Family and FriendsThe Sunshine State

I went to the beach and I saw a beach

All my life I could count on the rocks of Honeymoon Island. I don’t know the complete history of Honeymoon Island, but I seem to recall a story about a developer who thought it would be a good idea to stabilize the island by dumping tons of rocks on the shoreline. In any case, the rocks were the sole sore subject of the island since I came to Florida as a young lad during the summer of…
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Family and Friends

So this is what a social worker does

There’s a widespread misconception about the role of social workers in America. Widely used reference materials aren’t helping matters either. Dictionary.com and Wikipedia both refer to “linking clients with agencies and programs that will meet their psychosocial needs,” when discussing the role of the modern social worker. Now consider a recent conversation with a real…
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Family and Friends

Don’t waste your time on me

I’ve used this space to talk about someone close to me… someone who suffers from mental illness. I’ve alluded to hospitalization… and it’s been about 7 weeks now. They’ve tried medication, counseling, and until Friday – ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) as a kind of last – or next to last – resort. Since none of it has worked they’ve begun…
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Family and Friends

No, this isn’t the Holiday Inn

Earlier this evening I was sitting in a room on a psychiatric ward during visiting hours, when a few other visitors arrived (to see another patient, assigned to the other bed in the room). A middle aged man looked into the room from the doorway, and at the person I was visiting. He said to his companion, “oh look, the wacko is in here.” His companion gave him a shush and shoved him out…
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Beth

The exception to the rule

Sometimes the hit flows up-shill. Case in point: Beth has a class project for her “gifted” class. She comes up with an idea and makes a blueprint. When she gets to a point that’s outside her expertise… namely: designing her presentation props in Microsoft Office – she enlists the help of Cheryl. At this point, the assignment becomes Cheryl’s project. She takes…
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CoffeeFamily and Friends

Beware of the label

I went with a loved one to a colonoscopy. Yes, that’s just as fun as it sounds. In the lobby there was a sign for “hot liquid” next to a table with a dispenser ubiquitous with America’s Favorite Stimulant. I was more than ready for some stimulating beverage, so I ambled over for a cup. I have to give them this much: it was both hot AND a liquid. As for any implied…
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Family and Friends

Dripping with potential

Anyone who’s taken a high school physics class is familiar with potential energy; which is important because potential energy is le metaphor du jour. Tonight we made a discovery in the Kauffman Household… the existence of potential irony. This form of irony has the potential to change the perception of other objects around it. For example… consider dishwashing detergent. On…
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