Meanwhile With McKiever : It’s been an adventurous, educational summer
Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008
You didn't do much this summer ? I'm sorry. Me ? Well, I've spent a few hours in surgery with Dr. Allan J. Hamilton, tried to communicate mentally with animals and feel well-acquainted with Lady Bird, Pat, Jackie and Hillary.
I've managed to have such an enlightening summer through books. "The Scalpel and the Soul"by Hamilton is a wonderful collection of lessons learned by the doctor and his patients during surgical procedures. The doctor insists that patients must find a doctor who cares about them, ask your doctor to pray with you and develop your own healing rituals. Dr. Hamilton said it doesn't matter what your ritual is - crystals, aromatherapy, music, massage or whatever you choose - they're important in helping focus your energy. "Kinship With All Life"by J. Allen Boone illustrates how we can enjoy deeper bonds with our pets and other animals through openness and a sense of humor. I have two cats and, unfortunately, neither of them seem too interested in working with me so far. I'm not giving up, however, and believe this may be another of what seems like countless lessons I've had in practicing patience.
According to Boone's book, if you sit on the floor with your pet and talk to them as if they're intelligent human beings (no baby-talk, please ), before long something shifts and communication becomes a breeze. I first tried the experiment with Sadie, a cream-colored, sweet cat. She stared back at me for a minute or two before she leapt to the back of the couch. Not sure if she was tired of the experiment or trying to communicate something.
My other, older cat is named Yahtzee. She seemed suspicious of the whole thing right off. I'm still trying to convince her to sit still with me so we can stare into each other's eyes. I can tell that right now, at least, she's much more interested in a salmon flavored treat. I'll keep trying and keep you posted on the progress.
Flo, my friend in South Dakota, sent me a great book about presidential marriages. It's called "Hidden Power"by Kati Marton and even has a new chapter on Laura and George W. Bush. It's a fascinating read and includes 12 of America'sWhite House resident couples. Not surprising, really, that most First Ladies play an enormous role, often behind the scenes and unpublicized. Every chance I have, I pick up a book and read a few chapters. Sometimes, I pick up a magazine. At this time, I'm learning to de-stress, ease insomnia and bake a hot-chacha-cha chicken dinner. What a great summer I've had.
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