[Magdalen] Prayer Request for my old friend

[Marion Thompson]

At the end of the day, what's in a name, eh?  I don't really give a 
toss; it was just the momentary catch when I realised that not everyone 
sees me through my eyes and the facts are the facts, ignore them though 
I will.  However, 'infirm' NOT!

Marion, a pilgrim


On 1/13/2017 4:43 PM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford wrote:
> 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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>