Say the name "Vollis Simpson" and most people won't know who you're talking about. I discovered ole Vollie a dozen years ago at the Philadelphia Museum of Art where one of his whirligigs -- and I can see it right now -- rested with repressed energy against a wall. I fell in love immediately, walked back and forth in front of it and then to the back of the room so I could see it from a different view.
Last summer I visited more of his work at the American Visionary Museum in Baltimore and was again blown away. Imagine my joy when ole Vollie, now 91 and still tinkering, was profiled in the NY Times.
Why, I ask myself, did I fall in love with his work? Or with other works of art that I saw yesterday during a pleasure trip to Washington, DC. What accounts for love? Is it experiences from our childhood?
I particularly love African sculpture. Did you know that the Smithsonian Institute has a Museum of African Art? Never knew myself until I went there yesterday. I bought a new camera -- a Canon -- and made darn sure I knew how to use it before I left. I stood at the counter at Staples and had Josh personally assist me. Then today I went back to Staples so I could learn how to VIEW the photos I took. I'm illiterate when it comes to reading handbooks. I took notes while he was explaining it to me.
Showed Scott all my fantastic photos. Most were of the African art and of the people on our bus trip, sponsored by the Friends of the Fox Chase Library. I also photographed any interesting folks I met along the way, like Don from Ghana, who was a trash collector at a rest stop in Maryland, a very nice man who said I was a noble woman.
Sometimes I leave these statements in here like 'noble woman' and when I read it back later I remove them b/c it sounds like I'm bragging. I'll probly leave it in, tho.
Also took a couple shots of Phil, our Hagey Coach bus driver, a distinguished looking man orig. from Hershey. When I got off the bus, he said to me, "Good luck getting to Yosemite." I'd asked him if Hagey drove out west and he said no, take a plane. We'll probly take a train.
A word about the Pope and the pedophiles. As mentioned earlier, I'm fascinated by a person in power, a world leader, who, no matter what his religion might be, protects the perpetrator of tremendous crimes against vulnerable individuals and in so doing allows them to wreak even more havoc throughout their lives without censure.
I'm sure all of us ask, What would I have done in his place? And, we might also ask, if we think of it, What would Jesus have done?
Jesus, a personal friend of mine, was a no-nonsense fellow, a real idol-smasher, whose radical anti-authoritarian acts across the small towns of Judah, brought him to the attention of the authorities. Although there is no parable for the evil pedophile, we can easily imagine one. I'll leave it to your imagination how Jesus casts out the pedophile. And, of course, we must remember that pedophiles are people too.
Look at this. Was just reading the Times and found this article about a Dr. Lothstein who treats Catholic priests for various things including sexual relations outside their vows. Lothstein says he was surprised how many psychopaths are priests. Ah, the lovable psychopath who tricks us all.
When I worked as a therapist I believed the head of our crisis center was mistreating crisis patients, one woman in particular, a manic woman who they tied up (four-point restraints) and put in a room by herself. This is technically called Seclusion and Restraint. I myself was treated thus during my first manic-psychotic episode.
All I could do was be a witness until one day an outside agency came in to check up on our agency. I took the man aside and told him of my concerns about our crisis center.
Thank you, said TS, I appreciate your concerns. Talk to me anytime you wish.
And did nothing to change things.
But who was I? A peon. With a sense of justice and compassion. The crisis center was later cited for various violations. My own psychiatrist had told me to mind my own business and not get involved. I was shocked. Dyou see the parallel between the Pope and his cardinals?
Don't get involved. Don't make trouble. Don't rock the boat.
There's two kinds of people in the world, said my former boyfriend Charlie Flaherty. Those that wear down vests and those who don't.
Speaking of great photographs, I commend you to Bill Hess's blog for his masterful shots of Central Park and other NYC sights.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
I dreamt of Mark
My timer is set for 20 minutes. Then I'll drive to the Fox Chase Bank to get a Hagey bus to take a tour of DC, courtesy of Friends of the Fox Chase Library.
So, it was a long nite last nite. You know how it is when you've gotta wake up early when you're not used to it. Bouts of non-sleep. And one long dream precipitated, I spose, by talking to my Aunt Selma from Cleveland. YE 2-8164.
Selma, I say, how come you're not outside on this beautiful day. (I was cooking my lunch for today's trip when I spoke to her.)
I did all my partying earlier in the week, said my 91-year-old aunt.
You're just like my mother, I said.
Who is this? she asked.
Bernice's daughter, I said. My mom is only 87.
I jokingly said, Why don't you go for a walk with Seville, your best friend.
She's a vegetable, said Selma.
That's terrible, I said.
Lots of em live to be vegetables nowadays.
How did Mark's show go at DC Moore, I asked.
Fabulous, she said. I don't know if he sold anything or not.
My mom said one of em - known as the Bedspread - is going for 6 figures.
Selma explained these paintings were locked away in storage somewhere for 40 years. They're Mark's earlier works when he was married to beautiful Barbara.
In the dream, Mark and I - both young and beautiful - were at some sort of memorial ceremony, a funeral. He was sitting on the couch and I was standing. We exchanged pleasantries before he disappeared and new people arrived.
I felt terribly out of place. Decided to take a nap. When I awoke, new people had arrived. I didn't know anyone but worst of all, I couldn't find my contact lenses. Here I was stranded in Cleveland, Ohio, and couldn't see a damn thing.
Felt utterly trapped. Then I found some contacts on the kitchen table, lubricated them with my saliva but realized they weren't mine. So I put em back.
How will I ever get out of here, I thought, and went outside in the strange neighborhood. Then I realized I could make a phone call on a borrowed phone. So many people had died I wasn't sure who to call.
To my great relief I woke up. The Michael Wood video of The Travels of Alexander the Great was still playing on my DVD, having succeeded in lulling me to sleep while Alexander was traveling 20,000 miles from Macedonia believing for sure he was the son of Zeus.
Here's Mark's Bedspread painting. It was in storage for some reason for 40 years. Mark was born in 1942. You do the math to figure out his age. He wants to retire this year and move from Albany to NYC to be around his beloved Chuck Close. Here's Chuck's painting of Mark where he looks like a goofus.
Wonder what psychoanalyst Bob Gordon would make of my dream?
So, it was a long nite last nite. You know how it is when you've gotta wake up early when you're not used to it. Bouts of non-sleep. And one long dream precipitated, I spose, by talking to my Aunt Selma from Cleveland. YE 2-8164.
Selma, I say, how come you're not outside on this beautiful day. (I was cooking my lunch for today's trip when I spoke to her.)
I did all my partying earlier in the week, said my 91-year-old aunt.
You're just like my mother, I said.
Who is this? she asked.
Bernice's daughter, I said. My mom is only 87.
I jokingly said, Why don't you go for a walk with Seville, your best friend.
