Sunday, November 30, 2008

IGNORANCE Vs STUPIDITY

By OLIVENE GODFREY

There is a difference in being stupid and being ignorant. Ignorant means unenlightened, uneducated, lacking information,uninformed or inexperienced. But, stupid means very slow of apprehension or understanding, mentally sluggish. Still, in our society where most of make concentrated efforts to conceal our ignorance, few of us would dare tell another person he isn't stupid, just ignorant.

I've read that we shouldn't be ashamed of our ignorance, that everybody is ignorant about something, and so forth. And while on rare occasions, such as right now, or when the subject is being discussed among friends, I'll admit my own ignorance about many subjects. But, in everyday life, I often find myself, as most people do, trying to conceal my ignorance. Because of being an avid reader, and having lived long enough to have learned a few things from experienced, I'm one of those persons who knows a little bit about a lot of things. But, I'm not an expert on anything. Yet, I can follow along with others who are experts on a great many subjects, injecting the right words at the right times, giving the impression that I know more than I do about the subject.. And, haven't you done the same thing?

But, we are defeating ourselves. Admitting our ignorance can be a spur to learning. By saying, "I am ignorant about this subject but I want to learn more about it," we're showing we aren't stupid, only ignorant, which shouldn't be such a shameful admission. I remember reading an article on this subject in which the author pointed out that we have forgotten how to allude without learning to explain. And, in this case, our ignorance is shameful.

For instance, within recent years a great deal of emphasis has been put on writing so that everybody, regardless of intellect and education, can readily understand every word written in a piece. Now that is impossible. But that isn't all that is asked of writers.
That piece composed of one syllable words should also be challenging and full of intellectual content. It can't be done! And, furthermore, it should not be attempted. The reader needs to be challenged, to be provoked into learning, and perhaps correcting his own ignorance. Intellectual snobbery is detestable. But, isn't anti-intellectual equally detestable?
Having acquired knowledge of literature, history, etc....doesn't make a human being superior to another. Still, I think knowing is better than not knowing.

While on this subject, the inevitable question, "Is ignorance bliss?"usually comes up. My answer remains the same. For me, ignorance is not bliss. I'd rather know.

Monday, November 24, 2008

THANKSGIVING NEARS % EXPERTS ALWAYS CHANGING ADVICE

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I was really "under the weather" this past weekend. Son Barry took good care of me and I feel somewhat better now. I hope I will be up to par by Thursday. Barry took my grocery list to the store on Saturday and bought the foods we would need for our dinner. He had bought a Butterball turkey breast several weeks ago. WE have invited a long-time friend to share our Thanksgiving dinner. He and Barry have promised to help with the dinner and clean up as I am not able to do all the special cooking this year.

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It's a fact that we enjoy life more when we look and feel our best. And, researchers are constant telling us how we can get the most out of life, by advising us how to look and to feel our best. Trouble is that every few years they come along and tell us that the things we're doing aren't necessarily what we need. For awhile the answer to staying young and youthful and healthy was to get plenty of sunshine. Now, the experts tell us that exposure to the sun does more than the aging process associated with growing old. And so it goes.

How many times do we read or hear, "Stop worrying". It's obvious that a person when faced with real dangers and threats and hardships is going to be mentally disturbed of he or she doesn't worry. But, it's true that worrying about vague dangers and threats is a habit that needs to be broken. Some people worry when things are good for them because they are having it so good. They just know something bad is bound to happen.

Perhaps the best way to get more out of life is to give more of ourselves. If you are always thinking only about yourself, it's hard to experience much enjoyment. But, people who share in the hopes and disappointments of others have a greater capacity for getting the most out of their lives.

Have a great Thanksgiving day!

See you next time.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

THOUGHTS ON CHILDHOOD IMAGINARY FRIENDS & COUNTRY MUSIC STARS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

As a child did you have an imaginary playmate? I did and her name was Georgia. The only reason I can figure out why at four years- old I chose that name is that since I lived in Chattanooga the only other state name I knew beside Tennessee was Georgia. Son Barry had an imaginary playmate for a couple of years whose name was "Dobbie". Why? None of us know, including Barry.

Besides having an imaginary playmate I also had an old wooden board which I had drawn a face on and named "Mary". My daddy, not aware of how much Mary meant to his oldest daughter used Mary to start a fire one cold morning. When I discovered how Mary was destroyed I was inconsolable for a while there. Daddy, very tender-hearted anyway, was also crushed that he'd burned Mary when he realized the situation. But, in time, I was happy again.

