h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh my Abbi. You've been through the wringer.

I know you already know this becuause you use visualization, but make sure you don't let your worries about the early deaths in your family create the same scenario for yourself. It doesn't have to happen to you, even if you have inherited a poor genetic hand.

I am very poor at using visualization. It's something I need to seriously practice. I have half a dozen books - unread books - on the subject, a tape and a workbook. They have been gathering dust on my bookshelf for months. The good thing about this conversation is that as soon as I finish posting here I'm going to go get them, move them to my desk and make an effort to actually study them.

As to living in the present, that's a hard thing to learn. That was my New Year's resolution this year. Not that I am ever successful at keeping New Year's resolutions. But that should help you physically, by relieving stress if nothing else. How are you doing?

Yes, we're both at the age when deaths become more common. I'll be 57 in May. I am trying to remain philosophical about the whole issue. And trying to stay positive. My mom will be 85 in February. She is in fair shape physically, but she is developing dementia. And is clinically depressed and won't take her medicine for it. I'm not sure what is going to happen there. But that is the going to be the next struggle.

On that cheery note, I need to get busy.

The only New Year Resolution I have kept is to stop making them!
Surprise! Instant Success!

Genetics and self fullfilling prophecy > Yep, point taken Hypatia!
I cannot guess the future nor do I believe in agism.
I have beat odds of 1-3 percent chances so may times (for the *good, mostly) I would never bet on an actuary prediction.
My page says it's both! ; Nature and Nurture

The non age-ism theme is PC applied mostly to the aged.
It should apply to the young too.
The young are not always meant to live a long life.

One fear is a possible day I am considered "too young to die".
Quality, dignity and self respect in choices is what agism was meant to address. I hope I am afforded a non age-ist medical view IF need be while "young".

I always lived with death as a part of life. Some what odd I suppose that I have talked about it to some degree, all my life.

In my 50's, the people around me are starting to have more losses.
My hubby has never lost any family close to him.
I cannot fathom begining to lose people for the first time, later in life. I wonder about the impact it will have since it is something you logically know but cannot imagine before hand.

I just wrote a tiny bit about the death of my brother when I was a child. It's on my page and I did not start on the topic of death

I specualted starting to lose people early in life with some childhood magical thinking may have helped in the long run. Though I do not believe in magic much of what got me through is still around me.

No offense but I think it is time for this thread to CHEER THE HECK UP! Facing life's awfulness is important but so is turning our attention to the beautiful and the wonderful once in a while. Ready? All together now. Tuuuurrrrrnnnn. There.
I'm still alive I like that. And look at all of the wonderful people in my life. Lucky me! And what about the ones who passed through. Glad I got to spend time with them! And there are gobs more people out there if I start to run low on people to care about!



YB

At your srvice YB

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Smudgers 2 recent joke threads

Hmm somethings missing, could have sworn that worked

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My page > mostly lawyer jokes, most of them compliments if Prof Animal the king of The lightness of being
An h2 jewel of a friend to have around.

YB, if it's 'cheerful' you're after, why don't you come to the Presidential Meet this summer and meet some of the people 'just passsing through' your life in person? You actually live closer to me than most of the people coming.

A8742369

Wow! Webb City Missouri is almost in my back yard! I had no idea we were neighbors! Eight to ten hours absolute tops! I will begin to lobby Mrs. Yogabiker immediatley! When I asked for a little cheer I totally underestimated the powers hidden in the Meditation Garden.

p.s. Although not hillbillys ourselves, we have been known to associate with them on occasion. Hope you don't mind a couple of latte sippin', perrier swillin' northerners at your party!



YB

I live about that far from Hypatia time wise, only west.
Sounds like a great time Hypatia!
You will all have loads of fun I'm sure

*almost 100 percent sure I can't go

Where are you, Abbi? I didn't know you were relatively nearby.

Maybe you can come. It would be so awesome to have you. At least try to arrange it, pretty please.

Of course Maggy is a bit farther. But heck, what's an ocean between friends? Bagpuss is coming. He lives in Yorkshire. And Teuchter and her husband are coming from south of London. And perhaps a couple more researchers from England. And we have attendees so far from California, New Jersey, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. And I hope Illinois.

Actually I might be able to come! It all depends if I can get to a training course in Kansas City in July. I'd love to (but of course it's jolly expensive when it's school holiday time).

What fun that would be!

I will definitely be over sometime again in the next year so maybe we could have a mini-meet as well?!

Coo!

Awesome, Maggy. It would be great fun to have you for the meet. But any time you're able to come will be wonderful as well.

Yep, those pesky air fares get really high in July. Which is terribly inconsiderate of the airlines, if you ask me. If I was rich, I could charter a plane for the UK folk. But alas, that isn't the case.

I'm in Denver Hypatia.

I love the Missouri landscapes I have seen.
We were headed there last October but had to cancel. Reasons which caused me to cancel are still in the way of going this year. The trees are a huge part of my joy. Colorado does not have nearly the variety of trees or fall colors. I plan to take advantage of the offered vacation home eventually.

I love fall vacations for many reasons.
Great weather, cheaper rates and less people in general, top on the list. Missouri was my favorite part of my former drives back to Indiana for visiting family.

I was going to look on a map but you could tell me what quadrant you are injust for curiosity. I am excited for those whom have never gone to Missouri to see the area. The July heat may surprise some! Most tourist seem to land in the coastal regions but the US has a wide variety of other climates and landscapes

Abbi, I am 150 miles due south of Kansas City - nearly in Kansas, almost in Oklahoma and just a stone's throw from Arkansas. We aren't exactly in the Ozarks, although I wish we were. We're in the foothills. But a very short drive will put you there.

One of our pre-meet activities is going to be a float trip. I can't say for sure which river yet because we are in the midst of a drought and it will depend on water levels. But, there are several possibilities, all of which go through landscapes so beautiful it makes you want to cry. I'm also thinking about touring one of the large caves nearby.

Fall is glorious here. It's a wonderful time to visit.

Are we talking floating on innertubes or must I fill my swimsuit with air and tape the leg holes to my thighs?



YB

Canoes, YB. If there's any water in the rivers.

We'll strap 'em to wagons and pull them downstream if we have to.



YB

Does this mean I can add you to the list of attendees?

Since I don't make promises lightly, I should probably be on the list of the extremely hopefuls.



YB

I shall add you to the list of those coming if possible. I hope you and Mrs. Yogabiker will be able to join us.

Hopeful Hyp

I am sure it has beauty!
I see it in all landscapes.

One of the friends we were going to share the vacation home with is fairly close to you. We were around there back in our previous life *roaming for the fun of it, while travling to our main destination* days

I hope you'll get just the right amount of rain beforehand for the water fun Though it sounds like just as much fun without it

Ah, you're making me USA-homesick with your talk!

I emigrated to Montana a way back - but the USA wouldn't have us (long story) so I had to come back to the UK 11 months later.

Colorado was probably my first love...and then Montana took my soul. I certainly don't think I saw the best of Missouri between Unity Village and the airport but I did see eagles - at least I'm pretty sure I saw eagles and I felt at home again in the atmosphere...

104 degrees. Coo. And all those tornado shelters. No tornados while I was there - but there was one 15 miles from my home in England while I was away last summer!