She's a vegetable, said Selma.
That's terrible, I said.
Lots of em live to be vegetables nowadays.
How did Mark's show go at DC Moore, I asked.
Fabulous, she said. I don't know if he sold anything or not.
My mom said one of em - known as the Bedspread - is going for 6 figures.
Selma explained these paintings were locked away in storage somewhere for 40 years. They're Mark's earlier works when he was married to beautiful Barbara.
In the dream, Mark and I - both young and beautiful - were at some sort of memorial ceremony, a funeral. He was sitting on the couch and I was standing. We exchanged pleasantries before he disappeared and new people arrived.
I felt terribly out of place. Decided to take a nap. When I awoke, new people had arrived. I didn't know anyone but worst of all, I couldn't find my contact lenses. Here I was stranded in Cleveland, Ohio, and couldn't see a damn thing.
Felt utterly trapped. Then I found some contacts on the kitchen table, lubricated them with my saliva but realized they weren't mine. So I put em back.
How will I ever get out of here, I thought, and went outside in the strange neighborhood. Then I realized I could make a phone call on a borrowed phone. So many people had died I wasn't sure who to call.
To my great relief I woke up. The Michael Wood video of The Travels of Alexander the Great was still playing on my DVD, having succeeded in lulling me to sleep while Alexander was traveling 20,000 miles from Macedonia believing for sure he was the son of Zeus.
Here's Mark's Bedspread painting. It was in storage for some reason for 40 years. Mark was born in 1942. You do the math to figure out his age. He wants to retire this year and move from Albany to NYC to be around his beloved Chuck Close. Here's Chuck's painting of Mark where he looks like a goofus.
Wonder what psychoanalyst Bob Gordon would make of my dream?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Newly Diagnosed with Bipolar or Depression? Protocol for Best Treatment
Prepared for my workshop:
by Ruth Z Deming, MGPGP
Former Bipolar Patient
Conquering Bipolar Disorder and Depression
Doylestown Hospital Health and Wellness Center
Easton Road
Warrington, PA
May 1, 2010
Take heart! In this, the twenty-first century, treatment options for people with bipolar disorder couldn’t be better. The powerful combination of medication and psychotherapy will get you off to a good start. Lifestyle changes will also be of tremendous help, as will joining a support group for much-needed emotional support. Sure, the illness is challenging but millions of people have figured out how to live successful and productive lives and so can you. Begin, from this day forward, to think positively. Make “yes, I can” your motto.
First, a word of caution from the authors of the 2010 book Facing Bipolar: The Young Adult’s Guide to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder. They write, “We can almost guarantee that without [a good treatment] foundation in place… your treatment will be on shaky ground and future relapses will become more likely.”
Unlike heart disease or diabetes, it’s hard to find the proper protocol for good treatment once you’re diagnosed with a mood disorder (depression or bipolar disorder). That’s why I’ve written this handout. Treatment for mood disorders leaves much to be desired. A correct diagnosis may take up to 9 years. That's because (1) psychiatrists do not ask the right questions in the initial psychiatric evaluation or (2) because the individual has begun their bipolar life with depression. The mania has yet to emerge.
Patients go on and off their medication because they are frustrated or don’t understand the concept of “staying on their meds.”
Sadly, meds often "poop out" or stop working, so it's back to the drawing board to find meds that work.
Nonetheless, when you find yourself a good psychiatrist and good therapist, chances are excellent you’ll get your life back and will go on to fulfill your dreams. Our support group New Directions is testimony to that.
PART I: Diagnosis and Terminology
First, what is your diagnosis? A surprising number of bipolar patients do not know what category of bipolar their illness falls under. I was diagnosed with Bipolar One, the kind with true mania and psychosis (delusional behavior, out of reality). Bipolar Two is comprised of hypomanias (intense energy, lack of judgment, ability to do lots of work). Both One and Two are usually followed by depressions, which may be quite severe, or suicidal depressions.
Here is a more thorough description of the symptoms. You may have some or all of them.
- TRUE MANIA AND PSYCHOSIS -- “hyper” or too much energy: out of control behavior, delusional (“I believe I’m Jesus”), paranoid (“people are following me”), lack of sleep, rapid stream of talking, thinking, total disorganization, anger, hypersexuality. Almost always requires hospitalization.
- HYPOMANIA – “hyper” but able to control yourself with effort –- a heightened sense of being that includes too much energy, lack of sleep, ability to be very productive. Doesn’t require hospitalization but our behavior is extremely annoying, if not downright intolerable, to loved ones. Symptoms—and do note the word ‘symptom’ because this is not normal behavior – symptoms can be moderated with a great deal of effort until they subside completely, either on their own or preferably through additional medication.
The hypomanic individual must slow herself down, particularly their rapid-fire speech. This can be done! Take deep breaths. Force yourself to stop and sit still. ALLOW a support person to remind you to relax and breathe. Discharge excessive energy through fast walking, moving furniture, digging in garden.
- DEPRESSION -- lack of energy, negative thinking, sleep and appetite disturbances (too much or too little). Depression is an inadequate word that can scarcely convey the anguish a person is going through. The swell of negative thoughts produces beliefs such as “I’m a loser, I’m a failure, nothing I do is right.” In severe cases a person wishes they were dead, thinks about suicide, or plans to kill themselves.
Depression can arrive by itself or can follow a “high.” Rule of thumb: the higher we go, the worse the fall.
A MIXED MANIA includes features of both mania and depression.
PART II: Getting the help you need
Okay, your illness is upon you. You can no longer ignore it. You are going to get help. What do you do?
1 Make an appointment with a psychiatrist. Go to someone highly recommended. Support group members offer good referrals. Your new psychiatrist will most likely put you on medication to “stabilize your moods.” Keep a journal and write down all the meds you’re on and what effects they have on you. Expect “trial and error” to find out what works for you. It may take awhile, or not, but with perseverance your doctor will find the right meds for you that make you feel “like yourself.” Your active participation is necessary. You and your doctor are partners.
2 Get psychotherapy or talk therapy. Find someone who is attentive and caring and interested in you. Work on goals at each session: accept your diagnosis without shame, work through feelings of shock or loss after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Life goals such as better job, go back to school, get along better with mother or daughter.
Remember this: Your manic episode or your depression is a traumatic event. You have been severely traumatized, your brain injured much like being in a car accident. It takes time to heal. Talking is a way of healing the brain. Chemical changes take place in your brain cells the same as if you’re taking medicine. Never forget this!
3 Continue on with your dreams and let nothing stop you, though you may wish to change course. A respected doctor recently said to a young friend of mine after her severe psychosis, “You will never be able to work with children again.” This is so wrong, so ill-advised and disheartening. My friend was crushed. Of course she’ll be able to work with kids again. Another friend of mine had her psychosis after she taught a year of kindgergarten. Her own psychiatrist called her every day during her depression to get her out of bed so she could go back to school to work with her kids!
