L'ShanahTovah

Wishing you....the wisdom that comes from reflecting on the past
the strength that comes from reaffirming your ability to love and change
the joy and promise that come from looking toward tomorrow.
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Update on my acupuncture adventure. Jane, thank goodness she has Americanized her Chinese name which I couldn't pronounce, explained to me that the procedure was like a reset button. My body would need to adjust to a new pathway. I liked that image. Third session, she added a herb (Mongwart?)to the needles that produced heat. Supposed to energize me. Still see no results but I'll give it a few more tries.

Saw Dr Shaw yesterday and she is befuddled by my symptoms and lack of results from medication. Wondering about our assumed diagnosis. Scheduled another colonoscopy on the 15th. Then?? If only I could find the right magic words.

I had my first session with an Acupuncturist yesterday. She is a doctor (in china) and and has written several books and has all the training and certification. Hoping this might help me with the Crohns flareup. It was a pleasant experience. She placed a very thin needle in the top of my head and in my hands and several in my legs and some down the right side of my stomach. Didn't feel any pain or discomfort. I laid down and listened to tweeting birds and softly tinkling bells for about 30 minutes. See her again tomorrow. It will work!!!!It will work!!!It will work!!

Bubbie Ethel

Tonight is the Yahrzeit (anniversary as of the Jewish calendar) of my mothers death. I will light a candle and say a prayer in memory of the special person she was. She endured some difficult times. Progroms in Salat, Lithuania..hiding behind tombstones . Good memories of childhood too. Snow that lasted all winter and ice skating on the local ponds. Plucking feathers to fill mattresses and quilts and later used for pillows that some of us still lay our heads on at night. Dad died at a young age after a long illness and left her with 3 children to raise alone with no money. She took in a varity of boarders through the years to pay the rent and feed us. Mom not only made great cookies and an interesting wine but she painted and sewed and did electrical work and put out fires. A very gentle , quiet but strong woman who loved you all

Remembering...

I always would watch out our front door on the first day of school to see the little kids waiting for the school bus . They would be so well dressed. Oh, how things have changed. Shorts and tees and every cartoon character represented on backpacks. How did we ever carry books before backpacks? School bags? Was it always so hot in September? Back to school meant fall clothes. During Fern's early school days..girls had to wear skirts. Leotards to cover frozen legs and she constantly came home with holes in the knees. (the leotards and HER knees)
No jeans for boys or girls. Pants for the guys. Patches on the pants were not the fun kind of the flower children era. Shel had lots of holey pants and bloody knees. No sneaker..running shoes..cross trainers or what ever you call them today. Great orthopedic shoes. I wore penny loafers during high school and rolled down white socks and pencil skirts (back in style). A real Navy pea jacket was a favorite. El and Ar had a real long ride to school in kindergarden...5 minutes. I remember bringing Ar a change of clothes several times as her motion sick sister shared her breakfast with her sister. Speaking of breakfast, how many cheesy toasts did I hand out as you guys ran out the front door? "BRIGHT EYED AND BUSHY TAILED AND KEEP YOUR HEAD SCREWED ON TIGHT. HAVE A GREAT DAY" Did I really say that?