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Crossing the Water
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 3:20pm
Hello my dawlinks! Oy vey! I'm so sorry liblings (darlings) your Yenta had taken ill from all that running around (you shouldn't know from it), and at such an age I don't bounce back as I used to. Far be it from me to tell G-d how to make people, but if some of us were to be his servants I should think he'd make us a little more resilient. So I had to go see my cute doctor friend, met a lot of people at the hospital; nice place to visit but I didn't like staying there... you know you can't rest in one of those places? Someone's always coming into the room to poke around, clean up or stick me with a needle - I felt like a pin cushion! It was enough to drive an altetshke (old lady) meshugener (crazy)! However, your Yenta isn't here to kvetch (complain); I've got a story... Of course I've got a story what's a Yenta for but to tell stories?
There are many sayings in the world, kindeleh. The one I remember from my childhood was taught to me by a sheygets (non-Jewish boy); "You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose but you can't pick your friend's nose." At the time I thought it was just a funny saying, we laughed at it and moved on. Now? Now, I understand it better. You can't pick your family but you can pick your friends. It's the wish of almost every parent that we pick our friends well and that they continue our cycle of learning and desire of discovery, but there's so much more to them than that. Friends become family.
I was kibbitzing (speaking) with Mardy and then Ellen when the idea finally solidified in mine kop (head) that our families, though not of our choosing, extend to outside the bloodline quite often. Uncle Eli and Aunt Teri may not really be related by blood but loved so well that they are a 'part of us'. Our "families" are not just blood relatives but born of the heart and live in our souls. My sisters are not just the siblings I grew up with but the (froy) woman that have touched mine "heart" or continuously strike a chord with me. A Yiddish kop (Jewish person) does not necessarily have to find another Yiddish kop to befriend in order to have a sister or brother bond; there are no requirements here, no laws are written for the heart to follow and if there were much like a teenager, believe me kindeleh, the heart wouldn't follow anyway ... so why bother.
So I told you I had a story, no? On the way to America from our town in Russia we walked carrying only what we needed. There were days my little legs didn't want to move from being so tired, but my friend Esther, yes kindeleh... THAT Esther ....encouraged me by playing games with me. Somedays it was me that had to encourage her but we played "jump the stick" and "kick the rocks" all the way to the shipyard and then... to keep our minds and hearts occupied during the crossing, Esther and I vowed we'd always be sisters. Since neither of us could stand the sight of blood we spit on it and shook hands. The next day we were both sick. To be honest, I think it was sea sickness and coincidence but to hear Esther tell it you would've thought we had contracted some devistating illness and she cured me and then herself. I do love you, Esther!
My dawlinks, this is not the rambling of some old woman that has taken ill but rather the ramblings of an old woman that has experienced a great deal of what life has to offer. For those of you that understand I've done my Mitzvot (good deed), for those of you that still question; I'm proud of you and now is the time to ask, "what on earth are you talking about Yenta?" I am your friend, your online Bubbi (Grandma), take me as I am and enjoy... It Couldn't Hurt!
Your
Yenta
__________________
Yenta Tellabenta is truly a 'creation' for outreach and education with Lumigrate.com through storytelling and reinforcement of key concepts related to body, mind, spirit. Written by a very talented and somewhat mysterious younger wise woman who found her way to Lumigrate the summer of 2009, we hope you enjoy having your own Yenta with us at Lumigrate! Yenta (meaning 'town gossip' or 'connector') has a dedicated Forum at Lumigrate at http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro... and can also be found on facebook.
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Dear Yenta,
What a wonderful lesson you have passed on. I learned this lesson when I got sick and had the opportunity to see who was truly a sister. I have many friends, and I cherish them all, but my sisters.... I so love my sisters! One is by blood, the other's by choice!
I'm so glad to see you and hear that you are doing better. You are in my prayers dear Yenta!