4 Practice a healthy lifestyle. This begins by making yourself a strict schedule. The bipolar brain is exquisitely sensitive to the rhythms of daily life and must be kept busy at all times. When busy during the day, you will find plenty of time to relax at night. But you must keep busy during “business hours” as this is how all brains are wired. If you get “down” on weekends, schedule at least one external event where you get out of the house. Don’t let your home become your worst enemy. If it is, find ways to leave home.
Healthy lifestyle suggestions include aerobic exercise to raise brain endorphins, healthy eating with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, fish and chicken, lessened intake of meat. Use supplements of omega fatty acids.
Your most important lifestyle change is having the courage to Say No to being around people who are not nice to you, who put you down, who make you feel bad about yourself, or who, just plain, don't pay attention to you. Surround yourself with loving individuals who see you for the unique, lovable soul that you are.
I, personally, have kept away from family members, left my husband, left friendships behind when I felt my inner soul was not being nourished, but, in fact, was being damaged. It may take weeks or months or even years to get over traumatic relationships but the sense of freedom and relief is tremendous when you've succeeded in breaking the bonds of unhealthy relationships.
PART III: Coping with the illness
Stopping a mania begins with recognizing it is there. Work with a partner -- parent, spouse, support group member -- to 'reality check' whether you are okay or not. If you're not okay, contact the doctor immediately. Take extra antipsychotic medication. Get parameters from from your doctor so you'll know what extra dose to take. Very important!
Put yourself on a STRICT SCHEDULE. The bipolar person is extremely sensitive to body rhythms and also the changing seasons. Most of us must keep busy every moment of the day during 'business hours.' This includes weekends, too. This involves scheduling ourselves so as to productively account for our time.
Otherwise we may be hit with sodden depression and sleep weekends away when we don't have the protective schedule of our work week.
Make a daily 'to-do' list. Also be sure to schedule your weekends. Usually by having at least ONE EXTERNAL EVENT for each day off -- in other words, an event to make sure you leave home -- you should be okay. Some people find it easier to have someone accompany them out of their homes. This is fine.
Pursue your interests and hobbies. A mood disorder is only one component of the whole person you are. Our brains are capable of learning every moment of the day. Sure, spend some time learning about your illness, but also pursue our wonderful world with hobbies such as photography, painting, writing or reading poetry. Journaling is extremely helpful in getting out your feelings.
Feelings must be discharged to people who understand you. Don't ask for trouble by talking about your condition at work. Or to people who don't understand the illness. You'll feel infinitely frustrated. That's why our group is here... our members are willing to talk about anything with you.
And, for pete's sake, don't say, "I'm bipolar." If you have cancer, do you say, "Hi, I'm cancer."
WHERE TO GET HELP
A couple of cautionary words. It’s often difficult to make an appointment without a rather long wait. You may have to wait as long as a month. But, then, you may need only to wait a week. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a list of possible doctors, call them, and go with the soonest appointment. Best referrals are from support groups or other patients.
There are two types of treatment centers: private and public. Private are more expensive but you may get quicker appointments. A private practice will allow you to see top psychiatrists. Check insurance requirements before you go. Some offices have stopped taking insurance.
Public treatment centers are known as community mental health centers. Your attendance is based on where you live. This is called your “catchment area” and it goes by county. At a community mental health center, you will probably see an intake therapist first. To me, this is a waste of time, but it’s the protocol. In no other field do you see an interviewer first and then return another day to see the doctor. Don’t be discouraged. Just be forewarned. Maintain a positive attitude.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS
Bucks County
For information on center nearest you, call Bucks County Department of Mental Health, Warminster, at 215-442-0760, ext. 2.
- Penn Foundation in Sellersville, 215-257-6551
- Lenape Foundation in Doylestown, 215-345-5300
- Penndel Mental Health Center in Penndel, 215-752-1541
Montgomery County
For service nearest you, call Montgomery County Department of Behavioral Health, Norristown, 610-278-3642.
- Creekwood (serves Willow Grove and Eastern Montco), call 215-830-8966
- Central (serves Norristown & Central Montco inc. Plymouth Mtg, Bryn Mawr) call 610-277-9420
- Creative Health Services (Pottstown and Western Montco), call 610 326 2767
Penn Foundation of Sellersville, call 215-257-6551.
- NHS of Lansdale, call 215-368-2022
- Lower Merion Counseling Center of Bryn Mawr, call 610-649-6512
RESOURCES
National institute of Health (NIMH), nation’s research center for mental illness. Superb information available online, including videos. View www.NIMH.nih.gov
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. For family members. Find a group near you! They offer the Family-to-Family Program, a teaching course providing info about various mental disorders.
- Bucks County NAMI – Call 866-399-6264. View www.NAMIBucks.org
- Montgomery County NAMI – Call 215-886-0350. View www.MontcoNami.org
TEC Family Center (Teaching and Education Center). Part of the Mental Health Assn. of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Offers workshops on how to live with a person with mental illness. Call 215-751-1800.
New Directions Support Group of Abington for people with depression, bipolar disorder and their loved ones. Meets the first, third and fifth Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 9:45 pm at Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road at Susquehanna, Abington, PA 19001. Call 215-659-2366. View www.NewDirectionsSupport.org for comprehensive information.
Ruth Deming offers home consultations. She will meet at your home with all your family members to explain bipolar disorder and come up with an action plan to help families. In addition, two bipolar members will meet with your bipolar loved one to share the good life that awaits the bipolar person after diagnosis.
THE LUCKY SEVEN
We sat in a circle in folding chairs,
the lucky seven,
I was wearing a party dress that showed my curves
forgot to wear my panties, so kept my legs together.
Paul spoke. For the first time I liked him.
Not because he used to be a radio D-J or
his mother was dying in a nursing home
but because he banged his head against the wall
when his daughter hung up on him.
The newcomer was diagnosed two days ago.
He knew nothing about his illness.
Was 22, led the life of a gallant well-
dressed pimp
but now guilt pressed him flat in his chair
- a run-over worm.
I stared at him. Nice contrast of
ebony skin the color of a Chinese lacquer box
and peach-colored palms he clenched
in his lap.
He began his confession,
looking down and talking staccato.
I touched his shoulder. Keep some
secrets for yourself, I said. We don’t need to
know ev-ery-thing.
The dam began to leak and
Harry, who worked for a drug company,
talked about his rampant sexuality when manic,
laughed when he talked about the women he made love to,
the wife taking off with the
house and the kids.
The newcomer nodded.
You mean it happened to you, too?
It happened to all of us, I say.
Harry told about writing fifty pages of
notes only two months ago during his last mania.
