Friday, August 21, 2009

This just gets stranger every week - Friday Fragments


Welcome to Friday Fragments, the place to say all those things you’ve been thinking all week. Mrs. 4444 from Half Past Kissin' Time is the Big Thinker who hosts this party, and her thoughts are some of the best around. She has links to all the FF posters – go check them out and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

* I have company staying at my house this week, and it’s not the casual kind of company that hangs around your house, reading and such. It’s the kind of company that requires MY company every single minute. Talk about finding it difficult to blog – it’s more like finding it difficult to complete a thought. I have to sneak off with my laptop to steal even a few minutes to read a blog or two! This may just be the shortest Friday Fragments in history.

* Mrs. 4444 awarded me the Favorite Fragmenter prize from last week, which is funny because last week, her FF post had me laughing for days. She linked this video, called Stuck in the Middle With You, which got me thinking about the subject of things that, well, get stuck inside people. Many years ago, I attended a conference with a woman from another non-profit agency whose agency provided family planning and women’s health care. She once told me (after several margaritas) that she had removed an amazing array of objects from women’s bodies. Objects that were not the normal things one might find in there. Objects that they would have obviously attempted to remove themselves first, before suffering the embarrassment of asking for help. The list amazed, impressed and disgusted me, all at once.

* She also told me that the most interesting and unique items, once retrieved, were placed in their ‘hall of fame’ (which was a shelf in their back room) for them to enjoy for years to come. Of course, I had to stop by her agency a couple of months later for a meeting, so I asked to see it. Let me tell you, it was EVERY BIT AS IMPRESSIVE AS SHE HAD DESCRIBED. The most interesting item was a plastic gargoyle, which she described as a “neon green, hard plastic, angry-looking gargoyle” and, in my opinion, was WAY too big to be even considered for insertion. You gotta wonder how bored a person has to be…I mean, how does that even begin? “Gee, honey, I’m feeling a little adventurous tonight. What say we take that green plastic gargoyle that your sister gave the kids, and see if it fits in your…”

* Earlier in the week, I did a good deed at Wal-Mart. I’m not going to tell you all about it, because the specifics don’t really matter. What I will do, though, is encourage everyone to be friendly, and patient, with elderly people when you encounter them at stores or restaurants. It will make your day – and theirs, too – and you might just make a terrific new friend. I think it is absolutely criminal how some people treat others, just because they’re slowing down a bit as they get older. God willing, we’re all going to get there sooner or later - let’s show a little love and compassion, shall we?

* That’s all I got today. I will try to keep better track of my random thoughts next week. Have a terrific weekend, everybody!

17 comments:

Eternal Lizdom said...

In DadGoneMad's book- Rage Against the Meshugenah (Danny Evans)- he talks about his mom being a "specialist" in her job and when he found out what that meant... he was at her workplace and saw a collection of jars with random objects in them... yep, all those extracted from the anus items.

My uncle is a retired colon and rectal surgeon and has he got some stories to tell!!

Kim said...

Does your company ever shower or use the toilet? If so, grab your laptop and go hide. Reappear later as if you were never gone!

Sara Elizabeth said...

Congrats on the FF award. I loved your blog entry. You deserve it.

I totally agree that everyone should be kind. I love doing daily random acts of kindness. It does matter. I am sure whoever you were kind to loved that.

Enjoy the casual company :o)

Happy FF!!!

Odette said...

Oh man I honestly just don't understand some people. What does go through their heads as they are inserting unnatural objects into themselves?

Unknown said...

oh no, don't leave us hanging, we must know more of the list!!!!

katy said...

Did you just tell us one item so we would all spend the rest of the day trying to figure out what else was there?
We will be waiting right here when you get time to blog!

Caution/Lisa said...

High maintenance company is tough. Hope they're leaving soon.

Yay for you with good deed. It doesn't take many posts to realize that you are a very sweet person. I think your boys have a pretty great role model.

Now about those objects...I used to date an ER nurse and he said a guy came in one night with a hamster stuck in him. That story may have contributed to the end of our relationship.

Claudya Martinez said...

I'm sorry about the high maintenance company and I thank you for the reminder to be nice to the elderly.

claudia said...

I love, love, love helping older people. They always make me feel as though I did so more more than I actually did. I get such a wonderful feeling from their appreciation.
Hope your company isn't too bad. I'm a problem with company in the first place, I am kind of a hermit when I get home and I have a hard time sharing!
Ew, on the objects d' insertion. Why? Okay, I know why, but why? Ew.

Reddirt Woman said...

Oh, Mary Ellen, honey, was that you that help me pick up my package of Depends at the WallyWorld? Dang, if I'd known it was you I would have bought your lunch at the McDonald's.
I shouldn't joke about that because it is important to help us older folks out and I help those older than me that are still toddering around.

Having two doctors in the family and having worked for them and having friends that were docs or nurses, I have no doubts about the strange 'items' in the collection. I could tell you a story or two myself. I will say that the gargoyle was, 'emm, different...

And I enjoy company but not when it requires every moment of my time.

Helen

Unknown said...

That kind of company doesn't stay at my house very long lol.

Stacey said...

Since I began working in a nursing home two months ago, I've learned a lot about patience and compassion. (I think I've always had compassion, but the patience was certainly lacking.) Kudos to you for reminding us to take the time to be a little more understanding of the older generation!

Happy Friday!

mub said...

I am both curious and horrified by the "Hall of Fame" shelf!!

As Cape Cod Turns said...

Ewwww.

Hope your needy company gives you some space this week.

:)

Elenka said...

I agree one hundred percent about your comment regarding older folks. My parents are 88 years old and seeing them function, or at least try to, sometimes breaks my heart. To think that some stranger might treat them poorly also breaks my heart. I remember this whenever I encounter an elderly person. Good lesson.

Mrs4444 said...

OMG-I laughed and laughed and laughed at that gargoyle story. I'd love to read a more complete list. Maybe next week?

Looking forward to reading RAtM, as I picked it up last week--Eternal LIzdom's comment made me up it on my list, but school starts soon, so I don't know...

I really love guests who are like family and can entertain themselves, help themselves to the fridge, etc. I would be going crazy in your situation-hope you survive it.

I love helping old folks at the grocery store-putting their bags in their cars, taking their carts when they're done. Small things mean a lot, and they deserve it. (even the cranky ones)

knittergran said...

I don't remember where I heard this recently, and I don't know if it's true, but I hope it is: It takes one second to be nice and two seconds to be mean, so be nice.
So congrats to you and your Walmart adventure!