Hello my dawlinks! It's your Yenta, you were expecting maybe Barbara Streisand? So I just get to New York, settled in, cleaned, reaquainted with my neighbors in the building, the pace of the city; when my phone rings and it's my friend, Meril from Postville, Iowa. Yes, kindeleh there's an actual town by that name. As a matter of fact, there's a book out about the town and the people in it if you feel like reading something unusual. Very interesting way of life these people have. Buy the book, a little education couldn't hurt.
So Meril isn't doing very well and she asked if Moishe and I could find time to come and help. What's your Yenta going to say, "no?" Once again, liblings we flew out for what was supposed to be short visit. Oy vey! Turned out to be two weeks. Could you just plotz (fall down)?
I thought Moishe was going to have my head on a platter for this one but he's a mensch (good man) and supportive of your Yenta so we bought our tickets, arranged for a wheelchair at the airport for me and called a cab. I didn't miss the cabbies when we were in Florida.
At the airport, we get checked in, I get my wheelchair but there's no one to push me so Moishe had to. He didn't mind so much. He kept calling me, "Miss Daisy" for some reason. We arrived at the security area where you have to get oyston zikh (undressed) almost, and there was a security guard with a dog that seemed to be eyeing me. I had to take off my shoes, which is no small task for such a large, old lady, plus start emptying out my pockets of zakhs (things) when the dog, a German Shepherd, was alerted to me.
He became a little too friendly with his nose, shall we say and I'm still in the wheelchair when I said, "Excuse me, but you have to buy me dinner first." That's when the security guard said the dog picked up a scent from me that is probably drugs and could I empty my pockets. I was doing it, when your dog became rather intimate with me. Reaching into a pockets is usually not a shlal (great deal) of trouble except when I'm flying. First comes the cell phone, then the iPod, pen (you never know), Moishe's wallet, eye drops, lip stick, ear rings, mini mace sprayer, keys, mints... I have deep pockets... and my tin of pills... OY! MY TIN OF PILLS!
The dog went meshuga (nuts!) over the tin of pills. The security guard picked it up and before he could open it I said, "in my carry on bag you'll find the bottle that belongs to those pills." And he opened the tin. "Ma'am, you do know I can detain you for this." Now bubbelehs, it's a good thing I'm Yenta. Please don't try this at your airport.
"Young man, I'm traveling to help a friend in need. I've complied with your wishes, I've proven those pills are prescribed to me and your dog is not sitting correctly at your side. There's too much space between the two of you plus he's too relaxed sitting off on his hip. You should have him x-rayed for hip displascia." He looked at me rather confused. We completed our security scan thing and then I started struggling with the shoes.
I called the security guard over to help with my shoes because Moishe can't bend. He can take them off but he can't put them back on for me. He's struggling with his own shoes. So while the security guard is helping me, we start talking, "so tell me dawlink, are you married? I don't see a ring so I was just wondering. I know some very nice girls. You have a gentle touch, this is good. Ok, we'll have to work on the not talking thing, but you seem very nice. You've been a real mensch, thank you for your help."
"What's a mensch?"
"Ah Ha! He speaks! A mensch is a good man. Perhaps we'll meet again and you're dog will be sitting properly."
"Mrs. Tellabenta, my shift is over. May I walk you two to your gate?" Moishe was more than happy to give up pushing me to the young man, perhaps a little too quickly, but he's older than he once was. Besides, it was nice to have the dog with us. He really liked sniffing me. Odd.
Bubbelehs, when I first started talking with you I had mentioned a book called Postville. A little unusual but interesting book. So here's an idea; something different for a suggestion. Reading. Open your minds, my dawlinks, and go outside what you usually read. If you like love stories, try a fictional/history book. If you like biographies, try something in fantasy - expand your world. Let your mind travel. 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... [1] and can also be found on facebook.
Links:
[1] http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibromyalgia-chronic-pain-and-chronic-fatigueexhaustion/it-cant-hurt-o
[2] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/oy-yentas-tin-pills-get-k-9-airport-attention#comment-657
[3] http://twitter.com/lumigrate
[4] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/oy-yentas-tin-pills-get-k-9-airport-attention#top
[5] http://www.lumigrate.com/user/login?destination=node/516%23comment-form
[6] http://www.lumigrate.com/user/register?destination=node/516%23comment-form
[7] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/oy-yentas-tin-pills-get-k-9-airport-attention#comment-659
[8] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/oy-yentas-tin-pills-get-k-9-airport-attention#comment-660
[9] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/oy-yentas-tin-pills-get-k-9-airport-attention#comment-662
[10] http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fibromyalgia-Support-Groups-by-Aimee/94975642116
Comments
Oh, Yenta --- You poor thing! But can I admit that I was LAUGHING, knowing what I know about you and dog expertise? I was figuring they'd end up better educated at the end of the day from having encountered you. I was just telling friends yesterday about how a State patrolman was educated by me as to why my balance is impaired yet I was quite far from being impaired after leaving an event many years ago where they always do mandatory stations and also a lot of snagging people for anything they can find in order to hopefully catch someone who is driving when impaired or under the influence. (In my case following too close but I'd been told by the parking lot flagger to 'go' when I'd stopped to let there be more space -- the next night they were not flagging people in that manner and letting people have a safe following distance.) At the end, he asked to be educated about fibromyalgia and my balance. (Which I was happy to do.)
