WRITING LIKE DRUG TO SOME

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I went out in frigid weather with son Barry to eat at a buffet restaurant and get haircuts at the Dalton mall last Sunday. Then, I went out in the wicked weather again on Monday to the dentist's office for a cleaning and check-up. I wore so many clothes I could hardly walk, more like wobbling. No problems at the dentist, thank goodness! I have an appointment with my primary care doctor in a few days to discuss the results of my recent lab work. Then, I hope to have my hearing checked at last.

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It's been estimated that about one out of 50 adult Americans suffers from graphomania--which is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary as a "morbid desire or mania for writing”. Since we who "suffer"from graphomania are a minority group, it's understandable that the majority of people aren't particularly interested in our ailment and can't understand it.

I think it may be of interest to other people who have this compulsion to know they aren't alone. Writers tend to be lonely people. And, since the remaining 49 out of those 50 Americans usually have a writing phobia (a dislike of writing anything)
they find it difficult to understand the person who is driven to writing and can't understand the state of mind of the person who is. In my discussion with a fellow victim we both felt that at times this is a curse rather than a gift. Many writers of the compulsion type, maybe most of us, cannot say we love writing or enjoy it. It's simply something we have to do. We feel unfulfilled without our regular dose of the writing drug.

An idea hits us and we can't rest until it's on paper. We scratch notes on the back of envelopes or scraps of paper if an idea is born when we are without our notebooks. Then the idea can come in the middle of the night, stimulating us until sleep is impossible. So, this is not a normal state. Writers, successful authors, or more unfortunate ones who have only rejection slips for their efforts are classified as neurotics in the sense that they are driven by a compulsion. (Kooky we may be, but most of us are harmless otherwise.)

For many years I was a "secret writer", with only a few people knowing of my "vice". So, I escaped being known as a "crazy writer"for quite a while. I was amused when I had my first encounter with the eccentric label. A friend told me about meeting a person who expressed a desire to meet and talk to me, but, who was a bit reluctant, saying, "as you know how writers are."

See you next time.

RANDOM MUSINGS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I was aggravated for a couple of days this week with a tiny bump on the tip of my tongue. When this happens occasionally I always remember when I was a child and the grown-ups in my world would tease me with the words. "That means you've told a lie." I don't know the origin of the old saying but I passed it down to Barry and he repeats it to me now. This reminded me of hearing my mother say that when the sun shone during a rain shower, it meant, "the devil is beating his wife."
Someday I may research the origins of these old sayings.

I went to my primary care doctor's office this week to give blood for a complete lab work up to try to determine the status of the anemia that seems to have returned, according to a blood count in the doctor's office last week. I have an appointment with the doctor to discuss this matter in about a week. Next week, I have a dental appointment for a cleaning and check up.
If all goes well, I plan to have a hearing test. And then I hope I'll be finished with all the medical stuff for a while. For a couple of months, I have been seeing doctors, etc... and I am getting tired of it.

While I was at the doctor's office for the blood test, I was weighed by a nurse and I have lost six pounds in a few weeks. I think the two viruses I had left me in a weakened condition.
I was glad to lose the weight but I don't want to go through those virus spells again no matter what.

WE had a preview of spring for a short period with warm temperatures and the trees and plants were budding out and my neighbor and friend, Genevelyn's jonquils were in full bloom. Her jonquils and forsythia bushes always bloom before mine do and I don't know why. And, then we had really cold weather and frost returned and it is bitterly cold this morning. So, winter isn't over yet.

I had a freakish accident a few days ago which left my forefinger on my left hand cut about half way down the nail and it is bruised with clotted blood underneath the nail. I am wearing a Band-Aid to try to avoid getting the nail snagged and it might tear off which would be painful. I hope it heals soon.

I have been enjoying the new, "The Marty Stewart Show" featuring traditional country music in the vein of the “Porter Wagoner Show" and “Hee Haw”. The new show airs on Saturday night at 8 pm. on cable RFDTV. Each episode features music by Stewart and his Fabulous Superlatives as well as his wife, Grand Ole Opry star Connie Smith and guests.

See you next time.

ANEMIA CAN BE SCARY FOR THE ELDERLY

By OLIVENE GODFREY

My appointment this week with my eye doctor regarding my recent cataract surgery on my right eye brought good news. ( I had the surgery on my left eye a couple of years ago.) After my eye was tested and examined, the doctor said I now have near perfect vision (20/30). I only need glasses to read and a new lens will be ready for me in a few days. I won't need to see the eye doctor again for a year. And, I look forward to reading to my heart's content now. My eye doctor gives his surgical patients pretty green plants. Mine is a small peace lily with a few white blooms. When we came home, son Barry put the new plant in a larger pot with good soil and has been giving it tender, loving care as he does all of our plants, and it has already grown a lot.