”Hypergraphia,” I said, mouthing the gorgeous syllables of a
new word I’d just learned.
Mine, I threw away after 20 years hidden in the bottom drawer,
useless horseshit.
The newcomer wanted more symptoms.
I handed him a brochure. Everything has a
name, I said. Whatever you did, they’ve already
named it. They’re pretty smart.
Well, if they’re so smart, he said, why can’t they
fix it?
Well, they’re not that smart, I said.
The newcomer was guilt-ridden over his
sexual escapades. Used the word ‘evil’ to
describe himself.
C’mon, I said. Something big comes over us. We
light up. We glow. Arrive with a halo for godsakes.
We’re like lightning bugs in the dark. We blink.
Think of the evolutionary possibilities if you’re a
man. Populating your side of the mountain.
Paul, the guy I finally liked, talked about his old
man shooting his brains out.
Oh no, I thought, now we’ve gotta explain
we kill ourselves to the newcomer.
Derek, I said, turning toward him, there’s
something you need to know.
I know it already, he said. I was 9 when I first got
out the rope.
Hallelujah, brother, I said, slapping his hand.
You know everything now.
You can relax and start to enjoy yourself.
by Ruth Z Deming, MGPGP
Former Bipolar Patient
Conquering Bipolar Disorder and Depression
Doylestown Hospital Health and Wellness Center
Easton Road
Warrington, PA
May 1, 2010
Take heart! In this, the twenty-first century, treatment options for people with bipolar disorder couldn’t be better. The powerful combination of medication and psychotherapy will get you off to a good start. Lifestyle changes will also be of tremendous help, as will joining a support group for much-needed emotional support. Sure, the illness is challenging but millions of people have figured out how to live successful and productive lives and so can you. Begin, from this day forward, to think positively. Make “yes, I can” your motto.
First, a word of caution from the authors of the 2010 book Facing Bipolar: The Young Adult’s Guide to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder. They write, “We can almost guarantee that without [a good treatment] foundation in place… your treatment will be on shaky ground and future relapses will become more likely.”
Unlike heart disease or diabetes, it’s hard to find the proper protocol for good treatment once you’re diagnosed with a mood disorder (depression or bipolar disorder). That’s why I’ve written this handout. Treatment for mood disorders leaves much to be desired. A correct diagnosis may take up to 9 years. That's because (1) psychiatrists do not ask the right questions in the initial psychiatric evaluation or (2) because the individual has begun their bipolar life with depression. The mania has yet to emerge.
Patients go on and off their medication because they are frustrated or don’t understand the concept of “staying on their meds.”
Sadly, meds often "poop out" or stop working, so it's back to the drawing board to find meds that work.
Nonetheless, when you find yourself a good psychiatrist and good therapist, chances are excellent you’ll get your life back and will go on to fulfill your dreams. Our support group New Directions is testimony to that.
PART I: Diagnosis and Terminology
First, what is your diagnosis? A surprising number of bipolar patients do not know what category of bipolar their illness falls under. I was diagnosed with Bipolar One, the kind with true mania and psychosis (delusional behavior, out of reality). Bipolar Two is comprised of hypomanias (intense energy, lack of judgment, ability to do lots of work). Both One and Two are usually followed by depressions, which may be quite severe, or suicidal depressions.
Here is a more thorough description of the symptoms. You may have some or all of them.
- TRUE MANIA AND PSYCHOSIS -- “hyper” or too much energy: out of control behavior, delusional (“I believe I’m Jesus”), paranoid (“people are following me”), lack of sleep, rapid stream of talking, thinking, total disorganization, anger, hypersexuality. Almost always requires hospitalization.
- HYPOMANIA – “hyper” but able to control yourself with effort –- a heightened sense of being that includes too much energy, lack of sleep, ability to be very productive. Doesn’t require hospitalization but our behavior is extremely annoying, if not downright intolerable, to loved ones. Symptoms—and do note the word ‘symptom’ because this is not normal behavior – symptoms can be moderated with a great deal of effort until they subside completely, either on their own or preferably through additional medication.
The hypomanic individual must slow herself down, particularly their rapid-fire speech. This can be done! Take deep breaths. Force yourself to stop and sit still. ALLOW a support person to remind you to relax and breathe. Discharge excessive energy through fast walking, moving furniture, digging in garden.
- DEPRESSION -- lack of energy, negative thinking, sleep and appetite disturbances (too much or too little). Depression is an inadequate word that can scarcely convey the anguish a person is going through. The swell of negative thoughts produces beliefs such as “I’m a loser, I’m a failure, nothing I do is right.” In severe cases a person wishes they were dead, thinks about suicide, or plans to kill themselves.
Depression can arrive by itself or can follow a “high.” Rule of thumb: the higher we go, the worse the fall.
A MIXED MANIA includes features of both mania and depression.
PART II: Getting the help you need
Okay, your illness is upon you. You can no longer ignore it. You are going to get help. What do you do?
1 Make an appointment with a psychiatrist. Go to someone highly recommended. Support group members offer good referrals. Your new psychiatrist will most likely put you on medication to “stabilize your moods.” Keep a journal and write down all the meds you’re on and what effects they have on you. Expect “trial and error” to find out what works for you. It may take awhile, or not, but with perseverance your doctor will find the right meds for you that make you feel “like yourself.” Your active participation is necessary. You and your doctor are partners.
2 Get psychotherapy or talk therapy. Find someone who is attentive and caring and interested in you. Work on goals at each session: accept your diagnosis without shame, work through feelings of shock or loss after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Life goals such as better job, go back to school, get along better with mother or daughter.
Remember this: Your manic episode or your depression is a traumatic event. You have been severely traumatized, your brain injured much like being in a car accident. It takes time to heal. Talking is a way of healing the brain. Chemical changes take place in your brain cells the same as if you’re taking medicine. Never forget this!
3 Continue on with your dreams and let nothing stop you, though you may wish to change course. A respected doctor recently said to a young friend of mine after her severe psychosis, “You will never be able to work with children again.” This is so wrong, so ill-advised and disheartening. My friend was crushed. Of course she’ll be able to work with kids again. Another friend of mine had her psychosis after she taught a year of kindgergarten. Her own psychiatrist called her every day during her depression to get her out of bed so she could go back to school to work with her kids!
4 Practice a healthy lifestyle. This begins by making yourself a strict schedule. The bipolar brain is exquisitely sensitive to the rhythms of daily life and must be kept busy at all times. When busy during the day, you will find plenty of time to relax at night. But you must keep busy during “business hours” as this is how all brains are wired. If you get “down” on weekends, schedule at least one external event where you get out of the house. Don’t let your home become your worst enemy. If it is, find ways to leave home.
Healthy lifestyle suggestions include aerobic exercise to raise brain endorphins, healthy eating with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, fish and chicken, lessened intake of meat. Use supplements of omega fatty acids.
