Posted 8/19/20
“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” – Isaiah 8:19
Every once in a while I try to do a recap episode, if you will, because the audience is continuing to grow. This one may be a little bit of a rerun to my cornbread regulars, so bear with me. Also, please don’t think of this as a “tooting my own horn” article. My horn is wholly unworthy of said toots. Off we go…
For your consideration: a multi-form definition of something I hope to convey in my writing from the word-smiths of Merriam-Webster:
a(1): having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clearly.
-In this definition of transparent, I want you to know that this is a Christian blog. I don’t apologize for that nor do I attempt to force it down your gullet or even sneak it in the cornbread such that it isn’t noticed. It is Christian…imperfectly so, as its author is imperfect as well. My views don’t explicitly represent my employer, my past, some of my friends, and the like…and that is ok. It is my little sandbox and I want to build castles here that make my Lord and my Christian mom proud.
(2): allowing the passage of a specified form of radiation (such as X-rays or ultraviolet light)
-The interesting, and sad thing about radiation is that it is deadly. I have friends…very good friends (Debbie, Heather, many others)…who are struggling with cancer and many friends and family who have lost that battle. Radiation, used to treat this menace, kills cells by damaging their DNA. Unfortunately, in varying levels of success, these cells have good ones mixed with cancerous ones and often hurts nearly as much as it helps. However, the spread has to stop. In this blog, I sometimes mix in seemingly hurtful statements or concepts and I never mean to hurt anyone in the process. Such topics as CBD oil and other “cures” of Alzheimer’s are treated somewhat harshly here….and for that I am sorry. I realize folks are empathizing and want to help me help mom and the Sweet 17 (my name for the group of ladies mom shared a wing with in the memory unit before the disease had taken its toll such that she is no longer a flight risk.). I ma sorry if I get grumpy when you offer me a cure. However, as I have said dozens of times, if it was that easy, it would be mass-produced today. The cure for dementia, given its scope, is valued in the $Trillions! Trust me…big pharma would be all over them apples. Sorry if I am hurtful and throw out the baby with the bath water…but finding a cure will require fewer distractions. We need to be real and fight to #EndALZ with fact, not snake oil.
b: fine or sheer enough to be seen through
-I have always been a person who has shared probably too much. Sometimes in an earnest desire to help and other times because I tend to be sinfully proud and like the attention, I share details of things I might be wise keeping to myself. Do I hide some things? Yup. Should I hide more? Probably.
2a: free from pretense or deceit
-I would like to say this represents me…and it is a goal, but I am still a work in progress. I don’t get money from doing this blog. I do, however, get a lot of stress relief and comfort from writing it such that it sometimes ends up being an article by me to me.
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b: easily detected or seen through
-I do somewhat shamelessly post requests to donate to SeniorAge and/or the Alzheimer’s Association. It is obvious that I am hoping people will donate to these groups. However, what I hope is equally obvious is that my motive is that they help people with the disease and that I hope the money and time we donate will bring about a world without this disease someday soon. If I get puffed up because I raised X# of dollars and lose track of these facts, I need to change my heart.
c: readily understood
-The name Digital Cornbread should be considered 3 words in meaning. Corn= corny…as in my odd sense of humor. Bread= Bread of Life…I try to make the blog honoring to God and edifying to brothers and sisters in the faith. But my point in the Digital part is missed sometimes. Digital, simplified, means essentially that data comprising it is actually made up of millions of 1s or 0s…open doors and closed doors, if you will. Yesses and Noes. Yups and Nopes. Thumb’s up or Thumb’s down. I really try to understand and convey information in an easy format. In layman’s terms…because I am a layman. I am not a medical professional and cannot even carry the Crocs of most of them… BUT, I try to discuss the topic in a manageable way that we can all “get”. If I ever talk over or under you in an unnecessary way, I am sorry…let me know. 🙂
d: characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices
-In addition to the previous paragraph, remember this: Click on links. I always post links to my sources so: 1. you can verify the fact 2. to further study and/or 3. Because the deeper stuff is too deep for me but may not be to you. I have an MBA and have been in college in 4 different decades…I understand learning. Everyone has different angles they gain info from. I hope to provide self-study options where I can.
So I leave you with these 2 picture today, edited for mixed audiences, as a symbol of me and my take on what I do here some days. Take the good, pitch the bad, and join me in the fight:
Update: I had a nice visit with mom today outside of her nursing home. We are masked and over 6 feet away…but keeping a mask on her is impossible. She has also been “teething”, for lack of a better term, for months and months. She loves to chew on fabric or similar. Maybe it is soothing? Her gums looked fine last time I heard. She doesn’t wear her teeth anymore and hasn’t for well over a year. It was really nice to see her again and to share some laughs and songs. 🙂
Dad joke of the day:
Whenever the cashier at the grocery store asks my dad if he would like the milk in a bag he replies, “No, just leave it in the carton!”
Last website tidbit for new folks: I pick Bible verses that are tied to the day of the month. Sometimes they relate to the piece and other times they do not…but they are always amazing. 🙂 Also, “Shawshank” in the title is the number of days since we had unfettered access to seeing mom. I have discussed that a lot recently. 🙂
(Word-study nerd warning) Last thought on the word Transparent‘s word study: early 15th century., from Medieval Latin transparentem, the present participle of transparere “show light through,” from Latin trans “across, beyond; through” (see trans-) + parere “come in sight, appear; submit, obey” . Figurative sense of “easily seen through” is first attested 1590s. (Editor’s note: Daaaang. A very old word, for sure…)
Last thought: In honor of Shark Week, I will be starting a series called Meme Week very soon. 🙂