[Magdalen] Prayer Request for my old friend

Fri Jan 13 21:43:38 UTC 2017

Ain't it a hoot, how a word starts its life as a neutral descriptor or an
honorific, and then becomes not so good, and even an insult.

I was genuinely not aware that the term elderly is not nice, but if people
feel that way, then we need to avoid using it.  Now the noun elder, I
think, is not such a bad term.  I wonder if we might make more use of it.

We also mix meanings, with the term "elderly" often used interchangeably
with "infirm".  As I reflect on how members of my family met their end, I
wonder if we erred in allowing so much progress to our healthcare
interventions.  Several members of my family would have been better off if
they had died when their first major medical problem came up.  I don't
propose any changes, but the state of affairs does sadden me.

James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 9:33 AM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:

> I was recently involved in a war of words on another site concerning the
> use of the word "elderly". A number of us felt it was mildly pejorative,
>  not in the same class as the n-word, but somewhat in the class of using
> "colored" instead of African-American or black.
>
> P.S. Our side carried the day.
>
> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 8:24 AM, Marion Thompson <
> marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for this, Jim.  Ain't it the truth?  I've just heard that another
> > friend, now 90, is in a home, but that's good because she will have lots
> of
> > company and stimulation!  The helpful neighbourhood fellow brought my
> paper
> > down to the house yesterday and said the company should bring it to my
> door
> > "You're an elderly woman."  Whaaaat?   Not how I see myself At
> > All!!!!!!!!!!  But it comes to us all, I guess, especially in the eyes of
> > the world.
> >
> > Marion, a pilgrim   ... today my sail I lift ....
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1/13/2017 12:14 AM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford wrote:
> >
> >> This is a nightmare of many as we age and become less and less able to
> >> take
> >> care of ourselves. I pray that he gets a fine place to live out the rest
> >> of
> >> his days with dignity.
> >>
> >>
> >> James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
> >> *“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not
> preserved,
> >> except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy
> >>
> >> On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 4:27 PM, Marion Thompson <
> >> marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> Thanks for your prayers, Lynn.  I went to see him yesterday.  He is his
> >>> spunky self -- sort of, but clearly can't go home on his own and has
> >>> acknowledged that it's time to give up his little church.  He's on an
> IV,
> >>> can't walk safely without people and supports, and looks pretty rough
> --
> >>> toiletries haven't caught up with him!  I got him a good hot coffee,
> >>> which
> >>> he appreciated after the cold coffee on his meal trays.  I really don't
> >>> know where he can go from hospital, certainly not home alone!  I
> >>> certainly
> >>> hope his sons will be part of the solution for their father!
> >>>
> >>> Marion, a pilgrim
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On 1/10/2017 10:36 PM, Lynn Ronkainen wrote:
> >>>
> >>> praying for Ted+ tonight, for those who will tend to his medical needs
> >>>> and for friends who love him.
> >>>> Lynn
> >>>>
> >>>> website: www.ichthysdesigns.com
> >>>>
> >>>> When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have
> >>>> not a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You
> >>>> gave
> >>>> me." attributed to Erma Bombeck
> >>>> "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a
> >>>> talk
> >>>> by Richard Rohr
> >>>>
> >>>> --------------------------------------------------
> >>>> From: "Marion Thompson" <marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 4:26 PM
> >>>> To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
> >>>> Subject: [Magdalen] Prayer Request for my old friend
> >>>>
> >>>> I just heard from friends that my dear old friend Ted is in hospital,
> >>>>
> >>>>> admitted by these friends who found him in his apartment.  He had
> been
> >>>>> on
> >>>>> the floor for a few days. He was confused, dehydrated, and in pain.
> >>>>> Not
> >>>>> being family I can't get anything out of the hospital beyond that
> he's
> >>>>> not
> >>>>> on the hospital floor  my friends told me.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> He will turn 79 shortly and is still working as a priest although he
> >>>>> has
> >>>>> been going downhill badly the last while and it is all he can do to
> >>>>> turn up
> >>>>> at his little church which is housed in an old folks home.  How to
> >>>>> physically get him from here to out west where he wants/needs to be
> >>>>> nearer
> >>>>> to a son with three small children and an older sister has been a
> >>>>> continuing conundrum.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It's all distressing and I feel of no help at all, being at a
> distance
> >>>>> myself.  He has been a loyal friend to me.  For now all I can do is
> beg
> >>>>> your prayers for this good man who has been his own worst enemy but
> >>>>> deserves a better end than this.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Marion, a pilgrim
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >
>