~~Aimee
Aimee Shannon is a licensed social worker who has fibromyalgia along with a collection of other illnesses. Aimee is passionate that those dealing with chronic illnesses need education and support to best manage their illnesses. Along with contributions of writing for Lumigrate in 2009-11, Aimee can be found leading a support group on Facebook, as well as in-person support groups in the Dayton, Ohio region. Please connect if you wish, at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fibromyalgia-Support-Groups-by-Aimee/94975642116Last month I went to a meeting of a group of progressive medical providers and someone who I know is a friend on facebook, who I'd never met in person, said 'I love Yenta, she makes me laugh" when I had introduced myself and said I was the founder of Lumigrate. I can't tell you how PROUD I am to have created a place where someone like Yenta can be what someone in my own community most values about Lumigrate. I don't think I ever read anything posted by Yenta the first time without getting tears in my eyes, so I have to say 'I love Yenta, she makes me cry"... and I love Aimee and all who read and write and those who simply come in and read... your 'visits' are just as important because we do collect statistics and that is translating into people who can support Lumigrate financially doing so. (a.k.a. sponsors/ advertising revenue). I believe all that I've envisioned and been creating for and with Lumigrate is coming true. And I think ALL our friends, and Yenta too! ~~ Mardy
PS -- and I'm with Aimee about having Yenta in my version of 'prayers'....... as with everyone!
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
My dawlinks! It's so wonderful to be back, writing again, sharing my hippie thoughts. Thank you liblings for keeping me in your prayers, no matter what form they take (Mardy). One of the fun things about being a hippie is not being tied to one aspect of anything. G-d takes many forms, just as our beliefs do; and for those that don't believe in G-d perhaps they know something I don't and I'm willing to listen. Much like my family before me, however, I enjoy a friendly but loud and active banter.
We have much to learn from one another. With the advent of this "online" world, I've found my family has become vast - more than I could've imagined. What our grandchildren will inherit both excites and frightens me. We explore the realms of possibility to exhaustion, eventually we're going to come full circle; our children will once again find that human element we lost touch of. That, bubelehs, is what friends and family are for. They keep us grounded, keep us moving, keep reminding us we're not infallible. This I had to learn... again.
To those of you that don't pray, keep your friends and family safe in your heart and mind. That, in itself, is enough. Now, your Yenta is tired and I still have to get some packing done for our travels to Florida. Moisha is so excited he's actually walking from room to room. Oy! He's like a little kid with arthritis! Go make a new friend. It couldn't hurt!
Your
Yenta
Yenta Tellabenta is truly a 'creation' for outreach and education with Lumigrate.com through storytelling and reinforcement of key concepts related to body, mind, spirit. Written by a very talented and somewhat mysterious younger wise woman who found her way to Lumigrate the summer of 2009, we hope you enjoy having your own Yenta with us at Lumigrate! Yenta (meaning 'town gossip' or 'connector') has a dedicated Forum at Lumigrate at http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro... and can also be found on facebook.
Dear Yenta,
Thank you so much for this insight. It reminds me that it is very difficult to go through these battles by ourselves. It is so helpful to have affirming and encouraging people in our lives to help us through those hard times. And even though we think that family is who fills that void, we very often discover that our friends are much more sympathetic and helpful.
Thanks for reminding us also that to have a friend, you must be a friend. And our friends make us laugh when everyone else is crying.
Who doesn't need a friend?
Marc Spurlock MD
"Everybody in my life brings me happiness. Some by coming......... and some by leaving." ~~ Oscar Wilde
"There is no one to blame. There is simply taking action!"........Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD Dr. Spurlock presently works in Dallas, TX treating people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bio-Identical Hormone Deficiences and Environmental Illnesses. He has been doing this work exclusively for the last 9 years. In the fall of 2011 he opened a new health center; please visit his website, which is where he posts education beyond what is sprinkled at Lumigrate. http://www.renewedvitalitymd.com/ Through a total body approach, the treatments he and his team provide are 85-90% successful in returning patients to their previous health potential. You can see his complete vitae in Lumigrate's forum "About Our Writers" (link: http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/my-vitae-wm-marcus-spurlock-m...), and the majority of his contributions on Lumigrate are in the FMS/CFS/CPain section, where you'll see a forum which includes his name: http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro....
