Friday, March 29, 2019

What's it all about, Alfie?

Have you ever started a day with a song running through your mind? I have this happen to me a good bit and often, the songs come very early in the morning. This morning, it was 4:30 a.m. Not a popular time for most people to be awake and not particularly a time when people think about singing, but there it was...first a gentle whisper and then growing louder and louder. 

The name of the song was "What's it all about, Alfie." The song became popular in the late 60s and I remember hearing it often on the radio as I'd get ready for school. The tune was pleasant and thought provoking. Dionne Warwick did a splendid job of singing the song written by Burt Bacharach. 


Back then, I didn't grasp the meaning of the words as I listened to the song. If I'd realized the depth of it then, I'm sure I would have liked it even more than I did at the time. 


The older I get, the more melancholy I've become. Maybe it's because I'm realizing there are more years behind me than ahead of me. Maybe it's because I've finally realized how very precious life is - I have breast cancer to thank for that. In my B.C. days (before cancer) I took a lot for granted. 


Burt's song this morning, reminded me that without love we just exist. The Bible tells us that love is the most important thing of all. We're to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength - that's the first commandment, but then, we're also supposed to love others as ourselves. Sometimes that can be a tall order especially when people aren't quite as lovable as we'd like them to be. 


Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone in the world could grasp the concept that love is really all it takes to make the world go 'round? 


Well, I just realized I'm really dating myself with these song references but that's okay. I'm getting old and I have the white hair to prove it! 


What's it all about? None of us really understand but if we can focus on learning to love and love well, I think we're halfway there. 


I sure hope I don't wake up at the crack of dawn in the morning with another song in my head. If I do, I'd like to pick something with a little less depth - maybe Harvest Moon by Neil Young. Now that's a song I could wake up to every morning!


If you're not familiar with Burt Bacharach's song, here are the lyrics. You can listen to Dionne Warwick singing it here


What's it all about, Alfie?

Is it just for the moment we live?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie,
Then I guess it's wise to be cruel.
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie,
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Alfie,
I know there's something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in.
I believe in love, Alfie.
Without true love we just exist, Alfie.
Until you find the love you've missed you're nothing, Alfie.
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie, Alfie.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Hooray for Hemp!

So much has happened since my last post and I keep telling myself that I'm going to work on that. I've been meaning to post more often but honestly, I've just been busy! Maybe in the future that will change but I'm not promising anything, mind you.

One of the best things that's happened since my last post was visiting the cancer treatment center and having a good heart to heart with the naturopath. We discussed my back pain and the post cancer PTSD and came to the conclusion that CBD oil might be worth a try.

I was surprised when the doctor even handed me a printout of recommended brands and dosages. He even knew of a shop right here in my home town that sells exactly what I needed. As I left the hospital, I was both excited and nervous. I wanted to try the CBD but wasn't sure if it would work for me.

When I arrived at the local distributor's shop, there were no products on display so I wasn't sure what I was going to be getting. I handed the printout from my doctor to the shop owner and she pulled the exact products the doctor had suggested. The first one was a CBG oil. I wasn't sure if that was correct and thought there'd been a typo but, as it turns out, Cannabigerol is a component of CBD. The doctor recommended I use the CBG during the day and that I use CBD at night.

I was shocked by the cost of each 1 ounce bottle. The CBG was $73 and the CBD was just under $100. If I decide to do this on a monthly basis, it could get quite expensive and insurance doesn't cover CBD oil.

Taking the tinctures home, I took my first dose after dinner. I didn't notice anything that day.

The following day, I took one dose of CBG right after breakfast and another mid day. I took the CBD that evening before bed. I was happy to find that I hadn't noticed back pain all day and usually, it kept me from doing many of the things I wanted to do. When I took the CBD just before bed, I slept like a rock. I hadn't had a good night's sleep in over 2 years!

Since those first initial days, I've found good results. I've been taking the tinctures for almost a month now and I'm planning on continuing. I've tried to find information online and compare prices but it's been a little overwhelming. There are so many companies out there and you just really have to do a lot of research to find out whether the companies are reputable  and have a quality product or if they're bogus.

I may end up going the medical marijuana route when I visit with the oncologist next month. We'd talked about it and discussed the need for a medical registration card in my state. I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, if you're interested in trying CBD oil, I'd suggest you try it. There are a few companies I'd recommend to you:
https://flowerchildcbd.com/
https://bluebirdbotanicals.com/
https://www.hempworx.com/
https://www.wellspringcbd.com/cbd-capsules/medterra-cbd-gel-capsules/

Necessity is the mother of invention

Greek philosopher, Plato, once said, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Though I've heard that saying since childhood, I ...