Feature Articles from September 2018
The Bright Side of Life
Wispy Words
by Ann Ulrich Miller
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Life is a journey through time. I have lived through six and a half decades. Sometimes it’s hard to believe. I mean, I look in the mirror now and see this “older person” with flab in places they weren’t before, wrinkles ... and gray starting to
infringe on my natural reddish brown hair.
I don’t feel like I’m that old. How can this be? And it seems to have happened quite suddenly. Oftentimes I feel like romping around and moving my body the way I did when I was younger, and it’s a shock that it doesn’t want to cooperate. I now have aches and pains in places that never bothered me 10 or 15 years ago ... it seems so unfair!
We all grow older. The alternative to not growing older is dying younger. So, instead of cursing old age, I now embrace long life, even if it means the inevitable “symptoms” that are part of aging.
There are actually perks to being over 60. You’ve lived a lot of life, been through a lot of life decisions and changes, traumas, joys and blessings. Wisdom often comes with age, which means you are able to see things more clearly. But sometimes you wish you’d had that wisdom 30 years ago.
Also, it’s fun to have all the memories. Some of them are as clear as if they happened just yesterday. In my case, it’s been most helpful that I kept journals and diaries over the years. I now regret those missing entries that I was too busy to record. Being able to go back and reread my life many years ago has brought insight and a better understanding to my present life, and has made me grateful for what I have and what I have accomplished.
Even the heartbreak and the losses that occur in life were experiences necessary for growth, and are useful when you need to reach out to others who are experiencing similar life challenges.
So much has changed since I was a girl and a mother with small children. Technology has advanced in leaps and bounds that were beyond imagination back in my day. Sometimes it’s a bit frustrating trying to adjust to all the new gadgets and methods of communication in this current century. As a writer and a publisher, I’ve seen the decline in book sales. Browsing through hardback books at a library or brick-and-mortar bookstore has been abandoned to cruising the Internet and downloading ebooks ... or listening to audiobooks. How many people do you know subscribe to a newspaper?
It used to be fun to go on a date, to a movie that was playing at a local theater, sitting in the dark audience close to your boyfriend, sometimes eating popcorn and holding hands. Do young people do that nowadays? In this age of instant everything via computer and iphone, it’s kind of hard to relate to the new ways. But I’m sure the new ways—whatever they are—are okay with the new generation.
One thing I do miss, however, is long phone conversations with my parents, and getting together for family gatherings with siblings and their families. We used to do that. Now, hardly at all. It’s usually a wedding, or more likely a funeral, when our family has a chance to see one another. So many of us are out of touch, especially when not everyone is on social media, for one reason or another.
And that is why I feel especially privileged and happy that in late July, my kids and I got together on a rare occasion at my house. It meant a whole lot to me that we were all together at the same time, and we actually had a good time without relying on phones or video games or other distractions to obtain quality time.
Scott and his wife Woohye came to Colorado for a week with their cat, Domino, and they stayed at my house and cooked vegan meals and took off to see the sights on the days I had to work. On the weekend my other two (local) sons joined us, as well as my daughter-in-law and grandson. It was the bright spot in my summer, and I’ll always cherish it.
Yes, sometimes it’s a little challenging to adjust to the way things are in 2018, but I really wouldn’t want to go back to changing diapers (cloth!), toting kids to day care in order to juggle two part-time jobs, nor the ups and downs of a divorce, child support issues, a second marriage, getting fired from a job, starting a newspaper that didn’t last very long, and finally experiencing a spouse’s terminal illness, his eventual death, and making a new life for myself in the last 10 years.
And it seems things have finally settled down. I have a happy life, a happy relationship and good health. That’s the bright side of getting older.
Ann Ulrich Miller, publisher of Wisp, is a novelist and loves bird watching. Visit AnnUlrichMiller.com.
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How marijuana can affect your dog or cat
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was found on a blog at www.healthypawspetinsurance.com, dated Jan. 10, 2017.
According to the Pew Research Center, 18.9 million Americans over the age of 12 used marijuana over the course of March 2015, and 49 percent of the US population has tried the drug. As marijuana use becomes increasingly common among Americans (and legal), the health risks for pets are often overlooked.
With numerous methods of consumption, pet parents must remain vigilant about storing the drug whether it is in oil, plant or edible form out of paws’ reach.
Here are some of the most important questions we see with consumption of marijuana around a pet:
Will secondhand marijuana smoke harm my pet?
According to Dr. Eric Barchas, self-described as “the Internet’s go-to guy” for questions about pets and marijuana, the answer is no. “Unless the animal is in a room with extreme amounts of smoke, inhaling marijuana smoke is not likely to lead to intoxication,” Dr. Barchas says.
However, he cautions, pets have very sensitive respiratory systems. Smoke can irritate your pet’s lungs, potentially causing a cough or exacerbating existing conditions like asthma. Your best bet is to put your pet outside or remove them from your smoking room.
What happens if my pet consumes marijuana?
If you suspect your cat or dog has eaten marijuana or a marijuana-infused product, call the Pet Poison Helpline immediately and seek veterinary care. Marijuana poisoning can be life-threatening, depending on the amount or strength of marijuana ingested. It is not safe for pets to ingest human-grade marijuana, period. If your pet needs veterinary assistance for marijuana poisoning, Healthy Paws will cover pets suffering from poisoning (exclusions may apply) as well as emergency vet visits.
Symptoms of pet marijuana poisoning include:
• Walking “drunk”
• Lethargy
• Hyperactivity
• Excessive vocalization
• Dilated pupils
• Low heart and respiratory rates
• Seizure
• Coma
As in humans, the signs associated with marijuana ingestion vary widely depending on a number of factors. Age, breed, weight, activity level, and type of pet all affect the degree of marijuana poisoning in a pet. No matter how small an amount you suspect your pet consumed, seek immediate veterinary care.
Does medical marijuana work for pets?
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that pet-specific products appear to alleviate pain in some pets. However, until the full studies are in, the benefits of medical marijuana for pets have been heavily debated and disputed. As with many other holistic veterinary treatments, medical marijuana carries risks; pets can be poisoned by too large or strong a dose, as a “safe” level for pets has not been designated.
It is a rising industry, and while there are edible treats made from hemp and CBD oil, we still recommend not giving any substance for medical conditions unless you’ve consulted your veterinarian.
How can I keep marijuana away from pets?
Like any products, plants or medications dangerous to pets, you should store them in a place out of paws’ reach—a tall shelf or a cabinet or drawer with a child lock. Using a glass jar can act as an additional safeguard; even if your pet discovers your stash, the glass container and twist-off lid are impenetrable.
Marijuana-infused edible products pose a special danger, as many contain additional substances poisonous to pets. Cookies, brownies and candies containing chocolate or the sweetener Xylitol can lead to a double dose of toxicity. If you suspect your pet has consumed a marijuana-infused product, especially one containing chocolate, seek immediate veterinary care.
For further info
Other poisonous substances:
https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/blog/2015/03/31/common-pet-poisons
See “Xylitol toxicity in dogs”:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/xylitol-toxicity-in-dogs
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