Your most important lifestyle change is having the courage to Say No to being around people who are not nice to you, who put you down, who make you feel bad about yourself, or who, just plain, don't pay attention to you. Surround yourself with loving individuals who see you for the unique, lovable soul that you are.
I, personally, have kept away from family members, left my husband, left friendships behind when I felt my inner soul was not being nourished, but, in fact, was being damaged. It may take weeks or months or even years to get over traumatic relationships but the sense of freedom and relief is tremendous when you've succeeded in breaking the bonds of unhealthy relationships.
PART III: Coping with the illness
Stopping a mania begins with recognizing it is there. Work with a partner -- parent, spouse, support group member -- to 'reality check' whether you are okay or not. If you're not okay, contact the doctor immediately. Take extra antipsychotic medication. Get parameters from from your doctor so you'll know what extra dose to take. Very important!
Put yourself on a STRICT SCHEDULE. The bipolar person is extremely sensitive to body rhythms and also the changing seasons. Most of us must keep busy every moment of the day during 'business hours.' This includes weekends, too. This involves scheduling ourselves so as to productively account for our time.
Otherwise we may be hit with sodden depression and sleep weekends away when we don't have the protective schedule of our work week.
Make a daily 'to-do' list. Also be sure to schedule your weekends. Usually by having at least ONE EXTERNAL EVENT for each day off -- in other words, an event to make sure you leave home -- you should be okay. Some people find it easier to have someone accompany them out of their homes. This is fine.
Pursue your interests and hobbies. A mood disorder is only one component of the whole person you are. Our brains are capable of learning every moment of the day. Sure, spend some time learning about your illness, but also pursue our wonderful world with hobbies such as photography, painting, writing or reading poetry. Journaling is extremely helpful in getting out your feelings.
Feelings must be discharged to people who understand you. Don't ask for trouble by talking about your condition at work. Or to people who don't understand the illness. You'll feel infinitely frustrated. That's why our group is here... our members are willing to talk about anything with you.
And, for pete's sake, don't say, "I'm bipolar." If you have cancer, do you say, "Hi, I'm cancer."
WHERE TO GET HELP
A couple of cautionary words. It’s often difficult to make an appointment without a rather long wait. You may have to wait as long as a month. But, then, you may need only to wait a week. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a list of possible doctors, call them, and go with the soonest appointment. Best referrals are from support groups or other patients.
There are two types of treatment centers: private and public. Private are more expensive but you may get quicker appointments. A private practice will allow you to see top psychiatrists. Check insurance requirements before you go. Some offices have stopped taking insurance.
Public treatment centers are known as community mental health centers. Your attendance is based on where you live. This is called your “catchment area” and it goes by county. At a community mental health center, you will probably see an intake therapist first. To me, this is a waste of time, but it’s the protocol. In no other field do you see an interviewer first and then return another day to see the doctor. Don’t be discouraged. Just be forewarned. Maintain a positive attitude.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS
Bucks County
For information on center nearest you, call Bucks County Department of Mental Health, Warminster, at 215-442-0760, ext. 2.
- Penn Foundation in Sellersville, 215-257-6551
- Lenape Foundation in Doylestown, 215-345-5300
- Penndel Mental Health Center in Penndel, 215-752-1541
Montgomery County
For service nearest you, call Montgomery County Department of Behavioral Health, Norristown, 610-278-3642.
- Creekwood (serves Willow Grove and Eastern Montco), call 215-830-8966
- Central (serves Norristown & Central Montco inc. Plymouth Mtg, Bryn Mawr) call 610-277-9420
- Creative Health Services (Pottstown and Western Montco), call 610 326 2767
Penn Foundation of Sellersville, call 215-257-6551.
- NHS of Lansdale, call 215-368-2022
- Lower Merion Counseling Center of Bryn Mawr, call 610-649-6512
RESOURCES
National institute of Health (NIMH), nation’s research center for mental illness. Superb information available online, including videos. View www.NIMH.nih.gov
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. For family members. Find a group near you! They offer the Family-to-Family Program, a teaching course providing info about various mental disorders.
- Bucks County NAMI – Call 866-399-6264. View www.NAMIBucks.org
- Montgomery County NAMI – Call 215-886-0350. View www.MontcoNami.org
TEC Family Center (Teaching and Education Center). Part of the Mental Health Assn. of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Offers workshops on how to live with a person with mental illness. Call 215-751-1800.
New Directions Support Group of Abington for people with depression, bipolar disorder and their loved ones. Meets the first, third and fifth Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 9:45 pm at Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road at Susquehanna, Abington, PA 19001. Call 215-659-2366. View www.NewDirectionsSupport.org for comprehensive information.
Ruth Deming offers home consultations. She will meet at your home with all your family members to explain bipolar disorder and come up with an action plan to help families. In addition, two bipolar members will meet with your bipolar loved one to share the good life that awaits the bipolar person after diagnosis.
THE LUCKY SEVEN
We sat in a circle in folding chairs,
the lucky seven,
I was wearing a party dress that showed my curves
forgot to wear my panties, so kept my legs together.
Paul spoke. For the first time I liked him.
Not because he used to be a radio D-J or
his mother was dying in a nursing home
but because he banged his head against the wall
when his daughter hung up on him.
The newcomer was diagnosed two days ago.
He knew nothing about his illness.
Was 22, led the life of a gallant well-
dressed pimp
but now guilt pressed him flat in his chair
- a run-over worm.
I stared at him. Nice contrast of
ebony skin the color of a Chinese lacquer box
and peach-colored palms he clenched
in his lap.
He began his confession,
looking down and talking staccato.
I touched his shoulder. Keep some
secrets for yourself, I said. We don’t need to
know ev-ery-thing.
The dam began to leak and
Harry, who worked for a drug company,
talked about his rampant sexuality when manic,
laughed when he talked about the women he made love to,
the wife taking off with the
house and the kids.
The newcomer nodded.
You mean it happened to you, too?
It happened to all of us, I say.
Harry told about writing fifty pages of
notes only two months ago during his last mania.
”Hypergraphia,” I said, mouthing the gorgeous syllables of a
new word I’d just learned.
Mine, I threw away after 20 years hidden in the bottom drawer,
useless horseshit.
The newcomer wanted more symptoms.
I handed him a brochure. Everything has a
name, I said. Whatever you did, they’ve already
named it. They’re pretty smart.
Well, if they’re so smart, he said, why can’t they
fix it?
Well, they’re not that smart, I said.
The newcomer was guilt-ridden over his
sexual escapades. Used the word ‘evil’ to
describe himself.
C’mon, I said. Something big comes over us. We
light up. We glow. Arrive with a halo for godsakes.
We’re like lightning bugs in the dark. We blink.
