Monday, March 23, 2009

Monday Morning Meme and More

All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing. ~ Maurice Maeterlinck



1. If a new medicine were developed that would cure cancer but caused a fatal reaction in one percent of those who took it, would you want it to be released to the public? Why or why not? Do you think we’re close to curing cancer? Have you ever lost someone to cancer? If so, please write a short tribute to that person.

Let's see... speaking as a person who lost her father to cancer, and whose mother is a cancer survivor... Yes. I would say release the cure. So many cancers are terminal (Dad had lung cancer, and was given NO chance at survival. Mom had breast cancer, and had surgery but no chemo and came through like a champ. Does Bailey count? She had bone cancer.) and I really think people should be given a choice of treatments. For someone like Dad, who was terminal anyway, what would he have lost by taking a drug that might kill him?

Are we close to curing cancer? I doubt it. I'd like to think so, but honestly, I don't think treatments have changed all that much in the last 20 - 30 years. We don't understand the disease and really don't even know what causes it (except in the case of lung cancer... and even then, some folks who have never smoked and weren't exposed to much second-hand smoke, will get it). Our bodies are funny things. Dr. Marianne thinks a lot of it has to do with chemicals that we pump into our bodies... but that's just me.

A short tribute to someone... gah. I can't -- it tears me up. Dad has been gone for seventeen years and there are times I can't stand how much I miss him. I wish he was here to see his granddaughter (who keeps a picture of him on her dresser). I wish he'd been around to give me away at my wedding and dance with me after I was married. Most of all, though, I wish I'd spent more time with him when he was alive. I was pretty young then (he died when I was in my very early 20s) and thought there was always tomorrow. There isn't. His death taught me a very hard lesson: there's not always time to tell people you love them, or give them a hug, or laugh with them. I think this is why it's so hard for me to be far away from my mom now... what if today is the last day I have with her, and I'm not with her? What if today I opt to NOT call her, and this is the last day I'd have that chance? Life is never quite long enough.

And, now I'm crying anyway. Dang it.


2. You discover your wonderful one-year-old child is, because of a mix-up at the hospital, not yours. Would you want to exchange the child to try to correct the mistake? Why or why not?

It would tear my heart out, but yeah I'd exchange the child. I'd hope that both families could keep in touch, but even if we didn't the fact remains -- the correct child should go to the correct family, and better at one y.o. than at five or ten.

3. Do you think that the world will be a better or a worse place 100 years from now? Explain your answer, please.

If the world is around 100 years from now? I have no idea. I don't believe that, overall, the world is a better place NOW than it was 100 years ago. Medical advances aside, we are just as cruel and heartless as we were then (if not more so), and now we have the power to hurt even more people. I'm a firm believe that inanimate things tend to be amplifiers (my DH will say things like "money is evil" -- I disagree. I think money makes you more of whatever you are: if you're a generous person, you'll become more generous. If you're a arrogant, controlling person you'll become more arrogant and controlling... because money gives you the freedom to be "more".), so advances like the internet have given people the chance to be both better and worse.

I'm not a Pollyanna. I'm more Chicken Little. Sorry.

4. How many pictures do you have on your living room walls? And what are they? (paintings, photographs, sketches, abstract, family, etc). Feel like taking us on a tour of your home? If so, post your video or photos!

Downstairs I have eleven pictures, and it's hard to choose which room is the "living room" honestly. We'll exclude the three in the dining room, leaving eight. Four are nicely framed oil paintings -- two autumn country scenes and two winter country scenes.

Of the four remaining: one is an landscape (woodsy) oil painting done by my MIL and given to DH and I on our fifth anniversary, one is a picture of my mom and her sisters when then were very small, one is a southwestern picture drawn by my SIL and one is a "Home Sweet Home" cross stitch done by me.

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So, yesterday began as a lovely, sunny, and warm (for here) day. I walked the dog early... before DD and DH woke, and was cool but not cold. I couldn't wait for it to warm up more so I could work outside.

I took Dakota and DD for a nice long walk around 10:30 and it started getting cold. Windy. Overcast.

We got home, had lunch and then -- while we were doing dishes -- it STARTED SNOWING. Big, fat, fluffy flakes. It only lasted about 30 mins, and the ground is thawing, so it didn't stick but GAH. And after the storm, the frigid winds really kicked up, so no working outside yesterday, dang it.

I'm so ready for warm weather. We're hoping official ice out will be mid-April. I always guess April 24th (DD's birthday). Last year it was April 23rd. So close... but DH is getting really, really antsy.

Next weekend, he'll be taking down more trees. Our new neighbor has given us permission to cut down all the pines trees between our properties. DH hates pine trees with an all consuming passion, so there will be a bloody massacre in six days.

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You Were an Active Kid



When you were a kid, you were happy as long you didn't have to sit still.

You were very hyper, and it was hard for you to sit through class or finish your homework.



It's likely that you were a natural athlete and a natural entertainer. You loved to play outside with your friends.

You were an outgoing, popular kid. Put you in a sports game or a school play, and you really shined.



Hmmm... yes and no. I am NOT hyper, exactly. Active, yes. I was an athlete (basketball, volleyball and--briefly--cross country track), and I was in drama (even got "best actress" in my senior year, lol). And, though I wasn't in the popular clique, I really did know lots of people and pretty much got along with everyone from the cheerleaders to the geeks.

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6 comments:

Keri Mikulski said...

I could have guessed you were an active kid. :)

The first question is a toughie... Cancer sucks.

Anonymous said...

1. Yes
2. No--my daughter is 3. I couldn't stand letting go of her at any point knowing how much a child up to 6 months of age is learning to trust a parent. Could you imagine the psychological trauma the child/parents would live with? Before baby, I would have said yes.
3. No--I'm an anthropologist. Humans are defined by their repeatable behavior. Change the toys, and they're still the same. LOL
4. Temple rubbings, pottery, buddhas, Native American art, mirrors with carved wooden frames, arrowhead collection, masks, and the child's latest photos to level out the strangeness... :)

This was a thought-provoking post!

groovyoldlady said...

You were brave to answer the cancer question so thoroughly. I couldn't have done it.

You Were an Outgoing Kid

When you were a kid, you had no problem expressing yourself.
There's a good chance you started talking early - and never stopped!

You had a lot of friends, and unlike most kids, you weren't shy around adults.
You were well adjusted and confident. You enjoyed speaking up and participating.

Yep, that's me to a tee!! (tea?)

Brandy said...

You were very brave to answer the first question. I believe as you do, that there are thing/advances in our society that will allow others to act as they truy are. Whether it be good or evil.
Wow, you have quite a collection of Art!

The quiz said I was creative. *G* But, didn't quite fit.

I hope your day warms up and that you have a pleasant day!

Allie Boniface said...

Depending on who you talk to, there are advances and cures in European countries that don't ever pop up here because the drug companies & their profits have so much control, politically. Scary.

Dru said...

Your words were heartwarming. {{Marianne}}

Why doesn't DH like pine trees?

You Were an Achieving Kid

When you were a kid, people often remarked on how mature you seemed. You acted quite adult.

You excelled at school, and you actually enjoyed it to a large extent. No one had to ask you to do your homework.

As a kid, you were probably a bit picky. You liked structure, schedules, and organization.

You had trouble being friends with regular kids. You probably were only friends with other serious children.
so very true