Hi, Mark!  Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

MH>  I work full time (and have since I was 18 years old),


          Ah.  One wonders these days, considering the state of the economy. 
I see middle-aged adults with good English working in fast-food joints where
they can be paid a "training wage" (less than minimum wage) for three
months... then laid off.  It's rather nice as a customer to deal with these
people after years of trying to communicate with high school kids who have no
idea what mayonnaise is, e.g.  It's not so nice for them if they're trying to
support a family.  :-/



MH>  but I am going to do is take FMLA leave for the
MH>  operations.  I have almost 6 months worth saved
MH>  up from working so long where I am currently.  I
MH>  am going to be off up to 2 1/2 weeks to be with
MH>  our son and make sure everything goes smooth.


          Sounds good to me.  I stayed with Nora while she was in hospital,
and although it was no picnic I think it was well worth the effort.



MH>  My wife doesn't have as much time since she just
MH>  started a new job.


          ... besides which, I understand that some employers get nervous
about whether a woman will fly the coop because she's pregnant and/or one of
her kids is sick.  It's easier to get time off after you've been around for
awhile.  :-)



MH>  We have scheduled the first operation for November 1st.


          I hope things went well there, but I realize you may still have a
lot on your plate right now....



AH>  ... Bernie Siegel is an oncologist who wondered why
AH>  some people survive cancer while others don't.  When
AH>  I read his book I realized I'd been doing exactly as
AH>  he said (athough others thought I was crazy) & decided
AH>  to do more of it.  That was how this echo was born.
AH>  Her Nibs is still alive & well, thankyou....  ;-)

MH>  That is fantastic!  There is never too much education/
MH>  knowledge and being there and a part of things every
MH>  step of the way is important.  I'm really happy to hear
MH>  your story.


          Thankyou.  I see Bernie Siegel's work as applying to many
situations, not just to cancer.  His work gave us the idea for the name of
this echo... but this echo is not about any particular medical condition. 
It's about how people handle such matters, and I think you & I are on the same
wavelength there.  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)