A Conversation with
Elizabeth
1998
D & D
From:
Elizabeth
To:
LMixson@PEC.com
Sent: Thursday,
April 23, 1998 9:34 AM
Subject: D & D
I think I had heard about that book Ishmael. Thanks for the
recommendation. The library is having food for fines this month so
I will clear up my library account and check to see if they have the
Book on Tape. I found myself staring at the calendar against last
night about my trip. Now I realize how ridiculous it was to plan
to go the day after my finals--so that's out. I will be too tired
and having to plan for the trip, even things like checking my oil, etc.,
will just be one more thing to do on a tight schedule. NOW, my
plan is to go the first weekend after school starts, since my classes
are Mon. Tues, Wed.
I know I'll have an enormous amount of law homework, but there's nothing
to prevent me from doing that at night in the motel, instead of at night
at home, except I won't have my computer.
Yes, D & D. I've become increasingly aware of the fragility of
life as I age, and as I experience losing the "idols" of my youth who
are now in their 80's and 90's. Do you remember a while back when Jack
Burke died from Hawaii Five'0. I never watched that show but I
used to watch him in Stony Burke, a rodeo cowboy show. He was, I
felt, so handsome. When he died and the article said he was 72 or
so, I couldn't believe it.
Stroke is called the silent killer. I heard recently that the
worst cases of Az might actually be because the persons have had
mini-strokes as well. The article said the mini-strokes are well
preventable, for the most part, and so some of the most dreadful
examples of Az could be modified, if people would heed the no smoking,
get exercise, moderate diet routine. The thing is there is no
consistency in the medical literature, which I can testify to.
Recently it was announced "any exercise" counts, it all adds up.
Then yesterday I read "that's baloney," it HAS TO BE 20-30 minutes of
continuous exercise, NOT golfing etc., or gardening. Also, there
is more and more "news" coming out that Vitamin C in excess of certain
amounts, with 500 to 1000 being excessive, actually harms the immune
system. I'm keeping my eye on that one.
My knee was driving me crazy yesterday, very stiff. I took
Ibuprofen before bed, and also used Icy-Hot, which is not supposed to
work--it is supposed to only mildly stimulate skin circulation and not
effect deep circulation--however this morning my knee is 95% improved.
I'm not prepared for my own death. You said as a header, "What do
you want to be when you grow up? I thought, "I'm not by far the
oldest person in law school. Many, many of the persons have
established careers. We have several doctors, nurses, teachers,
etc. There are a lot of BMWs and SUV's in the parking lot. I
keep thinking of my counselor, who I really love at some level, and she
said once, what I do in the next year or two will determine whether I
live for the next five or ten. It's hard to imagine her "dead"
(she's 62)and since in many ways she helped me deal with "mother"
issues, I find myself thinking more of her death than I do at times
about my own mother's--because of the emotional remoteness I had to her.
Well, this is getting pre-morbid. Ted Bowman who I told you about,
the grief counselor, is also speaking for two hours this morning on
"Communication." I'm going to that at 9:00, so I best get my mail
as that hour is approaching.
More later--Elizabeth
D & D, when I first read the subject I thought “Dungeons and Dragons” a popular nerd game but then upon reading her note realized it was more Death and Dying. Then I was at the age of 45 and thinking about D&D. Here now in 2024 as I write this, with both parents gone, my mom’s brother Uncle Cork, who is only five years older than me, is on his death’s bed dying from the same illness that mom and grandma Junior died from, Parkinson’s. Death and Dying, as we grow older it comes closer.
04.06.2024
Updated: 04-06-2024