Today is Halloween, but it's not the flying witches that scare me. I'm scared of the 'monsters' posing as 'bullies'. And they are not 'out' just on October 31st. 'Bullying' has recently become a year round epidemic.
A year ago in Florida the news was all about a young fellow around 14 who was set on fire by classmates. This year here in New York, we're hearing about all the bullying of gays, whether
it be by video or by beatings. Of course for years there have been women (and no doubt men too) who are being 'bullied' by their spouses. What can we do about it? How can we save these souls from torture and abuse?
No question counselors and educators are working to put programs together in schools and other community venues that address the problem. Hopefully our legislatures and congress are thinking about drawing up bills for punishing bullying. But I have an additional thought.
This will sound very elementary and naive to all of you who are more sophisticated technically than I. But I've had an idea that I thought I'd throw out and maybe a reader can take it to the next step.
Being of a certain age and living pretty much alone, one is advised to get a medical alert if they are hurt in any way or if they are feeling sick. What it is, is a hook up to a center that responds the minute the person presses the button that he or she is wearing either around the neck or as a bracelet.
I'm wondering, after watching Criminal Minds, and seeing how they have equipment to trace the immediate whereabouts of suspects, if our police departments could not be available to private individuals who feel that they are in danger, and who are willing to wear discreetly, some mechanism that alerts help in an instant. These individuals would be those fearful of spousal abuse, molestation, and bullies, either in the schools, the community, or the deadliest--the home! Lives may be actually saved if this could be put into place. I mean think of those placed in trunks of vehicles, or mothers holding kids in a closet...you get the idea. Cell phones are a start, but I'm talking about a virtual 'button' on one's body.
I know we have home alarms to defend against 'break-ins', but I believe we need an alarm on our actual person, especially if we live in fear. Maybe there is a way for all of us to 'get registered'. I dunno---I'm just one voice who invites your participation.
Not quite a session, but perhaps someone will nevertheless be helped down the line.
Happy Halloween!
Dr. Mimi Scott
212 721-2979
mscott13@aol.com
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
SURVIVING THE SH**@ THAT HAPPENS
Well we can always whine and walk around saying "ohhh woe is me" (better known as, 'Oy Vey' in Yiddush), and keep drinking from the cup that's 'half empty', (or maybe we can just plain keep drinking). OR...we can focus on what we have that still works. For example, after losing a job or losing our money, we can still thank the Good Lord for the arms and legs and the other parts of the body that are still intact and that may allow us to work at something else--if the brain is still in shape consider yourself really lucky!!
I've been walking around bemoaning the fact that 'getting old' really sucks! In the last few months, after resettling in good old New York City with the intention of renewing my 'Auntie Mame' role here, it's as though a huge invisible leg was placed in my path to 'trip me up'!!
It all began about six weeks ago with my left knee becoming intensely painful (of course it gave me an excuse to walk around with a beautiful pink cane I found in one of the catalogues for old people). Then the shoulder that was operated on last year for naught, really kicked in to cause me to let out a scream again with every movement. Following this I noticed some horrible looking skin thing on my arm and a scab on my nose that simply would not disappear. For frosting on the caske, the most recent blood work done indicates that I have a staph infection lurking in my body somewhere. (This would be the 3rd morphing of the one that came with the breast cancer operation in 2006)
It's reminded me of my favorite phrase "Other than that Mrs. Kennedy, how was Dallas?"
But here's the real message today...
Obviously the first thing to do is to find out what is going on from the medical standpoint (and I believe I wrote previously about how frustrating that can be), and then to determine what can be done. This past week I had my knee operated on for what was diagnosed as a torn miniscus. This was followed by a cortisone shot for the shoulder (which I'm keeping my fingers crossed about--at least they still work), and this week I'll be seeing the head of dermatology at Cornell Weil for what is called MOHS surgery where they keep scaping away layers of skin until all cancer cells have disappeared (hopefully it will be pronounced clear before the bone is reached). The good news is that I may be the first Jewish girl to have a nose job that she never needed or wanted!
