More words than photos

As I write, I am listening to a "James K. Polk Tuesday" update on the radio program I watch (what?), and chuckling. The guys were talking about autism today, and foods or products with or without mercury, fluoride, aluminum, and other artificial ingredients. Others in the studio chimed in, making it quite an interesting foray into the pros and cons, proof vs. speculation, and so on. Last week when I was in Manitowoc, there was a female author on Fox and Friends who had some sort of autism, who totally debunked the theory of vaccinations being the cause of autism. She attested there is simply no firm evidence to prove that childhood vaccinations are directly connected with the diagnosis of autism, that mental retardation and such was renamed or categorized differently, and so on. Interesting, yet a bit unsettling.

Last week I had told Lynn about Dr. Schmidt reporting to Roger and I that, at Justin's 6 week check-up, he did not have autism. What? I had no idea what he was talking about and asked how he knew this at 6 weeks, and Dr. Schmidt said, "Well, he makes good eye contact..." Wow! I am all about eye contact, as is Justin, so we are good! Therefore, doctors knew about autism back in 1987 but it was just not discussed or as publicized as it is today. One point made on the program I am listening to is since vaccinations have basically eliminated the illnesses which formerly would take the lives of these young children such as polio, small pox, and German measles, something else has to come to the forefront. Many years ago the TV movies of the week were all about sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy, and now, not being sure if there are yet 'movies of the week', the subject matter would be whether or not to vaccinate.

On "House", which is like a 'movie of the week' often, there was a segment where a health-nut mom brought her baby to the clinic, where House checked her out. The baby was breast-fed, the mom ate only health food, and so on, and, no, the baby did not have her shots. The mom claimed that the vaccinations were just invented so the pharmaceutical companies could make profits, blah blah blah. House looked at her and asked, "Do you know who else makes obscene profits? The people who make tiny coffins for babies who die of preventable childhood diseases because their stupid parents were trying to make a point..." Oops! Yes, he is caustic and not diplomatic, but the point is well made. Is it worth the gamble? Is polio preferable to Asbergers Disease? How about deafness from the German measles, provided the child lives? I don't know and am so glad I never had to struggle with the decision.

Yesterday I got a phone call from my bff, Judy C., wondering how come I did not make it to Ladies' Group on Monday night. Oops! Part of the reason was I had not intended to go, and secondly, I was visiting my neighbors on the 2nd floor until 8:00 pm. It seems I was not the only one missing, and in fact, only two ladies came, and Pastor. Judy was not aware that we had no officers, either, other than herself, but Jean filled her in. The speculation is the disinterest came from the discussions regarding when and how to decorate the church for CHRISTmas, something which really was not open for discussion. "Traditionally" it is done the last Sunday of Advent, and before CHRISTmas Eve, and quite simply done, with the chrismons on the tree, the Nativity displayed, the fully lit Advent ring, and so on. "But Victory does.....". No, does not apply here, which opens a huge, noisy debate. It is so hard. Therefore, folks, including me, decide to take a rest, back out and back off, for various reasons, leaving our Ladies' Group to fade away, it seems. Judy told me in no uncertain terms that I cannot do that, but she is not the boss of me. Not sure what will happen but perhaps for now, nothing. Judy had told me last week that only about a half dozen people, including children, showed up to decorate and eat chili, and the other Judy told me only 8 or 9 people were in church on New Year's Eve. I am so sad.....

I am also pleased about something else---last week one evening as I was getting ready for bed, I got an e-mail from a young lady who would be close in age to Timmy. Ashlei now lives in NC, having moved there several years ago, and is a granddaughter of my friends, Cliff and Carol. She was so tickled to find a photo of Timmy in my Facebook album titled "Phamily Photos" (ha, ha!) and then told me not a day goes by that she does not think about him. I thanked her for telling me this and she said, "How could I forget my best friend?" Now, since they were only 5 years old, 'best friend' might be stretch but if it works for her, it works for me as well. Certainly I was delighted after nearly 10 years, my Timmy matters to someone other than me, and my immediate family. Judy C. asked me about putting flowers on the altar in January at Good Shepherd for Timmy's birthday or anniversary date, and I said 'yes', although I had already planned to have flowers at Victory on the 16th, which falls between the two dates. Two bouquets will work just fine, especially if I have a function here at home for the anniversary. My downstairs neighbor, Hugh, called me the other night with a suggested 'name' for the event, which they offered to make food for, calling it Timmy's eternal birthday party. I love it having someone who never knew Timmy and did not know me then is spending a moment thinking of what to refer to this gathering as being....an eternal birthday party. Of course, his wife asked me, "You're going to cook????"