I'd thrown pills into my jeans pocket that day I went to the rock festival and hadn't needed them and got to thinking 'this could be a problem I hadn't thought about'. I've asked since, and if law enforcement wants to get really to the letter of the law with a person, it's only legal to have them in the container they came in -- I'd presumed if you had a sheet with you from the pharmacy for the drug that would suffice, and I did used to keep those in with my pill setup box when I traveled. Nowdays when you get a three month supply of pills, the bottles can be the size of a shampoo bottle! Lots of little details that go along with chronic illnesses that nobody teaches us! (So LOTS to do at Lumigrate in the future!)
I encourage people to read back to Yenta's piece here in her Forum about dogs -- she has a truly special connection with the history of dog training.
Happy travels this summer, everyone, whether through a book or a plane. I'm reading a wonderful novel about Aspergers for 'fun', House Rules, by Jodi Picoult and she does an amazing job of weaving an interesting murder mystery with education about people with Asperger's which is in the autism realm. I find myself a little tired today as I didn't want to put it down this morning when I read during my 'sleep intermission' in the middle of the night. (Refer to the Sleep and Sleep Apnea forums for more information about sleep -- I've just posted something about sleep apnea from a training I attended last week which I think has a lot of information people generally could learn a LOT from and help their friends and family a great deal by being peer health educators ~~ Mardy
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 [3] 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!
Oy vey! Mardy dawlink, for someone that's so tired you certainly are full of energy. Good point, by the way, about the pills. Personally, I'm afraid to order so much at one time. I know it's cost effective or so the doctor says, but he's a child (only in his 50's), what does he know about cost effective. I was scraping the bottom of the schmultz (chicken fat) jar in order to make soup before he was out of diapers. And then I'd worry about the mail carrier. Honestly, in New York City, do you know how many mail carriers get jumped because they deliver three month supplies worth of drugs? Fargesn (Forget it)!
You flatter me, Mardy. Bubbeleh, you know dogs as well. It's a passion. And yes, the young man had quite the education. As a matter of fact, I put him in touch with... never mind, that's not important. Turns out, he's interested in something other than security. His dog, Brama, is the more fun loving type (rather obvious), leans toward a therapy dog more than security and yes, liblings, I was honest with him. I wouldn't be your Yenta if I wasn't.
Oh, I should tell you my dawlinks, Ellen is going to Shands Research Hospital for a consultation on Tuesday. For those of you that pray, please do so. For those of you that don't, do so anyway. According to her Rheumatologist her Still's Disease is become, shall we say, uncontrollable and praying for a miracle isn't a bad idea at this point. Do they have bal-shem (miracle workers) at Shands?
So while they happen to be there, Ellen decided that they shouldn't waste time, Rubin is going to take the tour of University of Florida with his Dad, Gary. Rubin wants to study Engineering. Supposedly UF is a good school for that. Oy, I'm rambling. I must be mid (tired). Time for a nap, one of the pleasures of being an alter kaker (old geezer). Be well, bubelehs!
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... [1] and can also be found on facebook.
I'll definitely be doing my part for 'thinking the best for Ellen'. I'm glad to hear of the referral process working and look forward to hearing what is found. I'm VERY curious if they'll talk about the connection that integrative medicine providers believe is behind anything autoimmune, which is IgG food allergies among other things. Naturally there are resources here at Lumigrate related to that -- one being the Food Allergies video by Dr. Christopher Lepisto (a naturopath here in Grand Junction who has helped me TONS related to diet and supplementation and adrenal recovery) and the other one is what we call 'The Three Doctors Interview' which you can find in the fibromyalgia awareness forum OR the 'top picks on Lumigrate about fibromyalgia', both of which are in the fibromyalgia section on the forums tab.
Naturally, integrative medicine includes the power of the spirit and mind, which includes meditation, prayer and overall attitude and thinking. So thank you for being a teacher to us in so many ways, Yenta. You are like our own 'resident Bubbie' at Lumigrate, and I am SO GRATE-FULL!
~~ Mardy
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 [3] 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!
Yenta,
As always, your pieces make me laugh, think and grow a bit! Thank you!
And definitely will be prayers for Ellen coming from Ohio, I hope they can make some real progress for her.
Be gentle on yourself!!
~~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 writing for Lumigrate, Aimee can be found leading a support group on Facebook, as well as two in person support groups in the Dayton Ohio region. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fibromyalgia-Support-Groups-by-Aimee/94975642116 [10]