Things to share

Good News

Contribution by Alex Maitland

Now and then you get some news you would like to share around. This is one such occasion for me.

Those who know me well, may be aware that I have experienced epileptic fits and faints since I was a teenager. I have been lucky at least in that I often had a warning beforehand and could take appropriate measures like taking a pill and sleeping for a couple of hours or avoiding flashing images. I also had to take medication mornings and evenings as a preventative, which did not, however, always work as intended. Doctors suggested a couple of times, I should try to come off the drug as it was not good for my liver. Not much of a choice!

In Autumn last year my house doctor suggested I visit a neurologist whom he could strongly recommend, so I thought I`ll give it a try and went along for the usual EEG (electroencephlogram) and chat with a doctor who was able to persuade me to gradually reduce my medication in small doses. So, over the space of about three months I did just that until I stopped taking it in January of this year. In March I was invited for another EEG.

I had slept poorly the night before, which made me a bit nervous as sleep has always been critical with regard to my susceptibility to an epileptic attack. I was tired and even joked with the nurse that I might fall asleep during the test as I had to keep my eyes closed much of the time. I had the test (including stroboscopic flashing lights) and then went for the chat with the specialist. “No signs of epilepsy”, was her news – “only that you might be dropping off to sleep”. Wow!

I had explained to her at the first meeting, that I had often experienced a strange feeling prior to an attack – so strange that I hadn`t told many people before – not even doctors. That was a feeling that I was changing back to the person I really was and it made me sad, because I was happy being the person I thought I was. She told me that this was a kind of personality change experienced by some epileptics whose illness was a result of a head injury. Unfortunately I wasn`t able to enlighten her about my birth, as nobody had ever mentioned anything extraordinary. Also my attacks started more or less with the onset of puberty, before I began playing rugby. She thought that, whatever it had been, it seems that my body (brain to be accurate) had finally healed itself. So, having had to take a drug for around 65 years, I am now able to live without that and enjoy life in the knowledge that I am no longer at risk of that illness.

Now if that isn`t good news, I don`t know what is!

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT

Contribution by Michael Fronheiser

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. 

We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. 

Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. 

Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. 

For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone, they’re facing endless loneliness. 

While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment, some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk, and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. 

Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near-death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. 

Others don’t believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. 

Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. 

We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. 

It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. 

Not just looking, actually seeing. 

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

 

Scotland 2019 – without rain