Sunday, August 11, 2013

DARE I DRAG THE ‘D’ WORD OUT OF THE CLOSET

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ANOTHER FINE DAY FOR A RELAXING SUNDAY MORNING DRIVE IN RURAL ONTARIO…MANY FARM CO-OP GRAIN ELEVATORS DOT THE LAND
A patch of light flickered at the end of my tunnel this morning & it came in the form of a sad little doggy face sitting on my lap. I had spent all day Saturday in a doldrum state anchored to my recliner & was into my second repeat day when the little Pheeber face looked up at me with those big brown eyes saying, 'aw come on Dad, let's go for a ride in the Jeep & maybe you will feel better'. I knew she was right. Twenty minutes later we were Jeeped up & rolling.
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ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE THESE KINDS OF CLOUDS IN THE SKY
Losing interest in things is often associated with Seniors & I believe that to be a natural process of the aging mind. However, there is another reason for loss of interest in things. Not so much to do with aging because it can strike anyone at anytime. It is a cunning & sly devil which can infiltrate one's mind without one ever knowing it's there. It can stay for a few days, a few weeks, months, or it can lay dormant in one's mind forever. Many who suffer from it will not admit it. Many will see it as a sign of weakness & put on the mask of happy while others who understand the illness that has befallen them will try to deal with it in whatever way they can.  It is a real condition generally kept under wraps, not readily discussed, & it is kept in a closet. I am talking about the ‘D’ word of course. Depression.
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We had us another beautiful morning going as we again picked up one of our routine routes through Clinton's Tim Horton drive-thru followed by a drive to the Hullett Marsh. Wanted to get Pheebs out for a run even though I couldn't walk far. We ended up making three separate stops at various locations around the Marsh.  I always enjoy watching Pheebs run around all over having a good time. It was just a great morning to be outside & I was grateful to Pheebs for re-mobilizing me & getting my can out of the house.
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THE HULLETT MARSH STRETCHES FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE
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A WELL INTENTIONED SIGN BUT BUDGET CUT BACKS AT THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAVE LET THE ONCE ACCESSIBLE MARSH VIEW POINT INACCESSIBLEDSC_0016
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SURE LOVE OUR LITTLE JEEP, TAKES US JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE WE WANNA GO:))

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PHEEBS LOVES CHECKING OUT ALL THE GREAT SMELLS
Depression for many is a taboo subject. Although rarely talked about, few have escaped it's wrath sometime in their lives. Some are aware of depression & make no attempt to hide it while others choose to hide behind a happy mask. For some, everyday is awesomely wondrous & any talk of depression is a talk about weakness. Not something people like to discuss & certainly not something many will readily admit to having. If they even know they have it at all.
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FOUND YOU ANOTHER COMBINE ALASKA TOM
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INTERESTING WHEEL TREAD DESIGN ON THE COMBINES FRONT END
Our Sunday morning travels took us further afield again this morning & we managed to find a few new back roads traveling through a couple little places I may or may not have been before. An old building standing at a country crossroad called Moncrieff reminded me of the southwest & another place by the name of Ethel seemed to ring a distant bell in my memory. Didn't recognize anything but felt I had once been through there a long time ago.  Sunday morning drives began a long time ago for me.  Back in the early 70’s when I lived in Vernon British Columbia I found Sunday morning drives the only way to put my head back together after heavy week-end party binges. 
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AT A COUNTRY CROSSROAD SITS THIS BUILDING WHICH SURE REMINDED ME OF THE SOUTH-WEST
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AT THE SAME CROSSROAD CALLED ‘MONCRIEFF ARE A FEW OTHER BUILDINGS & THIS CREATIVELY DONE LAWN PIECE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION
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Depression is just as real as any of the other debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes, & alzheimers, to name a few. But there is a difference. Depression’s closet status keeps it out of the light it so sorely needs. It is an illness most try to hide. Depression has been a part of my life on & off for just about as long as I can remember. It has come & gone over the years but I am finding it a persistent & unrelenting foe now at this later stage of life. It is as if it senses my aging vulnerabilities & circles ever closer. Knowing depression as well as I do I am aware of it's subtle advances. Depression is not merely a temporary sadness or a short lived blue Monday. It is an illness that settles in & can take control of one’s life. Symptoms may include fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, impatience, anxiety, poor sleeping habits, loss of interest in things, appetite swings, feelings of worthlessness, loss of confidence, anger, despair & emptiness. Unless one has led an awesomely wondrous life I think most folks have probably dealt with depression at one time or another.  Well, the one’s who are honest enough to admit it that is.  I'm sure there are readers out here who have picked up on my depressive swings a long time ago. The clues are often in my posts & that is what gives my daily topics an unintentional roller coaster affect. They have always been there, right from day one.
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NICE ‘59’ FORD GALAXIE FOR SALE SOUTH OF AUBURN ONTARIO
My blog over the years has always been a form of therapy for me. It has been my way at the end of each day to sit down & talk about my thoughts & feelings. Where else could I do that uninterrupted except right here at my keyboard. I try to blend those thoughts & feelings in with daily activities, photos, past adventures & future ideas. On good days I am able to weave in some humor, some creativity & occasionally reach out & help a few folks. On the not so good days humor & creativity are bumped aside by doubts & fears & maybe just a little too much honesty on my part at times. But it is the way it is here & we all write our posts in different ways for different reasons…………………………………………….
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And a warm welcome from the Bayfield Bunch to Linda & John Eiden from TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD, AND I, TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED.  Thanks for joining our Blog Follower list folks:))
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GROANER’S CORNER:((  One day a rather inebriated ice fisherman drilled a hole in the ice and peered into the hole and a loud voice said, "There are no fish down there.  He walked several yards away and drilled another hole and peered into the hole and again the voice said, "There's no fish down there." He then walked about 50 yards away and drilled another hole and again the voice said, "There's no fish down there." He looked up into the sky and asked, "God, is that you?" "No, you idiot," the voice said, "it's the rink manager."
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

