Hello Grafted In Readers,
Today is February 23, 2017 in my corner of blog land. This is the last post by me as a 64 year-old blogger, as in a couple days I have a birthday! When I took the course, Developmental Psychology, over forty years ago, age 60 and over was considered elderly. Whether that has changed or not, I haven't noticed. Anyhow, today I was looking at the Mayo Clinic newsletter, HouseCall, and they had some tips on the issue of falling. This is a leading cause of injury for older adults. I paraphrase the recommendations offered.
- Wear sensible footwear, no high heels, pick footwear with non-skid soles. Choose slippers that fit properly.
- Keep moving. Consider walks, water workout, or a gentle form of balance exercise called tai chi.
- When visiting your primary care provider, discuss what eye or ear disorders contribute to risk of falls. Review what supplements or medications are taken, especially those considered to be sedating or anti-depressant. Some adjustment might be made in dosage of these medications or supplements if felt to raise significant risk for fall.
Other Items: I am currently reading an autobio of American Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin. He is originally from Boston, comes from a family of 17 children, had a variety of occupations, wrote extensively.
I am helping edit stories included in a forthcoming anthology about forgiveness. When these are published, will advise and highly recommend readers consider obtaining copies. Stories are personal and well-written accounts about this human action. One thing seems true for all of us, forgiving takes time and practice.
Until our next visit, thanks for stopping by and saying hello when you do. Your words are truly welcomed!
Kevod Yeheveh, His Presence be with you.
Mellow Rock
David Russell
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
The Umteenth Valentines Day (Story by blogger and author, David Russell)
Hello Grafted In Readers,
For Valentines Day which is February 14, I would like to feature a flash fiction story I composed titled, The Umteenth Valentines Day. Do Barry and Belinda love by letting each live their life, or do they love by doing what the market specialists advise?
Any comments, please leave them after you read this.
-------
The Umteenth Valentines Day
David Russell
Barry put his coffee cup in the sink, put on his winter jacket, stepped out into the big winter chill and began to scrape the overnight ice off the front of his Ford Torus. He thought,
"I'm tired of these damned cold February mornings. The car barely starts. I always have to scrape the windows. On and on and on. Sheesh, when will it end?"
These thoughts were not new to Barry. They rumbled like a train through his head on schedule every winter. They started after the first of the year, and traveled like a train with 175 cars going at a cautious rate of speed until the last one passed on the track. Every year he felt like the driver sitting motionless while eyes view the passing train cars and noting the endless trail of them. The only consolation is to day-dream about someone you wish were there.
Then, the numbing radio ads:
"Buy your honey a Pajama-gram."
"Buy your sweetie a Vermont Teddy Bear."
"Buy your lover a weekend at the Motel-6. We'll leave the light on for you."
"Buy your honey a divorce," he said one morning in retaliation.
February 12 rolled around, and Barry was clueless as to what he would do for the Umteenth Valentines Day. He and Belinda had been lovers for 16 years. They had two adolescent children that added to the momentum of daily life. One was in volleyball and the other was in gymnastics.
He went to work, and filed the accounts that were on his desk leftover from the previous day. Late in the afternoon, he received a phone call from Rene who managed the Badinage, a cozy, modest-priced restaurant that had a sing-along piano-bar in its confines.
"Barry, we're in a pickle. Bernard cannot play tomorrow night. Would you fill in? Will buy you and Belinda dinner and drinks?"
Barry felt like he had been rescued from a sinking ship and whisked on to a lifeboat. He could feel the air of salvation.
"Sure, what time?"
"How about from 6:00 until 9:30?"
"Got it, will be there."
"Thanks Barry. I knew I could count on you!"
Barry and Rene knew each other from university chorus when they attended Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. They now lived in Lansing, the state capitol. Rene managed the Badinage restaurant, which attracted young professionals and divorcees looking for new beginnings. Often, patrons would sing solos that portrayed what might be going on in their private life. Over time regulars became friends and a sort of social therapy group loosely formed. Barry would occasionally fill in for Bernard, their regular piano man. He envied his position but more the patrons.
"Belinda, this Valentines Day you get to be my groupie. We're going to the Badinage for dinner, drinks and piano-bar entertainment."
"Oh joy. I would rather stay home and watch Jeopardy."
"You don't want to be with your husband, the star of Lansing?"
"I"ll wait up for you."
So, the Umteenth Valentines Day included Barry and Belinda eating breakfast together, separating for work, and then watching the 11:00 news together when he arrived home after playing at the Badinage and having a club sandwich with Rene and the staff.
"You know Belinda, love might just sometimes be letting each other live life the way each is meant to live it. Happy Valentines Day."
"Happy Valentines Day to you, Barry." They embraced and she tweaked the hair on his chest for a while, which he liked before they married. He gave her a body massage while some music by J. S. Bach played in the background on the CD player. Then, in private intimacy, they laid side-by-side like spoons and found contentment in just being together, drifting off to their sleep abode.
-----
Mellow Rock
David Russell
For Valentines Day which is February 14, I would like to feature a flash fiction story I composed titled, The Umteenth Valentines Day. Do Barry and Belinda love by letting each live their life, or do they love by doing what the market specialists advise?
Any comments, please leave them after you read this.
