Articulate
How do I go about this without seeming self-congratulatory?
Yrs Trly will have surgery next Wednesday (August 26th, 2015) to remove his prostate, which is somewhat cancerous.
We discussed various treatment options, and decided on removing the prostate if I guessed I might be around 20 or more years.
I was told radiation, and the radiation beads, was good for maybe 10 years.
I’m no longer a paragon of health, but in better shape than many at 71 years.
As a prelude to this operation I had to do a “pre-op.” That was yesterday (Tuesday, August 18th, 2015) at the same hospital in Rochester (NY) that will do the surgery.
“Take off all your clothes, and put on this flowery hospital-gown. Then sit quietly here, with your hands folded, to await our nurse-practitioner.
After perhaps five minutes, the nurse-practitioner came in.
We reviewed all the paperwork I had filled out in advance. I suppose this is for ne’er-do-wells who don’t fill out the many questionnaires.
Somehow we got off-topic, with me describing the history of some railfan site.
I’m a railfan, and have been since age-2.
“You’re very articulate,” the nurse-practitioner exclaimed.
“If you say so,” I said.
50 years ago her comment would have gone to my head.
I had a difficult childhood, and was continuously told I was stupid and of-the-Devil.
Also rebellious, because I couldn’t worship my father.
This albatross followed me to college, where I became friends with people eager to infer I was stupid.
But after 71 years I came to know who I am, and I ain’t stupid. I’m rebellious only to those who want me to kowtow; I don’t think I could lead a revolution.
“Well, I drove articulated buses while at the bus-company,” I said.
An “Artic” I had just driven. (Photo by BobbaLew.)
“See? There you are fooling around with words. ‘Articulate,’ I tell ya.”
“Well, I do write,” I said, as if writing makes you articulate. Usually it’s the other way around.
Conversation continued, I used the word “consternation,” a Philadelphia-lawyer word. I use words like that out of habit, but the average person doesn’t.
Which makes me “articulate,” I presume.
When I was in high-school my 12th-grade English-teacher told me I could write pretty good, but I thought he was joking.
After 71 years I realize it’s a talent I have; not Herman Melville or Dostoyevsky, but I can sling words together pretty good.
And having done it as long as I have, I feel sure of it. When I get criticism I yell “you do it!”
Yrs Trly will have surgery next Wednesday (August 26th, 2015) to remove his prostate, which is somewhat cancerous.
We discussed various treatment options, and decided on removing the prostate if I guessed I might be around 20 or more years.
I was told radiation, and the radiation beads, was good for maybe 10 years.
I’m no longer a paragon of health, but in better shape than many at 71 years.
As a prelude to this operation I had to do a “pre-op.” That was yesterday (Tuesday, August 18th, 2015) at the same hospital in Rochester (NY) that will do the surgery.
“Take off all your clothes, and put on this flowery hospital-gown. Then sit quietly here, with your hands folded, to await our nurse-practitioner.
After perhaps five minutes, the nurse-practitioner came in.
We reviewed all the paperwork I had filled out in advance. I suppose this is for ne’er-do-wells who don’t fill out the many questionnaires.
Somehow we got off-topic, with me describing the history of some railfan site.
I’m a railfan, and have been since age-2.
“You’re very articulate,” the nurse-practitioner exclaimed.
“If you say so,” I said.
50 years ago her comment would have gone to my head.
I had a difficult childhood, and was continuously told I was stupid and of-the-Devil.
Also rebellious, because I couldn’t worship my father.
This albatross followed me to college, where I became friends with people eager to infer I was stupid.
But after 71 years I came to know who I am, and I ain’t stupid. I’m rebellious only to those who want me to kowtow; I don’t think I could lead a revolution.
“Well, I drove articulated buses while at the bus-company,” I said.
An “Artic” I had just driven. (Photo by BobbaLew.)
“See? There you are fooling around with words. ‘Articulate,’ I tell ya.”
“Well, I do write,” I said, as if writing makes you articulate. Usually it’s the other way around.
Conversation continued, I used the word “consternation,” a Philadelphia-lawyer word. I use words like that out of habit, but the average person doesn’t.
Which makes me “articulate,” I presume.
When I was in high-school my 12th-grade English-teacher told me I could write pretty good, but I thought he was joking.
After 71 years I realize it’s a talent I have; not Herman Melville or Dostoyevsky, but I can sling words together pretty good.
And having done it as long as I have, I feel sure of it. When I get criticism I yell “you do it!”
posted by BobbaLew at 12:04 PM
1 Comments:
Very informative. I enjoy these stories about rthe history and up to date happenings. I really would like to hear more about the fate of Birkx Cabin court motel near east Bloomfield NY. I stayed their a couple of times while traveling threw as a electrician, doing plating line installations at the Crossman air gun factory during the summer of 1991. Mr and Mrs. Burka were very nice people and the setting will forever be a beautiful memory for me. I read your story about the history, but, Mr. Burkz passed on, but I would like to know the fate of his wife, Virginia,(Gen), such a sweet lady. Thank you in advance for your intrigueing journalism and photography. Hope to hear from you. Sincerely, David Hudson.
Post a Comment
<< Home