I was cleaning off a hot spot in my kitchen this afternoon; (There are hot spots everywhere in my house!) and came across a poem I started about books. I can't remember doing it, but it's my handwriting, so I must have. Maybe I wrote it in my sleep. I've always been absent-minded but this is ridiculous!
What triggered the creation? I have no idea -- perhaps my granddaughter's book bingo. Anyway, life is so serious these days, taking a few minutes of respite from all the craziness of the culture and the concern about the conclave appeals to me. If you feel the same way about books that I do, perhaps you'll enjoy this. And when you're done, Silly Songs with Larry is fun too.
ELEGY TO BOOKS
Of reading books, it's nowadays said
They're out of date and almost dead.
They've been replaced by screens and phones
Where articles and films are shown,
And lots of ads -- all sorts of stuff;
You know you never have enough!
Who needs books when you can own
An app for all man's ever known?
Just point your camera at the sky
Or at a plant or at a fly.
You'll get a detailed explanation
Of everything in God's creation.
No need to study botany,
Or bother with astronomy.
Just turn to Siri or Alexa;
They'll be sure to help -- you betcha!
As for me, I love my books
For gaining knowledge and to cook.
And if the grid should one day crash
Or EMP turn screens to trash
My books remain my faithful friends
They'll keep me company to the end.
When I lie dying, face to the wall
Like Dorothy I'll say...
"I think I'll miss you most of all."
I love books, too. Though recently I donated hundreds to our parish and library book sales.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I laugh about how we both would read dictionaries and encyclopedias! And if we looked up something in particular we'd end up reading what came before and after the particular entry we were interested in. Such fun! Such magic in the discovery!
My mom loved to read the dictionary too. We used to love to play the dictionary game although the definitions we tended to remember were the wrong ones. LOL!
DeleteAwhile back you had mentioned your hair was thinning causing you grief and I thought about commenting w/some remedies but thought oh everyone knows to look on the internet (and you seem to be tech savvy) but recently my sister was having that issue and quite distressed and I told her usually it's caused by poor nutrition especially if sudden onset or some health issue. Go to the store. Buy those hair and nail supplements (biotin!). Anyway, she went to the doctor who told her it was poor nutrition and also she bought Biotin and her hair has been growing back quite rapidly. I also hear castor oil is good for hair growth. Unfortunately, w/you it seems maybe stress w/your husband's health and maybe your own as well as other family members (though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death no evil will I fear) and then what will happen to you as the surviving spouse, how can you care for camp kreitzer etc. and even if you are both still living not getting any younger and just when you need more help it seems less visits by children, friends etc. (who are also getting older and in ill health and dying off). Dealing w/the fear, worry, grief and stress is harder, but should definitely ensure getting proper nutrition, iron, protein, vitamin D, biotin and exercise if you can as well as sleep. Apparently you can also get prescriptions for Minoxidil etc.
ReplyDeleteThis is a Barbara O'Neill video on hair loss causes and what you can do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9AcjO-9JzQ
We do have plenty of stress, but eat pretty healthy. I had cancer when I was 39 and went into early menopause. I think early cessation of estrogen because of chemo contributed. At this point I tend to just shrug and ask God to stop making counting the hairs on my head so easy. I wonder how bald men feel when they read that passage. LOL!
DeleteMy dad had a story he would tell with a gleam in his eye about being asked when he was about 30 if he wanted to know how he could save his hair. When he replied in the affirmative, he was handed an empty cigar box.
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