We have a friend from High School that resides in a assisted living facility. He has a great memory of things that happened in the past..but his short term memory is lost. Too many wild days in the late 1960's, that lasted well into the 1970's and 1980's. His brain was a tad damaged by drugs. Partially fried..just like the egg in the hot frying pan commercial. He cannot remember to take medications, he doesn't remember to eat, or pay bills, or what happened yesterday or even this morning.
There are a number of birds in the bird room at the facility that he lives in. Some of the birds flight feathers have been clipped. They are trapped and doomed to a life of hopping from one branch to the next. If they try to go further they will flap their little wings for dear life. Unable to forage far afield for their food, they rely on people for their basic needs of food, water and shelter. Our friend who I will call TS can't go far either. I suppose he could walk. Far Guy spends some time with him..they "do lunch" or just hang out in the bird room..talking about high school memories. Sometimes they just go for drives..two old guys..one day they forgot to sign TS out. I wonder if it makes a difference if you forget that you forgot.
I didn't particularly like my time in High School. I graduated with a bunch of pious pukes that were full time assholes. There are only a few of my classmates I would give you a nickle for. Now, Far Guy was in the class I should have been in..his class was cool. I was too young to be in that cool class..by today's standards I should have been two years behind Far Guy. I was seventeen my entire Senior year, and I was bored to tears. I just wanted out of there, I wanted to move on, I wanted to learn but not the boring old stuff they taught in High School. I was only challenged for one hour everyday in an Advanced Biology Class. I read during the other classes I had..just getting by doing the minimum required. I consider my Senior year to be a total waste of time..I was just marching in place..flapping around just like one of those caged birds in TS's facility. I wonder sometimes, I bitched, complained and read through my senior year..I think TS probably drank and did recreational drugs to survive.. choices. The poor little birds don't have much of a choice..but as teenagers we did..and I am thankful for the choices I made:)
Hi! Lots of interesting perspectives in today's post Connie! Choices, it comes down to choices so much of the time, doesn't it? I also was very bored with classes in my senior year... except for (believe it or not) advanced biology, too. But, I got involved in yearbook my junior year and senior year I was editor...it gave me a project, a goal, something to look forward to. It's too bad about your friend with the fried brain...that stuff has consequences! (It makes me think of Glenn Beck and his 15 years of cocaine/mj addiction...and his brain.)
ReplyDeleteSpose some day I'll end up watching birds in a cage?!?!?! hope not, but we'll have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteI really feel sorry for your friend, and those birds, Connie. What a life! I guess in some way it's a blessing that his short-term memory is gone. Does he know why he is there? The birds sure don't...
ReplyDeleteYou left lots to ponder about today. I too was surrounded by drugs and alcohol in college but chose the narrow path but not boldly. I was in a sorority and a mixers and parties I would just carry my Budweiser stein filled with cherry coke for seven up.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry your friend is now in the situation he's in due to the choices he made in his younger days.
God bless and have a super Saturday!!!
we had dinner with good friends last night.
ReplyDeleteWe decided that there are some people that are just aliens. We decided that they must be Asshouligans.
(:
(ps. Sis in law with Alzheimers has some of those same problems as your friend.)
Thanks for showing us those colorful birds, they were really neat.
ReplyDeleteYes, choices is what life is all about....
I had to move alot when I was a kid (my Dad was in the Air Force) so I ended up starting at one high school, moving away for a year and 1/2 and then coming back to the original HS to graduate...I really wished I would've stayed in one place the whole time...but oh well.....it did force me to make friends no matter where I lived.
It is a shame that your friend has such problems. Drugs cause so many problems. I hate to know what will happen to this current generation with all its drug abuse.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you attended my high school. My former classmates were like yours. I don't miss any of them.
I felt the same way my last year in high school. I was just biding my time, waiting to graduate. At least now, high school students can take some college classes so they can at least learn something and be challenged.
ReplyDeleteMy brother died at 39 from his drug and alcohol use, which is awfully darn young. Such a waste of a life.
We are thankful for the choices you made too.
ReplyDeleteKisses for Chance,
Emma Rose and The Duchess
Sad thoughts really. My mom & I often watched the birds in the nursing home. I'd bring childhood albums. Those she could remember. Yesterday no.
ReplyDeleteSo first the knot hole backwards thing then the whole high school thing.... I was actually told in a poli sci class that I was too deep a thinker. Really? You can do that in a school? Think too much? Hmmm... It only got worse in college, much worse, probably because I expected to find like minded folks. Unfortunately I vacillated between your way of getting through and TJ's option. Fortunately I cann't keep a habit, even a bad one, and quickly became distracted with real life, which was way more interesting and challenging, and far fuller.
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