Hi, James!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

JB>  Another thing you might have imagined about me, is my
JB>  persistent bitching about the lack of services available
JB>  to people in my situation has spawned numerous new phone
JB>  numbers and policies meant to deal with the next grumpy-
JB>  Gus to come along.


         I wasn't aware of the latter, but I think one can do a lot of good
that way!  It certainly does seem that the squeaky wheel gets the grease...
and those who are most in need of such help aren't always able to advocate
for themselves. By kicking up a ruckus we may effect changes which benefit
them as well....  :-)



JB>  Now, if I can only convince someone to give me free
JB>  cable, roadside assistance, and a cell phone my life
JB>  will be complete. 


         Hmm.  We could use a secretary & a maid too... [chuckle].



JB>  To pull back the physical example, I never avoided
JB>  the bike after that incident


         Uh-huh.  From what I've heard, it's probably best not to.  I was
rear- ended only six or eight months after after I'd obtained my driver's
licence.  I kept on driving, however... as did a friend of ours who had a
much more serious accident recently.  And I navigated for a car rally the
very next day....  :-))



JB>  and I suspect you don't avoid parlaying ideas because
JB>  someone belittles one of them.


         Exactly.  I might have when I was younger, but I've reached an age
now where I'm confident that my ideas are well worth paying attention to
whether or not other folks choose to pay attention.  In many ways adversity
can be a great teacher too.  When a reporter asked a fifteen-year-old
SURVIVOR of leukemia how his illness had changed him, for example, he said
he was a lot mouthier now.  I cheered for that kid.  I've met many such
kids & I find they often have a depth of understanding which is
relatively rare even among adults.  I don't hear them saying things like
"Don't be silly, that doesn't hurt!" as some adults do.  And
although the teenage girls put on wigs when they go outside the ward,
people on the inside generally attach little importance to what others look
like....  :-)



JB>  You get up, you dust off, take stock of what you can
JB>  do to keep the bike on-path (The best you can. |-)
JB>  next time, and you go on. Otherwise, you go nowhere.


         Yes, you learn by experience & get experience by making mistakes.  ;-)



AH>  the right hemisphere controls the left side & vice versa.
AH>  People often find that confusing....  :-)

JB>  Pretty amazing, isn't it? All but sight holds true to that
JB>  crossed wiring I believe. 


         All but hearing, actually.  Eyesight is a strange mixture... the
right brain controls the left visual field & vice versa.  Nora can see
with both eyes but has some difficulty seeing on the left side, just as my
father did....  :-/



AH>  I don't know how much Nora will recover, but I think
AH>  it's important to make the effort.

JB>  ...You dust yourself off, take stock of your resources,
JB>  and you get back on the bike. 


         Years ago Dallas's grandmother broke her hip.  She decided she'd
never walk again & she didn't.  It was a self-fulfilling prophecy
because she made no effort.  OTOH, a friend of ours broke his back &
was told he'd never walk again
... but he did!  I'm reminded of the joke about the fellow who prayed that
he'd win the lottery.  Finally God reminded him that he had to buy a
ticket....  ;-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+