon. 12/8/80--Today we didn't go out but we had a play period. It wasn't much fun but it was a time to play.
Tues.12/9/80--Today we went out and Anthony and Mark got hurt.
1/13/81--This is my first entry in 1981. Can you believe we haven't written in over a month. We didn't write about Christmas or even New Year's.
1/16/81--Today nothing much really happened, just that it's 1981. Now I gotta go.
1/29/81--Today we saw a movie on TV in school.
I think it was called the Great Train Robbery. It was by Walt Disney.
3/6/81--Today we went outside. It was
3/31/81--Yesterday President Reagan was shot. The man who shot him was John Warnock Hinckley. He also shot 8 other persons. One was James Brady, the Press Secretary, a D.C. officer and a Secret Service man. Luckily a rib stopped a bullet that saved President Reagan.
4/1/81--This is a new month besides that it was usual.
4/3/81--Today was o.k. except we went out.
4/9/81--Today we went out. Man, were kids hurt. I think Sheeren broke his nose and I got my thumb jammed.
5/5/81--Today I got about 30 sec. of play because I had to do homework.
6/12/81--This is the last day before there's only 1 week left.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Departure
When my son was five years old, he was a patient at Child's Hospital to have his tonsils removed. The hospital was named after a person, not limited to caring for children, but we were in the pediatric unit.
During our stay, there was a total of about six to ten babies who'd had surgery to correct cleft palates. They were all about one year old, the age when they could best tolerate the surgery. It was usual to see nurses and other attendants put them in wheeled highchairs and take them along on their rounds. The reason was to avoid the babies' being isolated in their cribs for long periods of time. The reason for the babies being isolated was the absence of their parents, most of them anyway. The rule in the ward for that type of surgery, dealing with the palate and lips, was that parents were not to visit unless they could stay the entire recovery period. For when the parents would leave, the babies would cry, and thus jeopardize their healing.
We were in the hospital three or four days, and amidst all those babies, I don't recall hearing any of them cry. Perched in their highchairs in the doorways of the other patient's rooms, they mostly sat and observed in silence, with solemn expressions.
Missing the parental attachment might have been crushing to them, but not as devastating as saying good-bye.
During our stay, there was a total of about six to ten babies who'd had surgery to correct cleft palates. They were all about one year old, the age when they could best tolerate the surgery. It was usual to see nurses and other attendants put them in wheeled highchairs and take them along on their rounds. The reason was to avoid the babies' being isolated in their cribs for long periods of time. The reason for the babies being isolated was the absence of their parents, most of them anyway. The rule in the ward for that type of surgery, dealing with the palate and lips, was that parents were not to visit unless they could stay the entire recovery period. For when the parents would leave, the babies would cry, and thus jeopardize their healing.
We were in the hospital three or four days, and amidst all those babies, I don't recall hearing any of them cry. Perched in their highchairs in the doorways of the other patient's rooms, they mostly sat and observed in silence, with solemn expressions.
Missing the parental attachment might have been crushing to them, but not as devastating as saying good-bye.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Loss
When her last surviving sister died, Helen was left alone, the last member of her generation. Two generations were gone; she had no one left: parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters, all gone before her. All the important people in her life had left her, and she took her latest loss hard. Call it grief, or mourning, or by whatever name, but she called it "that all-gone feeling."
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Ooph-thalmology + Hello From the Other Side, Nov. 23, and 26
The inimitable Dr. Sax told Dave that he doesn't need to see him again for 2 years, though he scheduled a follow up appointment with his associate one year from now. He advised him that everything looked good, except for the Red Sox stickers on his cane.
Since I was in the office, I asked at the desk if Dr. Weiner was still seeing patients there. "Yes, every Tuesday," was the answer. Several weeks ago, on the eve of my appointment, the office cancelled my visit with him, due to his not being available. The rep said a manager would call me back to reschedule, which has not happened. Could I have been un-patiented? Talk about rejection.