-------
The Umteenth Valentines Day
David Russell
Barry put his coffee cup in the sink, put on his winter jacket, stepped out into the big winter chill and began to scrape the overnight ice off the front of his Ford Torus. He thought,
"I'm tired of these damned cold February mornings. The car barely starts. I always have to scrape the windows. On and on and on. Sheesh, when will it end?"
These thoughts were not new to Barry. They rumbled like a train through his head on schedule every winter. They started after the first of the year, and traveled like a train with 175 cars going at a cautious rate of speed until the last one passed on the track. Every year he felt like the driver sitting motionless while eyes view the passing train cars and noting the endless trail of them. The only consolation is to day-dream about someone you wish were there.
Then, the numbing radio ads:
"Buy your honey a Pajama-gram."
"Buy your sweetie a Vermont Teddy Bear."
"Buy your lover a weekend at the Motel-6. We'll leave the light on for you."
"Buy your honey a divorce," he said one morning in retaliation.
February 12 rolled around, and Barry was clueless as to what he would do for the Umteenth Valentines Day. He and Belinda had been lovers for 16 years. They had two adolescent children that added to the momentum of daily life. One was in volleyball and the other was in gymnastics.
He went to work, and filed the accounts that were on his desk leftover from the previous day. Late in the afternoon, he received a phone call from Rene who managed the Badinage, a cozy, modest-priced restaurant that had a sing-along piano-bar in its confines.
"Barry, we're in a pickle. Bernard cannot play tomorrow night. Would you fill in? Will buy you and Belinda dinner and drinks?"
Barry felt like he had been rescued from a sinking ship and whisked on to a lifeboat. He could feel the air of salvation.
"Sure, what time?"
"How about from 6:00 until 9:30?"
"Got it, will be there."
"Thanks Barry. I knew I could count on you!"
Barry and Rene knew each other from university chorus when they attended Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. They now lived in Lansing, the state capitol. Rene managed the Badinage restaurant, which attracted young professionals and divorcees looking for new beginnings. Often, patrons would sing solos that portrayed what might be going on in their private life. Over time regulars became friends and a sort of social therapy group loosely formed. Barry would occasionally fill in for Bernard, their regular piano man. He envied his position but more the patrons.
"Belinda, this Valentines Day you get to be my groupie. We're going to the Badinage for dinner, drinks and piano-bar entertainment."
"Oh joy. I would rather stay home and watch Jeopardy."
"You don't want to be with your husband, the star of Lansing?"
"I"ll wait up for you."
So, the Umteenth Valentines Day included Barry and Belinda eating breakfast together, separating for work, and then watching the 11:00 news together when he arrived home after playing at the Badinage and having a club sandwich with Rene and the staff.
"You know Belinda, love might just sometimes be letting each other live life the way each is meant to live it. Happy Valentines Day."
"Happy Valentines Day to you, Barry." They embraced and she tweaked the hair on his chest for a while, which he liked before they married. He gave her a body massage while some music by J. S. Bach played in the background on the CD player. Then, in private intimacy, they laid side-by-side like spoons and found contentment in just being together, drifting off to their sleep abode.
-----
Mellow Rock
David Russell
Monday, February 6, 2017
Wildest Dreams (contemporary song, Taylor Swift)
Hello Grafted in Readers,
Today is February 6, 2017 in my corner of blog land. It is my dad's 92nd birthday and also the birthday of baseball great George (Babe) Ruth. It is said of him, Babe Ruth, in 1929 he earned more money than the US President to which he responded that he did more than the US President that year. Maybe so. Dad is still living and fortunately has many of his faculties about him!
This week, the Mayo Clinic Newsletter, HouseCall, has a brief article about the condition, pneumonia. It seems to be most rampant during the winter months in north America. Various organisms are the possible cause for pneumonia in humans. Pneumonia is defined as an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The lungs fill with fluid or pus. This can cause cough with phlegm or fluid, fever, chills and difficulty breathing. Medication treatment is recommended by a healthcare provider qualified to do so.
In the anthology world, work continues on both the Forgiveness Anthology and the Waiting For Messiah Anthology that will be released in spring and late summer, respectively. I am looking into publishing options for the Waiting For Messiah anthology and considering one of three prospects.
Until our next visit, keep warm and stay in good health!
Kevod yeheveh, His presence be with us.
Mellow Rock
David Russell
Today is February 6, 2017 in my corner of blog land. It is my dad's 92nd birthday and also the birthday of baseball great George (Babe) Ruth. It is said of him, Babe Ruth, in 1929 he earned more money than the US President to which he responded that he did more than the US President that year. Maybe so. Dad is still living and fortunately has many of his faculties about him!
This week, the Mayo Clinic Newsletter, HouseCall, has a brief article about the condition, pneumonia. It seems to be most rampant during the winter months in north America. Various organisms are the possible cause for pneumonia in humans. Pneumonia is defined as an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The lungs fill with fluid or pus. This can cause cough with phlegm or fluid, fever, chills and difficulty breathing. Medication treatment is recommended by a healthcare provider qualified to do so.
In the anthology world, work continues on both the Forgiveness Anthology and the Waiting For Messiah Anthology that will be released in spring and late summer, respectively. I am looking into publishing options for the Waiting For Messiah anthology and considering one of three prospects.
Until our next visit, keep warm and stay in good health!
Kevod yeheveh, His presence be with us.
Mellow Rock
David Russell
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