-=> Ardith Hinton wrote to James Bradley <=-

 JB>  "I hope you have a speedy recovery." How do you breach
 JB>  that with, "Nineteen-years and counting..."?


 AH>           You've probably heard the expression "a nine
 AH> days' wonder"... I guess the majority of folks have little

This is the first time.

 AH> or no experience with conditions which aren't resolved
 AH> within that time & their attention span may be similarly
 AH> limited.  :-Q

Including the individuals tasked with assisting us? (sic.)


 JB>  wishes with the intent they were delivered.


 AH>           Uh-huh.  They don't quite know what to say... but
 AH> neither do we.  :-)

Well said!


 JB>  Salt in a wound


 AH>           Toughens the skin & assists granulation when
 AH> applied correctly, as we learned from a wonderful nurse at
 AH> BCCH.  Cats & dogs have the right idea.  Most human beings,
 AH> OTOH, presuppose an insensitive application of dry
 AH> granules.  ;-)

I heard HO2, and alcohol based topical applications tend to drive an infection
in, where a brine tends to suck it out. True????


 JB>  or teaspoon of sugar to make the medicine go down????

 AH>           Arghh!  Speaking as a parent who actually tasted the vile
 AH> stuff which Nora's otherwise healthy instincts told her to throw
 AH> up in the oncology ward... and who asked her nurse for more
 AH> information about the specific location of the taste
 AH> buds... I would recommend unsweetened apple juice.  The
 AH> spoonful of sugar is a typical SJ answer.  It sounds
 AH> logical on the surface & it may work in some cases.  When
 AH> it doesn't, you may prefer to consult a nerd like me...
 AH> [chuckle].

I likely *will* consult a nerd *like* you, or *you* directly! 

As a product of the company I used to keep, my first notion is to reach for a
salt lick, and chase it with a wedge of lemon.  I don't know if that will
make all "medicine" go down. (-P

(In case you hadn't noticed, I have yet to pick up that book you recommended,
and I'm sorry to say, the pile of stuff to do here might preclude me from
spending much time reading it.)


 JB>  explain the smell?


 AH>           Agreed.  Life in a pediatric oncology ward is a
 AH> culture shock.  After an experience like that, I can't go
 AH> out into the world again & see things quite the way others
 AH> do.  I'm not criticizing your use of metaphor here.  I'm
 AH> playing with general & personal connotation in such a way
 AH> as to add factoids which some readers might find useful.
 AH> Another example of black humour, I suppose....  :-)

There were kids in the cancer centre I attended, but admittedly, my time there
was short. As such, I don't know how the medicine smells pre or post expulsion.
Proof to the point.

On a tangent, is sacrilegious humour considered "black"?

 JB>  If someone thinks you could better deal with your
 JB>  situation(s), maybe they have never experienced the
 JB>  bouquet.


 AH>           Yes.  The three of us have received some *very*
 AH> nice compliments from people who understand what's going on
 AH> in our lives.  As long as there are a few bouquets like
 AH> that once in awhile, we can keep such things in
 AH> perspective.  :-)

I just heard, "A rose has petals and thorns." Many more of the later,
though....



... James
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