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My next medical appointment is early next week when I will give blood after fasting for a complete lab work-up ordered by my primary care doctor. When I get the results on the test, I'll know more about the return of my anemia after over a year of iron medicine therapy. Barry did some research on anemia and found elderly people with anemia have twice the risk of experiencing physical decline that can rob them of their independence, according to new research supported by the National Institute on aging. Roughly 13 percent of people over the age of 70 are anemic. meaning that their capacity to carry oxygen in the blood is compromised. As a result, people with anemia feel weak, tired, dizzy or irritable. If not treated, it can force the heart to work harder, leading to more serious consequences.

And, the scary part fr me is that research also found that elderly people with anemia were associated with a 150 percent increase in hospitalization risk and a 200 percent increase of being admitted to a nursing home. Heaven forbid!

The good news is that according to research, that approximately 70 percent anemia in older persons is reversible. That is what I'm praying for me now.

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Two viruses or whatever they are seems to have hit most of the population in our area. One is a sore throat with coughing that lasts for weeks and the other is a stomach virus with severe belly cramps. I have had both of them and still have lingering cough. My niece, Charlene, says that the cough seems to have to wear off. A technician at my eye doctor's office said her husband had the cough for five weeks. I hope mine ends soon.

See you next time.

A QUICK SUMMARY OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS I AM HAVING....

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I have an appointment in a couple of days with my eye doctor regarding my recent cataract surgery. I am seeing fine so no problem for me. I hope the doctor finds it fine and will give me a prescription for new lens for my glasses. Meanwhile, last week I felt very bad with sore throat and coughing spells along with unusually painful Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The humidity
was very low in our house and Barry thought that might be causing my throat and coughing problems. I hadn't been to my primary care doctor in several months and I had planned to make appointment soon. I called last Thursday and managed to get a "worked in" appointment. I didn't have to wait long and soon the Dr had checked my throat and I didn't have strep throat. She had a blood count run and it showed no infections and but that I still have anemia after over a year of taking iron pills.
I had noticed I was tiring easily and wondered why. The doctor ordered a complete lab work for next week before she changes my iron pill prescription.

I also have a dental appointment in a couple of weeks. And, then if I can be free of health problems, I have vowed to have my hearing checked. I am taking cough medicine which seems to be helping. But, I am hoarse when I talk and hope I don't lose my voice. Barry has been able to drive me to my doctor appointments since his work is slow. Please pray for me.

See you next time.

MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL, WHO IS THE FAIREST IN THE LAND ?????

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I have a large, magnifying make-up mirror that sits on a pedestal on my bathroom vanity. My reflection in it is harsh and unforgiving. For several days after my recent cataract surgery, I thought I really looked awful when I saw my face in the mirror.
Then, I remembered that I was told that the eye that was operated on had previously been tested as legally blind. So, I thought I must now be seeing my real self. And, I remembered when I was a young teenager and my friends and I would hold a hand mirror in our hands and look downward at it. And, it was said that the reflection you saw was how you would look when you grew old. And, to my dismay, I realized that now I really looked like the long ago horrible reflection in the mirror. Oh, well, good looks aren't everything. And, I keep telling myself that over and over....

Over the years, our yard has become a bird sanctuary. My late husband, Ralph, planted small trees in our yard shortly after we moved into our house in 1978. And, now the trees are huge, including two cedar trees in the backyard. Our home made bird feeder has become an all you can eat buffet for flocks of birds. They feel safe near the cedar trees where they can hide in the year long green leaves. Since our next door neighbors have two large cats who have "marked off their territory", the pesky squirrels stay away. Last weekend, son Barry was watching the many species of birds flocking to the feeder. He looked at his birdseed and exclaimed,"The birds have eaten ten pounds of birdseed in a week!" He decided they were getting too greedy and, too, if they became dependent on our seeds,they wouldn't be able to hunt food on their own. So, he is rationing the bird seeds for them
Parts of our area had a light snowfall this week but all we had was much needed rain. Snow is so rare here that it always brings excitement for the children but people who lived here through the Blizzard of '93 still get nervous and some dash to the grocery store for bread and milk. We are prepared now for bad weather, unlike we were in 1993. But. we still wouldn't want another week like that one here in northwest Georgia. We are still having very cold weather and there is the possibility that we will get some of the white stuff again.

Over the years, Barry has bought many gadgets to help me open the lids of bottles and jars,even the"electric lids"off which is great for pickle jars and the like. But, nowadays, many foods have protective seals with tiny tabs. I was having a hard time opening these foods until Barry went went out to the garage and brought back a small pair of pliers which works wonders.

See you next time.