My late husband, Ralph, built a hot rod back in the 1970s, and we would take the car to an annual car show at Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Smokies for several years. There was special entertainment at an auditorium and the first year we attended a show a young, good looking man sat on a stool on the stage and played a guitar and sang like an angel. Afterward, we just knew that young man would one day be a star. We found out later that he had performed at the car show for several years. When he finished singing he smiled and said, "If I make it big this year, I won't be back next year."He did make it big, indeed, that year and his name was Larry Gatlin.

Still on the subject of musicians, I remember Patsy Cline's first T.V. appearance on the old Arthur Godfrey show in 1957 when she won Godfrey's talent scouts competition which led to a Decca record contract. At the time of her tragic death in an airplane crash in 1963 she was an acknowledged member of country music royalty. And, to me, she was the best girl singer of all time. When I listen to her records now I marvel at the perfection of her voice.

I agree with these words written by John Updike, award winning author of more than 50 books, whose excellent article appeared in the November-December 2008 issue of AARP magazine,"Prose should have a flow, the forward momentum of a certain energized weight; it should feel like a voice tumbling into your ear".

See you next time.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

MEDICAL PROCEDURE REPORT & MORE

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Last Monday, I had the esophagus stretching procedure at Hamilton
Medical Center in Dalton. It went smoothly despite my severe nervousness before and after the test. I had the test at 2:15 P.M. and I hadn't eaten all day and that added to my discomfort. The G.I doctor told son Barry that I have an oral Candida yeast infection caused by an inhaler I use to keep my COPD stable. He gave me a prescription for medicine for the condition. I hope it works and relieves some of my IBS type symptoms. I am swallowing better now and starting to feel normal again. Barry did research on Candida yeast and found a lot of information about it.

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The autumn colored leaves on the trees here in northwest Georgia have been spectacular but with rain and wind storms the leaves are rapidly falling to the ground. Soon the scenery here will be bleak and stark. But, we have Thanksgiving day and Christmas holidays to look forward to now. Barry and I brought out our electric blankets when the nights became cold. I am also wearing my granny gowns at night and am staying warm and cozy.

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Our patio plants Barry brought in before the first frost are still pretty. The huge impatient plant looks like a red ball and the Christmas cactus has red buds and will soon burst into bloom. I think it is really a Thanksgiving cactus as it blooms about this time every year. I've had it about 15 years and it has always done well. The Incredible Poinsettia is still thriving on the floor beside the big window in the den. It's leaves turned red last year and we hope it does again this year. The asparagus fern I started from seeds 30 years ago is large with red berries forming and the pink geranium is blooming its heart out. The purple plant has dainty lilac blooms on it.
Barry, with his green thumb, takes good care of the plants.

See you next time.

Friday, November 07, 2008

THOUGHTS ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. YOUNG BUDDING ARTIST,
BRYSON, PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS AND DREADING UPCOMING MEDICAL PROCEDURE

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I wouldn't care if we had Daylight Savings Time year round or if we never had it at all. I just want the time zone to remain the same. Last Sunday morning, I woke up and glanced at the clock on my bedside table and decided to rise as son Barry and I were planning to go to Dalton for an early lunch and then go to the mall to get haircuts. I went to the kitchen and started preparing my breakfast. And, then I glanced at the clocks in the kitchen and remembered that DST had ended and that Barry had changed all of our many clocks except in my bedroom. I had gone to bed early before he could change my clock.
I was just "out of sync" all day and for several days after the time change.

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My sister, Jeanette's 11-year old great-grandson, Bryson,
is a talented budding artist who spends a lot of time drawing pictures. His grandmother, Charlene, e-mailed to me one of his sketches this week and I was so impressed I posted the picture
on the front of our refrigerator. Jeanette said all of Bryson's pictures include a sketch of Big Bird. In the picture sent to me is a composite drawing of the faces of his big brothers, Brandon and Bradley. Jeanette said Bryson is a "born leader" and we wish him well in his future.

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Great thinkers who have searched for fundamental truths say the most important traits are self-respect, self-fulfillment,
and emotional maturity. On these traits rests the degree to which a person's capacity for happiness becomes an experience of happiness.

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Next week, I have the esophagus stretching procedure at the Dalton hospital. I'm not worried about it but I confess I will be glad when it's over.

See you next time.