My friends and I call it 'Psyche!' when we call or email or text at the time when the other is thinking about something relevant that the other maybe is picking up on. Well, here I am working away on a regular Friday in November before Thanksgiving... A couple of weeks ago Chris Young had closed a Comment at Lumigrate to Aimee Shannon and quoted the Beetles 'you get by with a little help from your friends', and here Dr Spurlock, in Dallas, Texas, a whole time zone away from Dr Young and me in Grand Junction, responds about friends. To my knowledge, Yenta didn't read what Chris Young wrote, and Marc Spurlock didn't read what he wrote either... as much as I wish we all had time to read everything the other writes at Lumigrate that is very difficult even when you're not a provider but the providers who know what to do about this pain stuff are kinda busy these days!
I'll take it, this Friday, as a 'good sign' that things are as they are intended to be and we're in a good groove together.
And specifically to Dr Spurlock, thank you for taking the time to read what Yenta wrote and respond. You could have said 'garbage is garbage' and I'd have been appreciative, but you just continue to amaze me at how holistic and encompassing you are. I know in the Three Doctors Interview you did with Deirdre Rawlings on behalf of our 2009 FMS Awareness collaboration on Lumigrate, you mentioned that your father had chronic illness when you were a small lad and that you believe that impacted your trajectory as a doctor. I'm happy to know your father is now well and quite up in his year too, I might add, and believe that perhaps that time of illness was for him and you something that was meant to be so that you'd be here understanding as you do, complex medical illnesses such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
~~ Mardy
PS -- I hope you and your 'family' of people you are genetically related to and not have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving next week! I know you're a good 'Louisiana boy' and Pablo Blanco and his family in the last two years have made me appreciate food and Louisiana history like I never thought I'd appreciate coming from Colorado's mountains and my very simple ways.
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Dr. Spurlock bubeleh,
Thank you so much for your response libling, I'm flattered you took the time to read my bisel kheyfets (little article). The insight you speak of, dawlink, is nothing more than common sense I should think. Somehow it's gotten lost in all this political correct opfal (garbage). I thought only the negative opfal was supposed to go away, instead it seems to be getting worse. Who was it that said "It's always darkest before the dawn"? Obviously they didn't have a clapper. Great invention, 'The Clapper' - everyone should have one. But I digress, so nu? (what else should be new).
In our lifetime we will have many friends. Let me rephrase. We will have many acquaintances. Some will become our friends for life, some for a short time, some for a brief period of time. We learn from one another, we touch one another and in turn touch others. For example Dr. Spurlock, someone reads something you wrote and quotes you. You have now touched countless others.
Friendships don't have to be lifetime committments. Of course, that's something we all bagern (desire), but a conversation with a stranger at the grocery store, the dry cleaners, the doctor's office could surface and perhaps serve, for the moment. We are all connected. Yes, it's one of those Hippie beliefs, but it's also true; we really are connected. Mardy pointed it out, a sheynem dank (thank you very much).
Now kindeleh, please excuse me but I'm done packing and we're on our way to Florida. Oy! I'm so oyfgetrogn (excited)! Ellen tells me it's around 75 degrees today and that sounds gut (good) to me! Continue posting my dawlinks, it couldn't hurt!
Your
Yenta
Yenta Tellabenta is truly a 'creation' for outreach and education with Lumigrate.com through storytelling and reinforcement of key concepts related to body, mind, spirit. Written by a very talented and somewhat mysterious younger wise woman who found her way to Lumigrate the summer of 2009, we hope you enjoy having your own Yenta with us at Lumigrate! Yenta (meaning 'town gossip' or 'connector') has a dedicated Forum at Lumigrate at http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro... and can also be found on facebook.