How did the cow jump over the moon?
No-one told her she couldn’t!
Taken from Riva Greenberg’s Diabetes Stories website.
I am one of those bolshie types. I don’t like being told what to do. I’m pretty sure there aren’t many people who do – like being told what to do that is!
Maybe there is more of my Dad in me than I think. Dad was a chain smoker. I mean a CHAIN SMOKER. He would light one cigarette with the still glowing stub of his last ciggie. Not filter tips either. As a child I used to see the red glow of his cigarette in the dark whenever I ventured out into the passage on my way to the loo in the dark hours of the night.
The real (and phantom) pain he suffered all his life from an amputated right arm during World War 2 was often given as the reason for his chain smoking.
One day, on one of the regular family Sundays my parents used to host on the farm, an aunt told my father that he was addicted to cigarettes and that he was incapable of giving up the habit. For that reason, he should accompany her to a Smokenders meeting during the coming week.
Typically, my bolshie Pater snorted derisively that he could give up at any moment he wished. My equally bolshie aunt retorted that he could not possibly give up decades of chain smoking ‘just like that’.
With that, Dad – by now really riled up – took his smoke out of his mouth & stubbed it out furiously in the ashtray that lived by his chair. “ That’s the last cigarette I will ever smoke!”, he declared angrily. The whole family laughed which did not amuse my old man at all!
And – do you know what – it was! The last cigarette he ever smoked. He suffered; gee how he suffered but would never really admit it. He made my Mom give up too. (Although she started up again behind his back and for many years she thought he didn’t know it!) Til the day he died years later he never put another cigarette in his mouth. Sadly though, the damage had been done.
I’ve never been a follower. I tend to lead from the front; rise to the top; stick my neck out. Dish out orders my kids would say no doubt!
But, you know, sometimes – just sometimes – I could be leading in the right direction! Sure hope so anyway! No-one has told me I will not reach my goals. On the contrary, I have received support all the way.
I surely do need the motivation and encouragement as I battle some unexpected obstacles……. Maybe you have some too …….. take heart, we are in this together!
Eileen's Odyssey 