Brains

An article in the Plain Dealer 6/29/10 - YOU DOCS TIP OF THE WEEK:

Older but wiser brain

The article states: "You can't find your car in the parking lot? Your wallet's wandered away again? Etc. Think you are losing it?

EXHALE: Everyday memory lapses may mean your brain's getting older. But it is also getting wiser. ( ! ! ) . . . . . .

Yes, recall gets tougher with age. That's because our brains are taking in more information than ever before. . . . . . .

In new research, seniors absorbed more facts during a memory test than people in their teens and 200s. Plus they were 30% better at using the information later to make decisions. Better decisions ! YES ! ! . . .

Oh, and when you have an opinion, share it. After all, your brain's wiser than ever.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Isn't that reaffirming ! ? ! Many cultures have long recognized this. Their eldest ones are the 'wise ones'. Somehow in the modern era society has lost track of this wisdom. Let us elders reclaim our heritage and recognize that we are truly the 'wise ones'.

We need to do it ourselves. Younger people don't understand - and are too busy to see their own mistakes. Let us become the 'sages' of our time - - and speak up when we understand the situation better than our 20 year olds.

Don't let 'them' put 'us' in the corner. Speak the wisdom you know.

Death

Death is so hard to deal with. Whether it be only a small bird on the walkway, my beloved cat, Peaches, my brother, Hunt, my mother, Martha, my dear husband Ed, or now a wonderful friend, Don.

We know they are all right - the dear Lord has them in his caring presence and everything is

perfect for them

But us, - - -we are still here and there is an empty place where an important living being once was. We hear all the Gospel reassurances - - we believe them with our whole being - - but there is that empty space. That is so hard to face.

We pray that the dear Lord will remain especially close to each person suffering grief - - and understanding each person's grief, will provide the love , caring, and strength that is needed. Thank you Lord, for all these precious beings you have given us - for a time - -and then on into eternity. Thank you.

When I was a child my mother always said before we would start anything, "You have to get your ducks in a row". Here are the geese doing the same thing. That group has usually 14 young ones in it. And as you can see with all the geese on the grass - -we have a LOT of geese - -much to our groundskeeper's despair!

So sorry - - I couldn't even spell Tuskegee correctly! So sorry, Art.

90 Years !

A dear friend just celebrated his 90th birthday! What an accomplishment!

This does not 'just happen'. It takes years of work - honestly - Maintaining physical health as much as is possible - - maintaining mental alertness - as much as possible - - and continually maintaining friendship with long time friends and meeting and enjoying making new friends - -and a deep faith that God is present in all these phases of life - and even more we can't ever express. Praise the Lord. Thanks to God for the presence of Art Saunders in our midst.

Art was a Tussgee airman during WWII. And this group of escorts to bombers returning to their bases after a mission - - the Tussgee airmen - - held a record. THEY DID NOT LOSE A SINGLE BOMBER with its crew during the whole war! ! Bomber crew began to request the Tussgee airmen as the preferred escort on their way home.

This at a time of segregation. The African American airmen were not allowed into the 'regular' air corps. They were held outside. Officers were not 'allowed' into the regular officers lounges. It was truly a segregated time. And yet they became famous as the BEST there was in bomber escorts.

Then Art became a well-known architect - graduating from a 5 year graduate course in just 3 years. (This man is really brilliant - in so many ways.)

It was my great privilege to be included in his 90th birthday party. And you have seen the picture of me with Art and his beautiful wife, Iris. Thank you Art for coming to me and including me as a friend.

Geese & Experience

It is interesting to watch geese families as the walk past my window. The young are now almost the size of the mature ones. Yet. looking carefully , one can discern which are mature and which are still young. The mature, in looking around seem to do it carefully, systematically. The young ones look back and forwards rapidly, not seeming to focus on any one thing.

I wonder if that is also true of us humans. as we mature, we have learned what is important to look for - - and what are just 'extra details' which do not affect the situation in which we are located.

How's that for Philosophy 101, early in the AM?

Goose feathers

Our geese are molting. On the grass were these beautiful feathers. Aren't they wonderful? The underside of the feather is iridescent - -can you see it on the one? And the feathery base are so soft.

And to think that our ancestors valued these - and wrote those interesting, legible letters using goose quills. (perfect handwriting, not at all like mine).

Last Import

DSCF0120

OPINION

This Morning's Plain Dealer included - in the column 'OPINION' an editorial published in the NY Times. titled "One Cell Forward".

The article writes about a scientist who has created a 'synthetic cell' which might lead to the creation of artificial life. This possibility brings out many diverse feelings within me.

First - we were created with intelligence and called to use this intelligence. We are continuing to do so.

Second - we were created to have wisdom in all that we do.

Question: Are we called to use wisdom in the way in which intelligence functions?

If we don't do it, someone else - so why stop?

Who controls the intelligence and wisdom of this artificial creation of a human being?

For me, these questions keep returning - - but, I really do not have an answer to the questions. It does frighten me when I think of all the variation of potential possibilities.

Perhaps people were also frightened by the possibility of air-flight - of humans flying in the air.

(seeing what airlines are doing these days - maybe we should have been more frightened!).

'If GOD intended us to fly God would have given us wings' - - this was the kind of comment common in those days.

But an artificial human being? Are we trying to be like GOD? Or are we just exercising the intelligence which GOD gave us?

What do you think?