UPDATE----Nov. 23
After a month had passed, I decided to call to learn my status as a patient. Sorry, they said, the reason no one had called me was that they'd been very busy. My reschedule must be in 2 parts. I need the more intensive, thus lengthier, field-of-vision test, and then an appointment wit Dr. Weiner. The first visit was scheduled for 10:40 on Nov. 23, in the Clifton Park office. I arrived at 10:30, and after a short wait, a rep came out and said she had to talk to me. She apologized and said that the machine was broken, and she hadn't had time to call me before I left my house. They have a call in to repair and hope for an answer this afternoon, so if I wanted to go out for lunch, then I could return and find out if the machine is fixed. No, I said, too iffy, and I have other things to do--true story there. She told me again how sorry she was and she promised to call me back this afternoon or that night to let me know if the repair had been made, or if I would need to reschedule. "I'll call either way," she emphasized. That was 3 days ago, and no call. My appointment with the inimitable Dr. W. is scheduled for next Tuesday, shortly before he leaves the country for a 9 week or so stay. I wonder if I'll get a call to confirm or cancel. The ball is in their hands because there is no way they're going to hear from me.
UPDATE---Nov. 26
I received a recorded message confirming my appointment on Dec.1 with Dr. Weiner. Since the field of vision test which was the basis for my visit did not happen due to a broken machine, and since no one contacted me to notify me of its repair and to reschedule,as promised, there is no point in a visit with Dr. Weiner. That was made clear to me when they cancelled my October 3 visit due to his "unavailability." I said they were not going to hear from me, but because the vision test was in the Clifton Park office and the Dr. W. visit in Troy, I waited until Friday to call, but learned the office is closed until Monday. So be it.
Since I was in the office, I asked at the desk if Dr. Weiner was still seeing patients there. "Yes, every Tuesday," was the answer. Several weeks ago, on the eve of my appointment, the office cancelled my visit with him, due to his not being available. The rep said a manager would call me back to reschedule, which has not happened. Could I have been un-patiented? Talk about rejection.
UPDATE----Nov. 23
After a month had passed, I decided to call to learn my status as a patient. Sorry, they said, the reason no one had called me was that they'd been very busy. My reschedule must be in 2 parts. I need the more intensive, thus lengthier, field-of-vision test, and then an appointment wit Dr. Weiner. The first visit was scheduled for 10:40 on Nov. 23, in the Clifton Park office. I arrived at 10:30, and after a short wait, a rep came out and said she had to talk to me. She apologized and said that the machine was broken, and she hadn't had time to call me before I left my house. They have a call in to repair and hope for an answer this afternoon, so if I wanted to go out for lunch, then I could return and find out if the machine is fixed. No, I said, too iffy, and I have other things to do--true story there. She told me again how sorry she was and she promised to call me back this afternoon or that night to let me know if the repair had been made, or if I would need to reschedule. "I'll call either way," she emphasized. That was 3 days ago, and no call. My appointment with the inimitable Dr. W. is scheduled for next Tuesday, shortly before he leaves the country for a 9 week or so stay. I wonder if I'll get a call to confirm or cancel. The ball is in their hands because there is no way they're going to hear from me.
UPDATE---Nov. 26
I received a recorded message confirming my appointment on Dec.1 with Dr. Weiner. Since the field of vision test which was the basis for my visit did not happen due to a broken machine, and since no one contacted me to notify me of its repair and to reschedule,as promised, there is no point in a visit with Dr. Weiner. That was made clear to me when they cancelled my October 3 visit due to his "unavailability." I said they were not going to hear from me, but because the vision test was in the Clifton Park office and the Dr. W. visit in Troy, I waited until Friday to call, but learned the office is closed until Monday. So be it.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Avoid the Pain
When my firstborn had a potential orthopedic condition, Dr. Grattan, pediatrician and most respected of all doctors, referred her to an orthopedist, Dr. Paish. He seemed a little edgy in a way, but I went by the recommendation and all turned out well.
