Hello everyone,
For a while, I was encouraged by few of my Blog Readers, to turn my blog in to Book: "It seems that you had a very Interesting Life, Shira! XI was told X You should write a book about it!" "What do you mean by 'Had'? I still Do!" Came my answer... Unlike some in my Age group (82) I feel lucky to be in a "Good Health. I have recently notice that my 'Sense of Humor was down a bit'... After going through an 'Unpleasant moment of 'Memory Loss', I was encouraged by my doctor, as well as family members and close friends, to take a test for the possibility of Dementia or Alzheimer... Unlike most people in my age group, my memory is still strong (most of the time ) After my last Check up, I was advised by my Primary doctor, to make an appointment at Cedar Sinai Hospital, for Memory Loss Test which would last 'Five Hours'... By the time this ordeal was over I was not only tired; I was Exhausted I could see the concern of my family members and friends and was trying to cheer them up, by joking "The best thing about memory loss, is forgetting we are losing it!" I told them...
I was surprised when my Dr R. left me a message, asking for Rabbi Karen Deitsch (my daughter) to call him, in order to discuss my Test Results..."Why does he want to talk to my daughter and not me?" I was wondering... Karen, who called me after their conversation, sounded very calm (a bit to calm)... "Tell me what did the doctor say Karen? Is it Dementia, Alzheimer or half and half?" I was joking, but she did not laugh; insisting there will not be a final diagnosis, until I see one more doctor, "A Specialist" in order to come to the final conclusion... A month later I took one more Test, which lasted only one hour only (Thank God!) I have written before about Cousin Marcia (Al's Cousin) who came with me to see the doctor, in order to discus the results of my Medical Tests..." Marcia! You sound more Nervous then then I am!' It seems that "Fearless Shira, is now facing one of the biggest Health Challenges, she ever faced and expects to come through with "Flying Colors!"
I have written before about my parents, who were among the 'Early Poisoners who established the First Vegetarian Village' in Israel... They refused to use Fertilizers, claiming it was Poisoning the frute and the vegetable... "People should Never Eat Meat!, just think of the Terrible Pain, these poor animals experience, when they are slaughtered! 'We have No Right to make them Suffer; animals want to live just as much as we do!" I was able to understand why people kill snakes and other 'Dangerous Creatures',who may attack us, but what did the the 'Poor cows, lambs, chickens, or the cute rabbits do? They ever harmed any one! how terribly cruel it is, to cause them suffering and worst of all: Eat Them!" Some of my school friends parents came to our house, complaining that because of me, their kids are refusing to "Eat Meat"! It gave my parents the opportunity, of trying to convert' as many as many people as they as they could, to Vegetarianism...
My vegetarian parents were also practicing "Yoga" and ״Meditation״, which they learned from books way before it became popular in the Western World... There was a large library in our house, most of the books were about 'Health and Proper Eating': "How to Avoid Toxic Food, Say No to Western Medicine! You are what you eat," as well as few other books... I would eventually 'inherit' all these books, since my 'Meat Loving' brother, ,who rebelled against our parents and their "Crazy Vegetarianism!" declared he had no interest in these 'Stupid Books!" and told me I may take them all!' Reading was always one of my greatest Passions! I did my best to be a devoted, loving wife and mother, while teaching Hebrew and 'Jewish Studies at a local Temple Hebrew School. Eventual, we left Puerto Rico, moved to Atlanta in Georgia and later to our first home in California; settling in Los Angeles, where I would eventually become a Clinical Hypnotherapist and move on, to receive my PhD in Psychology. "It seems that Shira never stopped going to school?!" My astonished youngest nephew told his parents...
Throughout the years, Al and I created several groups of friends in Los Angeles. Other friends, came and stayed with us, for long or short visits; they arrived from New Jersey in the East Coast, where Al grew up, as well as from N.Y, Florida, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico, Israel, Italy and France.We loved these visits, which came to an end, when an Uninvited Guest; the" Corona Virus Pandemic', arrived to California and was spreading around the Globe... The death toll was rising and the people stayed home afraid to go out... We were all 'Glued' to the T.V screen, watching with horror, how this Pandemic was sending thousands of sick people, to over crowded Hospitals and Morgues... As the Death Toll from the Corona Virus was rising, socializing came to a complete stop! People no longer invited friends home for Dinner Parties, Barbecues or other occasions; they stopped going to the theater, concerts and many other kinds of gatherings... Every one was horrified by this new disease, which was spreading like Wild Fire all around the world! Besides the Pandemic, other disasters were taking place around the Globe: We the were able to see on the television screen Civil Unrest, Political Corruption, Elections Fraud as well as the Ban of Legal Abortions... Books were removed from schools and the bitter Long War, between Russia and Ukraine, gave birth to fear and rumors of an up coming Third World War! On the Television sets, we could see Wild Fires consuming forests, followed by Torrential Rains, Floods and starving, sick refuges with their children, who escaped to the United States from the wars and poverty, in their country of birth People who hoped for a better life and future, could see these dreams crush in front of their eyes, before being sent back to the country from which they fled...
After the Corona Pandemic came under control, I was finally able to deal with my deep pain over the lose of Al, my beloved husband and best friend of fifty years... I went back to my Therapy Work specializing in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Voice Dialog. At one point I became a bit concerned about the strange cloud of "Forgetfulness", which was invading my brain from time to time.."Why don't you Meditate Shira, as you tell us to do, it really helps you know!" My clients were telling m, after I shared with them the latest diagnosis of my Dementia...x"Did you forget that I am 'Free of Fear'?", came my answer... I have to admit that in spite of my Bravery, I was finding myself going through several 'Dark Moments' of my own, but I needed to help my clients and couldn't afford to indulge in worries or fears so was pushing myself to get over it fast!
I can't remember when I first noticed that "My Memory", which I was always so proud of, was beginning to slow down... For the first time in my adult life, I was experiencing 'Real Fear'..."What if my Memory is going to disappear and the doctors are unable to find a solution to the problem?"" I was always searching for Alternative Healing Methods. Besides my work as a Psychologist an Hypnotherapist I was also recommending Proper Nutrition, Meditation, Acupuncture and other 'Natural Help', besides Conventional Medicine and was always looking for the 'Latest information about "Dementia", trying to help my poor father, who suffered from Memory Loss. I never stopped looking for new ways of healing for my clients, friends, family members and now for myself...
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| Savta Shira with Eliyah |
Eliyah and Koah |
Eliyah with Moses |
Eliyah and Bear |
With Love and Light,
Shira
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