Fw: ***Absolutely fantastic reading

[Guest guest]

***Absolutely fantastic reading

Tom

Last nite I picked up your latest 88 page booklet that you wrote 'The Things We don't Talk About' and have not been able to put it down. The information you give and the chronological order of your topics are superb. Can only describe it as fantastic reading.

I often myself wonder about --- the higher purpose of life if there is one, but in your writings I see that whether you realize it or not.... you have provided information that will eventually benefit hundreds, nay thousands of lives. It will be much harder now for you to achieve a higher purpose than that !!!

At first, I must admit I was shocked to see your blunt wordings of natural body functions but afterwards came to realize how else can you get to the meat of the problem without talking in 21st century socio-economic terms easily understood by the entire spectrum of thinking adults.

In your prologue, I must ask --- what in God's name airline left your quadriplegic friend on board after landing, forgot about him and wheeled him into the overnite darkness of the parking airport hangar to dry out ??? Unforgivenable.

The 'story of the spoons' as an anology is so informative in explaining the daily fears, planning and routine of an individual with MS. Just unbelievable. What we non-MS humans take for granted. What an eye opener !!!

on page 39 excerp ---

In many ways I depend on you....people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I am too sick to go out...sometimes I need you to help me with the shopping, cooking, cleaning. I may need you to take to the doctor, or the physical therapist. I need you on different levels...you're my link to the outside world. If you don't come to visit me then I might not get to you....and as much as it's possible, I need you to understand me.

Your book really accomplishes that, Tom. You have laid it out in black and white. Thanx.

on page 44 excerp ---

The last thing you need is to take a dump in your pants because you couldn't make it to the men's room at the stadium. What a pity to miss the Yankees beat the Red Sox, all because you didn't take a crap today.

Must be a typo, Tom, or you wrote this before last years American League Championship Games. I believe we not only whipped your beloved Yankees but also went on to avenge the curse of that great Yankee--- the Bambino himself down in Saint Louis.

And if I cud paraphrase from your witings on page 57 that you have never met anyone with with complete success although many have appeared to have captured all the materialistic, academic or creative success as society measures it. They still have their own individual mountains to climb.

Right on the money. Now I know why you wanted to borrow my book 'Seven Story Mountain' by Merton from me a few years ago. I don't know anyone either who has it all --- health, wealth and happiness. Outward appearances are often very misleading.

Loved reading the sixth chapter by Pageler. His reference to doctor's being revered in this society as being holier than thou or their advice being sacrosanct in all matters, smacks right in the middle of my own thought process also on them. I have found most doctors not to be very knowledgeable on the use of over the counter supplements nor really care to find out whether there is.... or is not benefit to their use and in particular to my own personal situation. It seems to me the emphasis is on prescribing a prescription drug and get you out of the cubicle quickly so the next paying (insurance covered) stiff can get in.

Therefore like in MS it is up to me as an individual to learn what supplements benefit me that are cheap and easy to use and most importantly.........are they helping or hurting with side affects.

Last summer my wife Aleta and I were out in Great Barrington having a continental breakfast at a motel we were staying at. Another couple was commenting on my physique as we were all casually dressed being it was a hazy lazy warm summertime morning. I started to extol the use of supplements in addition to exercising and made the comment 'that doctors don't know everything.' My wife noticed that the far table containing two couples that had the air of upper state New York physicians (Great Barrington is known to be a favorite vacation haunt for them) immediately began to snicker without joining in the conversation.

I think I know what their occupations were !!!

On page 62 when Pageler refers to the initial fear of the realization that one has been diagnosed with MS is that of ' I mean the kind of imminent fear that causes the hair to stand up on the back of your neck and the adrenalin to shoot thru your body 'til you almost have to scream just to relieve the tension.' His comparison is to as comparable to someone with incurrable cancer or a fireman racing up the World Trade Center Towers on 9-11. I absolutely concur with that feeling of fear with the comparison anecdotes. I surely cud identify with the fear of dealing with my own mortality two years ago when being initially diagnosed with bladder cancer and also from my past identify with the adrenalin rush of being involved in numerous car chases and prison riots.

With your repeat of your religious experiences at the Trappist monastery, you again brought me back to my own weeked repeat at the Trappist Monastery in Spencer many years ago. Yup, definitely admit it was spooky !!! I remember also the figures in the dark with outstretched arms praying to God in the middle of the nite. Came to the realization we all lead different lives. Don't we ???

But the common thread I think is that we are all tied together by the brotherhood of man.

Thanx for the book. It's your ticket to Heaven. Lucky you !!!

God Bless

Ben

"As you slow down, cut the clutter and simplify, you will get back in touch with yourself and what it is you really want in life. You will start to make choices that are based on satisfaction and fulfillment rather than reacting to the 'on the run lifestyle.' You will begin to look after yourself and finally figure out just where it is that you're heading." -Greg Steer, New Zealand

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