Brightening the World

As I was taking my daily walk on Sunday in the invigorating autumnal air I came across an interesting scene. At one house a man was putting up a large Christmas wreath on the wall at the second floor level, while across the street a couple was admiring the work they had put into a somewhat elaborate Halloween display.  

            My first thought was that Halloween was just on time while Christmas was way too early. My second thought: was it really? Because the Christmas wreath was being put up by a man on a tall ladder, he might simply have decided that it would be a lot more challenging to do it later in colder and snowy weather.

            But I realized that he might have had something else in mind. Because we are living in such dark times any light that can lift our spirits is certainly very welcome. Many people began putting up lights around their homes in the spring and summer to brighten their world. And these multi-coloured lights still continue to cheer us up in a season of diminishing daylight as we continue to struggle to become covid-free. We trust that rainbows will finally reward us for doing our part to stop the virus in its track by wearing masks and social distancing.

            Yet, not everyone believes that masks work despite the advice of health experts. They believe governments spread the virus so they can control people. Really? If that were the case, it seems to me that our leaders would have chosen to do something somewhat less expensive. After all, as their economies struggle, their revenues continue on a downward slope. Why would anyone do such a thing? And all the governments around the world at once?

            Instead of burning their masks, these people should show some respect and join the rest of us who continue to take steps to face and conquer our common enemy.

 

 Animals for Comfort and Health

Companion animals improve our lives in many ways. They are certainly a loving presence that can calm and comfort, especially in this time of covid isolation faced by many, especially older individuals who live alone.

 It is said that petting an animal lowers blood pressure, plus having a dog that you must walk every day forces you to exercise which does your ticker good, no matter your age, while oxygenating your whole being.

And dogs can serve us. Arlene, a recently retired friend who lives in the country, now spends her time volunteering as a trainer of service dogs for those who are deaf or blind. “For me it’s a labor of love. We all have to give back, but I think I’m getting back a lot more than I give,” she points out. She says that therapy dogs provide help for humans on many levels, anything from educational, motivational and mental needs, as well as for socialization.

Therapy dogs visit schools and hospices, seniors in hospital and care facilities as well as children undergoing medical treatments, bringing with them love, smiles and pure joy. But they also bring comfort in many other areas. I recently read about a program which gives children who struggle with reading out loud an opportunity to practice by reading to a therapy dog.

Therapy dogs are also used in disaster areas to help people cope with very stressful situations. I’ve even read of therapy dogs helping those with an uncontrolled fear of dentists. I may talk to my dentist about this since I remember (perhaps you do too) less than fondly the old noisy drills at the root of my apprehension of the dental chair. But I digress. 

In our current electronic age, therapy dogs may be needed to help those with an addiction to texting. Recently our local media reported that a young woman killed herself in the subway while texting. Instead of entering the train through the door as she assumed she was doing while distracted by texting, she stepped between two cars and was crushed. A therapy dog could have prevented the tragedy.

While I am a dog person, some people prefer cats. Cats can certainly bring comfort and be a welcome presence in a home, but I don’t believe cats can be trained to be of service to their owners the way a dog can. Of course, on the plus side, while they can help people cope with stressful situations by simply being close they don’t need to go for a walk a couple or more times a day. A definite welcome element for those who are older or living with mobility limitations.

 

 

 

 

A Matter of Perspective

 After an accident that resulted in ruptured shoulder ligaments, my friend Wayne is in terrible pain these days. The doctor promises that he will heal fully, but of course since he is in the booming age range, he knows the recovery will be longer than if he were a younger man. However, he is philosophical about it. These things happen, he says, and you just have to go with it. He adds: when I am tempted to feel sorry for myself I think of all the children in hospital; a lot of them will not make it. That really sobers me up and I don’t complain.

Wayne told me this on a day when I was feeling sad for a variety of reasons, covid being high on the list. And his great way of looking at the problems that befall all of us as the years pile on made me take stock of my own troubles. Were they that serious? I may be afraid of coming down with the corona virus, but I don’t have it and I continue to be vigilant. Other problems can certainly be a pain in the posterior, but they are not permanent. I realized it was time to forget the bad and concentrate on the good.

           My grandchildren are certainly an especially wonderful blessing in my life, so what have I got to complain about? Many people will never know the joys of grandparenting, while others have simply been cut off from seeing their grandchildren for a variety of family problems. I feel very fortunate to be close to my own grandchildren and for being able to see them evolve and be there to love them.

They are delight in my life. But I know I am also important in theirs because when I asked my grandson what he considered the best thing about grandparents, he didn’t hesitate to reply: They know so much stuff!

Couldn’t have said it better myself.  

 

Some Puns to Lighten Dark Times

(Hopefully!) 

I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid.He says he can stop any time.

I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I can't put it down.

They told me I had type A blood, but it was a type 0.

I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.

There was a cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils.

Broken pencils are pointless.

I treid to catch some fog, but I mist.

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary?A thesaurus.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.

I dropped out of communism class because of lousy Marx.

All the toilets in New York's police stations were stolen. The police have nothing to go on.

I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.

Velco -- what a rip off!

A cartoonist was found dead in his home. Details are sketchy.

Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!

Be kind to your dentist. He has fillings too.