Happy Anniversary! - 8/16/07

Today is my wedding anniversary. I can't believe that 13 years ago, I thought marrying my ex husband was a good idea. Oh yeah, it's also the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis. So all in all, a day for making bad decisions. Thankfully, I didn't make any decisions today other than picking out my lunch. Although that was crab cakes and you never know...that's really a gamble in itself.

I guess it's weird that I am commemorate the date. I suppose because 1) I want to remember not to make the same mistake twice and 2) I hope that this is not the only opportunity I get to say "I do" with someone special. And to honor this special date, I've decided to comment on the pill popping society we have become in the last 30 years.

I've spent a lot of time watching TV this summer. The reasons for that are innumerable, but let's go with it's too hot to do anything else. Lately it's been HGTV, BBC America and USA Network. I should note that my mom has been living with me since the middle of July and so when I watch TV she is there. She's also a nurse and has been for at least 25 years (I'm foggy about her graduation date...I think I was 7 or so). So as we sit and watch these shows, there is a certain 'restless leg syndrome' medicine commercial that comes up frequently. I've joked with friends and family in the past about the disclaimers that they have at the end of these type of commercials "Do not take if you walk upright or have hair, side effects include speaking in tongues and growth of third arm in center of the back".

This particular one states that you may experience an increase in addictive behaviors such as gambling, sexual experiences and drug and alcohol consumption. Dude! Sign me up for that one...that sounds like fun! Of course, I've never had the side effects from prescriptions that I've had to take except for the antibiotic that disabled my birth control pill in 1995...resulting in my daughter. So I would only get the relief from restless leg syndrome. And my mother chimes in to let me know that RLS is actually the first sign of Parkinson's disease. Hmmmm...interesting. Knowing the long, painful decline after being diagnosed with Parkinson's, I'm pretty sure that I would want to go ahead, take the meds, get relief from the symptoms and hope the side effects take me out early, probably not with dignity, but with a hell of a lot of good times under my belt. Wait that sounded wrong....you know what I meant.

Years ago, when the ED relief commercials flooded the airwaves, my mom explained that ED is nature's way of saying you have high blood pressure and shouldn't be doing strenuous activity. I've noticed now that the disclaimer has changed to include the "if you have ED, this may be a sign that you have high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate and should seek medical attention" tidbit of info. This was probably after they were sued following the 'untimely' deaths of the 60+ generation that was their customer base after using their products. I'm sure that SNL has had a skit or two on this topic.

I, for one, would love to find happiness in a pill. Just remember to take that every day and nothing will go wrong. Of course, having a family history of alcohol and drug abuse, I wouldn't be able to continue the regimen for long, but it would be nice while it lasted. When I say I wouldn't be able to do it for long...it's because my inner child will scream out "do you want to end up like the rest? Why do you need this crutch?" and I will gradually begin to listen and then wean myself off of it. The only constants in my life are Diet Pepsi and chocolate....in fact, I'm eating them now...peanut M&M's and a cold Diet Pepsi. Mmmmmm...that's good.There are other pills out there that appeal to every one's secret wish to be taller, thinner, richer, more manly or just plain more. I've found that as long as you believe the medicine will work, it'll work. The only thing I found that worked whether I believed in it or not was aspirin...but only the uncoated kind that eats at your stomach lining about 10 minutes after you've taken it. And since I can't remember which disease it is that will cause death if you take aspirin at the same time, I don't keep aspirin in the house.

I've begun to get serious about the study of Yoga. I like it because you are using your mind to control your body and vice versa. I can go at my own pace and discover my own path while still following the guidelines of the practice. Intent is a huge part of it. A book I read recently echoed one of the philosophies of releasing ourselves from selfish desires or wants. Mainly, if we stop trying so hard to be like everyone else, we can be ourselves and things will flow smoother...that whole not fighting the current, but to go in the direction you are meant to go in. The number one tool to practicing yoga...patience. This is going to be the deal breaker for me. If I lose my patience, it's over. I would pretty much have to start over from the beginning and you know how I hate to do things twice. Now that's one thing that if it came in a pill I would take it two or three times a day, and then fret until I felt it begin to work.

So the next time the commercials come on, and a pharmaceutical company comes on with their latest and greatest solution to the woes of the world, stop and listen. I think you'll get a good laugh out of them too.

Until later.....

Annie M.