Think of the evolutionary possibilities if you’re a
man. Populating your side of the mountain.
Paul, the guy I finally liked, talked about his old
man shooting his brains out.
Oh no, I thought, now we’ve gotta explain
we kill ourselves to the newcomer.
Derek, I said, turning toward him, there’s
something you need to know.
I know it already, he said. I was 9 when I first got
out the rope.
Hallelujah, brother, I said, slapping his hand.
You know everything now.
You can relax and start to enjoy yourself.
Monday, April 5, 2010
David Remnick's New Book on Obama
I was reading the online NY Times when the ad kept popping up. Featured was a huge picture of Barack Obama. I will NOT read the ad, I thought. They're not gonna trick me with this huge photo of Obama and the great name of the latest bio of him -- The Bridge -- into clicking onto their stinking ad.
I clicked onto the ad. Why, it's a new book about Obama, I saw. Not only that, it was by Pulitzer-prizewinner David Remnick (don't worry, I've never heard of him either) and I figured, Well, it's only 10:30 in the evening, I finished all my work for today, what do I have to lose?
I clicked on Excerpt from Chapter One. Maybe it was the entire chapter one. Riveting! You've gotta read it. Magnificently written and going back to the 1960s and the Civil Right Movement, a long time coming.
Great descriptions of President Bill Clinton, who Toni Morrison calls 'our first black president' and also of Hillary and how her own dear Bill told her he possessed a knack for talking to blacks cuz he was southern-born and had black friends since childhood. He comforted her and said, Just do the best you can.
But could I read the entire 667-page tome? We'll see when I get a notice from my library where I've just reserved the book online.
So, how did you celebrate this glorious spring day?
Scott and I went for a long nature walk at Pennypack Trust. I wore my most comfortable hiking shoes which didn't get wet when we walked thru the fen.
Scott, I said, you know why the water doesn't drain well?
Because the earth is made of clay, so it won't absorb it. I learned that thother day on our nature walk with Mark!
Sometimes you're just filled with information that you can't regurgitate until something reminds you of it.
We also saw four strutting male turkeys, feathers all the way unfurled -- big thick gorgeous stiff feathers -- and they were all chasing after females who modestly would not look at them.
They looked dressed up in their ballgowns and tottered down the grassy fields in their dress shoes, descendants of the same turkeys who lived here during Injun days. I was living in Hungary and Russia biding my time waiting to be born. For this is my time. My time to be here on this earth. Don't wanna squander it. I wanna be present every moment that I can.
I clicked onto the ad. Why, it's a new book about Obama, I saw. Not only that, it was by Pulitzer-prizewinner David Remnick (don't worry, I've never heard of him either) and I figured, Well, it's only 10:30 in the evening, I finished all my work for today, what do I have to lose?
I clicked on Excerpt from Chapter One. Maybe it was the entire chapter one. Riveting! You've gotta read it. Magnificently written and going back to the 1960s and the Civil Right Movement, a long time coming.
Great descriptions of President Bill Clinton, who Toni Morrison calls 'our first black president' and also of Hillary and how her own dear Bill told her he possessed a knack for talking to blacks cuz he was southern-born and had black friends since childhood. He comforted her and said, Just do the best you can.
But could I read the entire 667-page tome? We'll see when I get a notice from my library where I've just reserved the book online.
So, how did you celebrate this glorious spring day?
Scott and I went for a long nature walk at Pennypack Trust. I wore my most comfortable hiking shoes which didn't get wet when we walked thru the fen.
Scott, I said, you know why the water doesn't drain well?
Because the earth is made of clay, so it won't absorb it. I learned that thother day on our nature walk with Mark!
Sometimes you're just filled with information that you can't regurgitate until something reminds you of it.
We also saw four strutting male turkeys, feathers all the way unfurled -- big thick gorgeous stiff feathers -- and they were all chasing after females who modestly would not look at them.
They looked dressed up in their ballgowns and tottered down the grassy fields in their dress shoes, descendants of the same turkeys who lived here during Injun days. I was living in Hungary and Russia biding my time waiting to be born. For this is my time. My time to be here on this earth. Don't wanna squander it. I wanna be present every moment that I can.
New Directions' Guide to Finding a Job in the Internet Age
Times have changed. Just about everyone uses the Internet today. It has streamlined the job search. Since we are living in a recessionary age, employers are in the driver’s seat and have their choice of many job applicants per each job. The rule of thumb used to be, “Apply for the job if you have 70 percent of the listed qualifications.” Today you need just about all the qualifications due to tough competition.
Take heart. There is definitely a job waiting for you out there. Relax and get ready to do the necessary work to write your winning resume and post it online. It’s all free and potential employers will carefully read your resume.
1 – Create a profile and develop your network on LinkedIn.com.
This site is essential for job hunting nowadays. It has many useful capabilities.
Note: The book "LinkedIn for Dummies" is fairly inexpensive (about $15 on Amazon from seller Paperback_books) and is an excellent guide to the site. Another book, published in 2009, is "How to REALLY Use LinkedIn" by Jay Vermeiren, is also available (about $22 on Amazon from seller wmboothsbookssf).
2 – Post your resume on at least these two websites: CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com. There are many other job sites. Put keywords for the job title you want in Google (such as "electrical engineer ASIC design"), review the results to find other relevant job sites for your field, and post your resume on those sites also.
3- Get email job alerts from Indeed.com. This comprehensive website, called an “aggregator,” pulls job listings from just about every available website on the Internet, including job sites such as Monster and Career Builder (and many others), company websites, professional associated websites, etc.
You can limit the search to a certain geographical area. Register for their Email job alert service by scrolling to the bottom of the Indeed.com home page and clicking on “Tools.” Then list your keywords and geographical location. You’ll be amazed by all the job listings they’ll send you.
The above are the ways I have found jobs in my field of electrical engineering. My son who graduated with a B.S. in physics this summer also found his job this way (after 7 months), as did a friend who had been an IBM programmer (10 months).
Interestingly, none of us were helped by networking, which is commonly thought to be the best way to find a job. I have heard of people obtaining jobs through networking, but the other party involved is almost always a friend from before unemployment, not a networking "contact" developed only during the job search. Real friends have more of a motivation to help you.
What about job fairs, you may ask. Job fairs are most helpful for people who want an entry-level position or are willing to take a relatively low-paid job. It’s certainly possible to move up in, say, the banking world or retail field through an entry-level job. As we know, however, education is the key to a good job and a good wage. A job as secretary or sales manager is a good stepping-stone if you wish to go to school part-time to get a degree which will eventually land you a responsible, well-paying job.
Be sure, if you attend a job fair, to investigate which companies will be attending. There’s nothing more demoralizing than attending a job fair with high expectations and then finding a lack of interesting companies there. Note: The attending companies may not be announced until a few days before the job fair.
