Tuesday, November 8, 2011

FW: Fw: Christmas shopping?

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high
gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --
merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This
year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine
concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift
giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes
there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in
a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates
from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a
book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down
the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift
receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or
driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town
Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is
struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin
their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery
and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at
your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese
lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about
fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to
burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that
China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about
US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow
their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our
communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion
groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in
your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,
and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other,
and isn't that what Christmas is about?





 

FW: SOON TO BE GONE


SOON TO BE GONE
By Capt. Steven Ellison, MD
A MILITARY DOCTOR


This should be required reading in every school and college in our country.
This Captain, an Army doctor, deserves a medal himself for putting this together. If you choose not to pass it on, fine, but I think you will want to, after you read it.






I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military Level One-Trauma Centers, both in San Antonio , TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel.
San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living here. As a military doctor, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work. Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash.



Often it is a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large military retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient. Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama , I have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what citizens of this age group represented.




I saw 'Saving Private Ryan.'
I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been a good man. I realized that I had seen these same men and women coming through my Emergency Dept.. and had not realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did for me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.



Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences. They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed in an Emergency Dept encounter. These experiences have revealed the incredible individuals I have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.




There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an IV line in her arm.
She remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a 'hard stick.' As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She simply said, ' Auschwitz .' Many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who had seen unspeakable suffering.




Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese.
Now an octogenarian, he had a minor cut on his head from a fall at his home where he lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet. He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him myself.




I was there the night M/Sgt Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept. for the last time.
He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick; he didn't know I was there. I had read his Congressional Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.



The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders,



the survivor of the Bataan Death March,


the survivor of Omaha Beach ,



the 101 year old World War I veteran.


The former POW held in frozen North Korea


The former Special Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer


the former Viet Nam Corps Commander..


I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.


I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with such sacrifice



It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made me think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.



My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. We should all remember that we must 'Earn this.'




Written By CAPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D. US Army
My own personal note: If it were not for these faithful, loyal, strong persons, there would not be a United States of America.
I ask that you pray for these aging and dying service members. I also think every American citizen
should read this. So, if you agree, send it on.




Friday, November 4, 2011

what a beautiful morning.

Good morning everyone.  I know you must think I am crazy considering what I put as the subject of this email.  If your weather is like my weather, I would not generally describe it as a beautiful morning. But let me tell you a little story and you’ll see where I am coming from.

 

It all started Sunday morning shortly after I got up.  I had a very bad pain in my right shoulder – around on my back in what I call the shoulder muscle.  I still had it Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday it was pretty much a constant pain.  I had decided I probably has bursitis.  Now I know I’m not a doctor, but the internet is a great thing and I had all the symptoms.  At Church Wednesday night I wiggled and squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position.  If a child had been sitting beside me doing all that moving, I’m pretty sure I would have told him/her to “sit still”.  Finally I sat with the corner of the pew pushing into the muscle and for some reason that eased it off a little.

 

First thing Thursday morning I went to the doctor.  Four hours later….yep….four hours….I find that maybe it’s spurs or arthritis.  Not what I wanted to hear.  But the doctor wants the radiologist to read the x-rays and give a professional opinion.  I respect that because I would rather the doctor not be second-guessing what might be wrong. So it will probably be Monday before I hear anything. She gave me some pain medication.  I came back to work and I hate to admit I didn’t get a thing done. But it hurt so bad, I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die!! I picked up the prescription after work, went home and took one of the pills right away.  Then I curled up in my recliner and waited for it to start to work.  It never did away with the pain but made it tolerable.  I took another before I went to bed and finally got a good night’s rest. 

 

I told you all that to tell you why it’s a beautiful morning.  When I opened my back door to go to my car, I saw the most beautiful sight.  There was a rainbow stretching from one side of the sky to the other.  The sky had been very dark when I had let Haley out a little earlier.  I stepped back in the house, picked up my camera (which always stays on my kitchen table) and took some pictures.  Then as I headed down my road to US 64 I noticed that it was either a double rainbow or a reflection of the first rainbow.  I don’t know which, but it was beautiful.  I stopped on the side of the road just before I got on the bridge to take more pictures.  I just couldn’t help but think of how magnificent God’s creations are.  Who can put a rainbow in the sky…God.  Why can’t everyone just get that through their heads? I am sure there are some scientists that will explain it all away- gases, or some such thing.  But I choose to believe God put it there this morning just to brighten my day. And it really worked. 

 

So, that’s why I say “what a beautiful morning”.  I know the sun isn’t shining brightly but I saw God’s promise that He would never destroy the world again with water.  It just brought to mind all the other promises He has made.   

 

I hope you can open the pictures.  The first two are taken from my back porch.  The last one is taken at the foot of the Manns Harbor Bridge looking North.  I hope you can see the second rainbow in that picture.  It’s very faint and to the right.

 

Have a great day everyone. 

 

 

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com