The flip side of the coin is that needing to spend so much time in bed has allowed me to really work on my memoir book which should come to complete fruition in time for my big 7-0 birthday in December. And...by working on this book I have realized how lucky I have been throughout these past 69 years. I have indeed been blessed and should be slapped if anybody out there hears me complain (which you no doubt will).
Futher, I have had time to enjoy my painting and as a result there is barely an inch of space left on my walls. But I have the happiest, most colorful and artsy apartment in New York I'm sure. Every magazine or catalogue I get my hands on gives me more inspiration.
And, I have the stamp of approval that I made the right decision in returning to New York City as I cannot imagine going through all this in Florida without my family, who are here all the time, and my beloved friends here in New York who continued the tradition of celebrating with me at home after every time another procedure was performed. As I'm virtually next door to an Ollies now, it's been that much more fun. And they are still encouraging me to do a Zagat on the New York hospitals since I'm now beginning Round Two of them.
Of course, wouldn't you know I've gotten more hits than ever on the dating website I'n on, but I've had to tell them all that they will just have to wait until I can walk again, shake their hands without yelping, and finish getting my face rearranged by the Italian doctor I'll be seeing.
Hope you are all well and have enjoyed my therapy session that I've shared with you!
Mimi Scott, Ph.D
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
Mscott13@aol.com
I've been walking around bemoaning the fact that 'getting old' really sucks! In the last few months, after resettling in good old New York City with the intention of renewing my 'Auntie Mame' role here, it's as though a huge invisible leg was placed in my path to 'trip me up'!!
It all began about six weeks ago with my left knee becoming intensely painful (of course it gave me an excuse to walk around with a beautiful pink cane I found in one of the catalogues for old people). Then the shoulder that was operated on last year for naught, really kicked in to cause me to let out a scream again with every movement. Following this I noticed some horrible looking skin thing on my arm and a scab on my nose that simply would not disappear. For frosting on the caske, the most recent blood work done indicates that I have a staph infection lurking in my body somewhere. (This would be the 3rd morphing of the one that came with the breast cancer operation in 2006)
It's reminded me of my favorite phrase "Other than that Mrs. Kennedy, how was Dallas?"
But here's the real message today...
Obviously the first thing to do is to find out what is going on from the medical standpoint (and I believe I wrote previously about how frustrating that can be), and then to determine what can be done. This past week I had my knee operated on for what was diagnosed as a torn miniscus. This was followed by a cortisone shot for the shoulder (which I'm keeping my fingers crossed about--at least they still work), and this week I'll be seeing the head of dermatology at Cornell Weil for what is called MOHS surgery where they keep scaping away layers of skin until all cancer cells have disappeared (hopefully it will be pronounced clear before the bone is reached). The good news is that I may be the first Jewish girl to have a nose job that she never needed or wanted!
The flip side of the coin is that needing to spend so much time in bed has allowed me to really work on my memoir book which should come to complete fruition in time for my big 7-0 birthday in December. And...by working on this book I have realized how lucky I have been throughout these past 69 years. I have indeed been blessed and should be slapped if anybody out there hears me complain (which you no doubt will).
Futher, I have had time to enjoy my painting and as a result there is barely an inch of space left on my walls. But I have the happiest, most colorful and artsy apartment in New York I'm sure. Every magazine or catalogue I get my hands on gives me more inspiration.
And, I have the stamp of approval that I made the right decision in returning to New York City as I cannot imagine going through all this in Florida without my family, who are here all the time, and my beloved friends here in New York who continued the tradition of celebrating with me at home after every time another procedure was performed. As I'm virtually next door to an Ollies now, it's been that much more fun. And they are still encouraging me to do a Zagat on the New York hospitals since I'm now beginning Round Two of them.
Of course, wouldn't you know I've gotten more hits than ever on the dating website I'n on, but I've had to tell them all that they will just have to wait until I can walk again, shake their hands without yelping, and finish getting my face rearranged by the Italian doctor I'll be seeing.
Hope you are all well and have enjoyed my therapy session that I've shared with you!
Mimi Scott, Ph.D
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
Mscott13@aol.com
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