Regarding geography: In general, the wider geographical area you search in, the faster you will find a job. Many people take a job far away, stay in an apartment near the job during the week (possibly rented with other employees, to reduce the cost), and come home on the weekends.
Some companies also allow telecommuting at least part of the time. I know of one person who lives in New Jersey and works in California. He is allowed to telecommute some days each week, and the other days he flies out to California to be at the job site. These are not ideal arrangements, but the scarcity of jobs in this recession can require these kinds of working arrangements, at least for a while.
Another approach is to take a series of temporary jobs, sometimes called "contract jobs," until the economy improves. Contract jobs might be easier to find in your local area. Many job sites allow you to specify that you are looking for temporary work, and most allow you to specify the geographical area.
One final word of warning about the Internet job search. Nowadays employers receive so many applications for the jobs they post, that they can barely handle the volume. The result is that if you are not an excellent fit for the job, they will most likely never get back to you. They cannot afford the time to answer the applications of all the candidates who were not accepted. Expect this impersonal treatment, and move on to your next possibility.
Keep trying! Schedule several hours a day for your search, and you will finally be rewarded for your persistence and your skills.
Take heart. There is definitely a job waiting for you out there. Relax and get ready to do the necessary work to write your winning resume and post it online. It’s all free and potential employers will carefully read your resume.
1 – Create a profile and develop your network on LinkedIn.com.
This site is essential for job hunting nowadays. It has many useful capabilities.
Note: The book "LinkedIn for Dummies" is fairly inexpensive (about $15 on Amazon from seller Paperback_books) and is an excellent guide to the site. Another book, published in 2009, is "How to REALLY Use LinkedIn" by Jay Vermeiren, is also available (about $22 on Amazon from seller wmboothsbookssf).
2 – Post your resume on at least these two websites: CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com. There are many other job sites. Put keywords for the job title you want in Google (such as "electrical engineer ASIC design"), review the results to find other relevant job sites for your field, and post your resume on those sites also.
3- Get email job alerts from Indeed.com. This comprehensive website, called an “aggregator,” pulls job listings from just about every available website on the Internet, including job sites such as Monster and Career Builder (and many others), company websites, professional associated websites, etc.
You can limit the search to a certain geographical area. Register for their Email job alert service by scrolling to the bottom of the Indeed.com home page and clicking on “Tools.” Then list your keywords and geographical location. You’ll be amazed by all the job listings they’ll send you.
The above are the ways I have found jobs in my field of electrical engineering. My son who graduated with a B.S. in physics this summer also found his job this way (after 7 months), as did a friend who had been an IBM programmer (10 months).
Interestingly, none of us were helped by networking, which is commonly thought to be the best way to find a job. I have heard of people obtaining jobs through networking, but the other party involved is almost always a friend from before unemployment, not a networking "contact" developed only during the job search. Real friends have more of a motivation to help you.
What about job fairs, you may ask. Job fairs are most helpful for people who want an entry-level position or are willing to take a relatively low-paid job. It’s certainly possible to move up in, say, the banking world or retail field through an entry-level job. As we know, however, education is the key to a good job and a good wage. A job as secretary or sales manager is a good stepping-stone if you wish to go to school part-time to get a degree which will eventually land you a responsible, well-paying job.
Be sure, if you attend a job fair, to investigate which companies will be attending. There’s nothing more demoralizing than attending a job fair with high expectations and then finding a lack of interesting companies there. Note: The attending companies may not be announced until a few days before the job fair.
Regarding geography: In general, the wider geographical area you search in, the faster you will find a job. Many people take a job far away, stay in an apartment near the job during the week (possibly rented with other employees, to reduce the cost), and come home on the weekends.
Some companies also allow telecommuting at least part of the time. I know of one person who lives in New Jersey and works in California. He is allowed to telecommute some days each week, and the other days he flies out to California to be at the job site. These are not ideal arrangements, but the scarcity of jobs in this recession can require these kinds of working arrangements, at least for a while.
Another approach is to take a series of temporary jobs, sometimes called "contract jobs," until the economy improves. Contract jobs might be easier to find in your local area. Many job sites allow you to specify that you are looking for temporary work, and most allow you to specify the geographical area.
One final word of warning about the Internet job search. Nowadays employers receive so many applications for the jobs they post, that they can barely handle the volume. The result is that if you are not an excellent fit for the job, they will most likely never get back to you. They cannot afford the time to answer the applications of all the candidates who were not accepted. Expect this impersonal treatment, and move on to your next possibility.
Keep trying! Schedule several hours a day for your search, and you will finally be rewarded for your persistence and your skills.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Days of our lives
What a day. I was exhausted when I woke up at 8:30, having stayed at my son's until 2 a.m. watching one absolutely horrible movie -- Quantum Solace, a James Bond flick -- followed by a good movie, something with Matt Damon, a true story of a whistleblower at Archer Daniels Midland in Illinois who himself was a pathological liar and jailed for embezzlement. Don't we love stories like that? Just so's it ain't us, right?
Before we settled on the comfy couch into moviewatching, Dan and Nicole got out the heart monitor. We were gonna listen to my new granddaughter's heartbeat in utero. See how I easily italicized that word? This blog program makes it so easy even a Luddite like me can understand.
So, we hooked the earphones up while Dan put the monitor over Nicole's burgeoning belly. ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump. Very fast heartbeats, like a little bird, followed by swooshing noises from inside the womb.
Very cool! Ain't God great how he thinks of all this stuff? (For the record, I'm a Jewish nonbeliever, but you have the god-given right to choose your own beliefs, screwy or not.)
I lay in bed, absolutely exhausted. My Connexions Group began at 10 this morning, held at the Willow Grove Giant Supermarket. An urgent errand, however, awaited me before our meeting. I rehearsed it while lying in bed. And then again while eating my scrumptious breakfast I never tire of: fried eggs, homemade bread and succulent grapefruit.
So far I've told not a single soul about my errand, except for Sarah Lynn Deming, who is the recipient of the errand. Call me at 215 659 2142 if you'd like to hear the story. I'll return your call when next I'm cooking in the kitchen. As Mark P knows, I like to talk when I'm cooking. I had him and Terry over from dinner one night.
We had a guest speaker at our Connexions Group. None other than Stephen Weinstein, my fellow political activist, and the man who sells those sanitary hand wipes to supermarkets. Who knew?
We all wore our name badges. Robin Franklin of Giant gave us a lovely classroom called Alps, named after one of the rides at the former Willow Grove Amusement Park, which is now the mall. Important to remember the history of our land.
After our 90 minute class which always lasts longer than the stated amount of time, five of us went on a nature hike at Pennypack Trust, led by Mark.