23 comments:

  1. I had that exact Ford Galaxy! You made my day!

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  2. some would say only the weak suffer from depression but then there are those who are 'strong' and still have those 'dark days'..writing is good therapy!!
    that and precious Pheebes! she can turn a frown upside down!!

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  3. I'm curious about the salt mine. Is it under the lake? or is it inland and the salt is transported to the port to load on the lakers? I guess there is also the possibility that they pump out salt water, and let the water evaporate. Is the lake water at all salty?

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  4. Lack of sufficient sunlight on my skin sends me in a downward spiral of depression within two days. It is a tough opponent in this fight for a good life. Good luck on handling yours.

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  5. You are so very talented. I know you might not think it will help, but there are some very good meds available. You don't have to become a zombie. Talk to your doctor.

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  6. Good for you that you have the courage to bring the lurking giant out into the light of day. Each one of us who has fought the giant who would squander our lives must find their own way to fight the battle. Carry On.. I look forward to you posts.

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  7. I bet as soon as you get the wheels turning, things will start looking up. Hang in there, this too shall pass.

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  8. I know exactly what you are talking about ... mirror image.

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  9. Thanks for the combine on tracks picture. I have never seen that before and I have never seen such large combines. Great pic's. Compared to your daily activity, I must live in a comma. I am content in life and as long as Kathy is happy, I am also.
    I do wonder how you afford all that gas by the liter for those wonderful jeep rides. It has been low clouds and rain up here in Alaska for about a week now. It makes for good book reading weather.

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  10. Soon you will be heading back to Congress and the southwest you so much love and I bet that big D with go to the wayside.
    We are so looking to another to our southern migration again as well.

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  11. What a great picture of Pheebs!!!!

    You should use this pix as your header.

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  12. Thank goodness for Pheebs and her pet therapy! Our furry friends are so much more than just pets. Thank you for speaking out on this condition and giving it a voice.

    Metamorphosis Lisa

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  13. Our furry dependents are good therapy. I have suffered from anxiety in the past...meds do help too!

    Awesome pictures Al. You sure have a talent for photography. The frog in the water is awesome! And as usual...The photos of Pheebs are too! Nothing like a doggie face.

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  14. Your courage and honesty about episodes of depression is of great comfort to others who are similarly afflicted. Thank you for being open about it.
    Box Canyon Mark

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  15. As you said almost everyone suffers from periods of depression. I had my times but as I have gotten older they are less of a problem rather than more. That is a good thing because as we get older there are enough other things affecting us that adding depression to the mix is not helpful. Good luck fighting your battle.

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  16. Oh boy, do I ever understand the "D" word. This past year I have been wallowing around at the fringes of it. I do know that the Doc can give you meds for it...I have a daughter who has been on them for 13 years..She became a new person when she began taking them. Better living through Science, my friend. Don't be afraid to ask for help...please.

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  17. Well written. I think we all have had some experience with this illness, some of us more than others. The important thing it that one recognizes it. We all deal with it in our own way.

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  18. You're not alone, Al. I've gone up and down on the same roller coaster. It's good that you can write about it, and I hope the cloud lifts once health issues pass for you and Kelly, and you can resume enjoying your lives. Health issues can be overwhelming. Without anything to look forward to or a purpose, it's easy to become disinterested in everything. Once your purpose to return to Congress becomes a reality, I really hope it helps you. If not, I hope you'll see a professional to help bring light back into your life. Hugs to pheebs.

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  19. I get depressed sometimes, and I think for me it comes with living alone and not talking to people on a regular basis. But you sure don't dare mention it to a doctor unless you want pills. The docs are quick to jump on it. You're right though, everyone suffers from it at least once in a while and in varying degrees. You can't "think" your way out of it.

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  20. Thank you so much for talking about it. There are so many of us who suffer from depression and have tried lots of different things to combat it. Sometimes it just takes over and there's not a whole lot you can do and hope it passes....

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  21. I didn't read all the comments so I apologize if this was already mentioned.

    So many people still don't understand that depression is caused by a physical problem. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It has to do with serotonin which affects the receptors in the brain. Life experiences (loss of a loved one, a job, etc.) can trigger the chemical imbalance in the brain which then can cause depression. This chemical imbalance can also run in families thus some families have the propensity towards depressions that may come "for no reason." Some levels of depression (mourning) may just take some time to get through and heal. Some people may need medication to help them get through these times and other may need to take medication for most of their lives. People who believe there is a stigma to having depression are ignorant and need to be educated.

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  22. I understand what you are saying. Having Pheebs is a great help and I understand that as well. Now that Russ and I don't have a dog, we will have to concentrate on helping each other when one of us has dark days.

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