A few years later, the father of this child twisted his knee in the driveway while playing hide and seek with the kids around the parked car on a snowy day. He had to crawl back into the house, unable to bend his leg to any degree at all. Since he was almost totally unfamiliar with medical procedures of any kind, he wanted to see a chiropractor, probably recommended by someone he worked with. I remember driving through wintry weather to some place in Albany to see a Dr. Harbinger. He left the office quickly, as the chiropractor couldn't bend the leg even slightly.
So we consulted Dr. Paish, who diagnosed a torn meniscus, and advised immediate surgery. He scheduled the surgery for early morning the next day; in those days you had to spend the night before in the hospital. That evening was very snowy, and slippery, so Don offered to drive us there, accompanied by Barbara, as I recall. We entered the waiting room, the four of us, and just as he was preparing to sign in, Dave had a change of heart. He wanted to get another opinion, or wait for it to get better. I can't quite recollect all his reasoning, or non-reasoning. So home we drove, through the cold and darkness, ice and falling snow.
Early the next day, Dr. Paish called, looking for his would-be surgical patient. In essence, the conversation was "Where the Hell are you? And if you don't reschedule before 24 hours are up, I won't operate. And you'll have ruined any chances of saving the use of your knee."
The surgery was scheduled for a Monday, the first medical visits for any of us except for pediatric issues. It was a tough surgery in those days, and recovery even tougher. When Dr. Paish made his post-surgical visit on that Monday, I can still hear his words. "I'll stop in to see you on Wednesday. Not tomorrow; tomorrow you'll be in a lot of pain and I don't like to see my patients in pain. See you Wednesday."
And so it goes.
A few years later, the father of this child twisted his knee in the driveway while playing hide and seek with the kids around the parked car on a snowy day. He had to crawl back into the house, unable to bend his leg to any degree at all. Since he was almost totally unfamiliar with medical procedures of any kind, he wanted to see a chiropractor, probably recommended by someone he worked with. I remember driving through wintry weather to some place in Albany to see a Dr. Harbinger. He left the office quickly, as the chiropractor couldn't bend the leg even slightly.
So we consulted Dr. Paish, who diagnosed a torn meniscus, and advised immediate surgery. He scheduled the surgery for early morning the next day; in those days you had to spend the night before in the hospital. That evening was very snowy, and slippery, so Don offered to drive us there, accompanied by Barbara, as I recall. We entered the waiting room, the four of us, and just as he was preparing to sign in, Dave had a change of heart. He wanted to get another opinion, or wait for it to get better. I can't quite recollect all his reasoning, or non-reasoning. So home we drove, through the cold and darkness, ice and falling snow.
Early the next day, Dr. Paish called, looking for his would-be surgical patient. In essence, the conversation was "Where the Hell are you? And if you don't reschedule before 24 hours are up, I won't operate. And you'll have ruined any chances of saving the use of your knee."
The surgery was scheduled for a Monday, the first medical visits for any of us except for pediatric issues. It was a tough surgery in those days, and recovery even tougher. When Dr. Paish made his post-surgical visit on that Monday, I can still hear his words. "I'll stop in to see you on Wednesday. Not tomorrow; tomorrow you'll be in a lot of pain and I don't like to see my patients in pain. See you Wednesday."
And so it goes.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Pain Unto Death
" I am at grips with the worst, the most sudden, the most painful, the most mortal, and the most irremediable of all diseases. I have already experienced five or six very long and painful attacks of it. And yet I flatter myself, or there are even in this state means of standing fast for a man whose soul is free from the fear of death and unburdened of the menaces, conclusions, and consequences with which the doctors stuff our heads. But the actual pain itself is not such a harsh and piercing sharpness as to drive a well-balanced man to rage and despair. I have at least this advantage from my stone: that it will achieve what I had not hitherto been able to bring about in myself in order to become wholly reconciled and acquainted with death for the more it oppresses and troubles me, the less fearful will death be to me. I had already attained the point of only being attached to life for the sake of life, but my pain will dissolve even this understanding; and God grant that in the end, if its sharpness happens to exceed my strength, it may not drive me to the other no less wicked extreme of longing and wishing to die."
Michel de Montaigne 1533-1592
Michel de Montaigne 1533-1592
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