That man knows his stuff! For example:
- The Trust is built on a mature beech forest. A forest occurs in stages. First it's a meadow, then trees grow on it. That's all I remember. Understory. Just remembered that word to describe the ground growth under the trees: wild flowers such as marsh marigolds, the trout lily, ephemerals or spring beauties. We saw loads of wild flowers.
Also stopped at a bird blind on a huge man-made pond and heard spring peepers calling for their mates. A high trilling sound, absolutely irresistible. We saw big protruding eyes of bullfrogs which Elena likened to alligator eyes. Great name for a song: I love your alligator eyes.
Part of our walk was on steep rocky terrain. Even going down was tough cuz you hadda be careful not to fall on the tripping rocks. Going up we got out of breath except for Tony who showed off by jogging uphill. Ach! If only I were younger I would've raced him.
Afterward I drove Mike back to his car at the supermarket. "Wanna stop at the New Church?" I asked.
We drove thru the separatist branch of the Lord's New Church. The road was flanked with apple trees. The blossoms hadn't appeared yet. I showed him the church offices which look like a medieval monastery and then headed for the turn-around at the end when suddenly I heard organ music.
Did you hear that? I said to Mike.
I parked and we walked up to the church, a magnificent building whose doors are always locked. Organ music poured from the windows. I just stood there in awe. Then we walked to The Secret Garden behind a creaky green wooden door.
Mike was stunned by its beauty.
An empty pond stood in the middle with a two-foot high set of white marble angels where water once gushed forth. The garden is in disrepair but sometimes in that state of decay it looks even more beautiful than if it were cared for. (In contrast to an unkempt human being.)
I dropped him off at his car in the swarming-with-people parking lot where people were shopping for their Easter hams. That's how I met Bill Babb from my painting class. What a thrill! Just emailed him to invite me over to meet his family and I'll bring them a homemade whole wheat bread.
Connexions! That's what life's all about.
Before we settled on the comfy couch into moviewatching, Dan and Nicole got out the heart monitor. We were gonna listen to my new granddaughter's heartbeat in utero. See how I easily italicized that word? This blog program makes it so easy even a Luddite like me can understand.
So, we hooked the earphones up while Dan put the monitor over Nicole's burgeoning belly. ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump. Very fast heartbeats, like a little bird, followed by swooshing noises from inside the womb.
Very cool! Ain't God great how he thinks of all this stuff? (For the record, I'm a Jewish nonbeliever, but you have the god-given right to choose your own beliefs, screwy or not.)
I lay in bed, absolutely exhausted. My Connexions Group began at 10 this morning, held at the Willow Grove Giant Supermarket. An urgent errand, however, awaited me before our meeting. I rehearsed it while lying in bed. And then again while eating my scrumptious breakfast I never tire of: fried eggs, homemade bread and succulent grapefruit.
So far I've told not a single soul about my errand, except for Sarah Lynn Deming, who is the recipient of the errand. Call me at 215 659 2142 if you'd like to hear the story. I'll return your call when next I'm cooking in the kitchen. As Mark P knows, I like to talk when I'm cooking. I had him and Terry over from dinner one night.
We had a guest speaker at our Connexions Group. None other than Stephen Weinstein, my fellow political activist, and the man who sells those sanitary hand wipes to supermarkets. Who knew?
We all wore our name badges. Robin Franklin of Giant gave us a lovely classroom called Alps, named after one of the rides at the former Willow Grove Amusement Park, which is now the mall. Important to remember the history of our land.
After our 90 minute class which always lasts longer than the stated amount of time, five of us went on a nature hike at Pennypack Trust, led by Mark.
That man knows his stuff! For example:
- The Trust is built on a mature beech forest. A forest occurs in stages. First it's a meadow, then trees grow on it. That's all I remember. Understory. Just remembered that word to describe the ground growth under the trees: wild flowers such as marsh marigolds, the trout lily, ephemerals or spring beauties. We saw loads of wild flowers.
Also stopped at a bird blind on a huge man-made pond and heard spring peepers calling for their mates. A high trilling sound, absolutely irresistible. We saw big protruding eyes of bullfrogs which Elena likened to alligator eyes. Great name for a song: I love your alligator eyes.
Part of our walk was on steep rocky terrain. Even going down was tough cuz you hadda be careful not to fall on the tripping rocks. Going up we got out of breath except for Tony who showed off by jogging uphill. Ach! If only I were younger I would've raced him.
Afterward I drove Mike back to his car at the supermarket. "Wanna stop at the New Church?" I asked.
We drove thru the separatist branch of the Lord's New Church. The road was flanked with apple trees. The blossoms hadn't appeared yet. I showed him the church offices which look like a medieval monastery and then headed for the turn-around at the end when suddenly I heard organ music.
Did you hear that? I said to Mike.
I parked and we walked up to the church, a magnificent building whose doors are always locked. Organ music poured from the windows. I just stood there in awe. Then we walked to The Secret Garden behind a creaky green wooden door.
Mike was stunned by its beauty.
An empty pond stood in the middle with a two-foot high set of white marble angels where water once gushed forth. The garden is in disrepair but sometimes in that state of decay it looks even more beautiful than if it were cared for. (In contrast to an unkempt human being.)
I dropped him off at his car in the swarming-with-people parking lot where people were shopping for their Easter hams. That's how I met Bill Babb from my painting class. What a thrill! Just emailed him to invite me over to meet his family and I'll bring them a homemade whole wheat bread.
Connexions! That's what life's all about.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010
Just had to see how April looked up on the masthead.
Since I don't have anything to say, I'll just write some headlines of what happened to me today. Again, this is what happened to me, not to Tiger Woods or Obama accepting handouts in return for offshore oil drilling.
Deming has Computer Tragedy Near-Miss
Deming gets gift from Kremp's and learns secrets of their logo
Our gal does massive advertising so she can get a good crowd at her Doylestown talk
Gets on exercise bike and reads 10 pages when her pantsleg catches in spokes
Deming can't persuade boyfriend to taste her chicken stew so calls it quits
Deming wakes up from nap and stares at the setting sun. She thinks, What am I doing in bed when the sun is putting on a spectacular display and wants me to watch it, falls back to sleep
Since I don't have anything to say, I'll just write some headlines of what happened to me today. Again, this is what happened to me, not to Tiger Woods or Obama accepting handouts in return for offshore oil drilling.
Deming has Computer Tragedy Near-Miss
Deming gets gift from Kremp's and learns secrets of their logo
Our gal does massive advertising so she can get a good crowd at her Doylestown talk
Gets on exercise bike and reads 10 pages when her pantsleg catches in spokes
Deming can't persuade boyfriend to taste her chicken stew so calls it quits
Deming wakes up from nap and stares at the setting sun. She thinks, What am I doing in bed when the sun is putting on a spectacular display and wants me to watch it, falls back to sleep
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