Hi, Mark!  Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:   
      
   MH>  I work full time (and have since I was 18 years old),   
      
      
             Ah.  One wonders these days, considering the state of the economy.    
   I see middle-aged adults with good English working in fast-food joints where   
   they can be paid a "training wage" (less than minimum wage) for three   
   months... then laid off.  It's rather nice as a customer to deal with these   
   people after years of trying to communicate with high school kids who have no   
   idea what mayonnaise is, e.g.  It's not so nice for them if they're trying to   
   support a family.  :-/   
      
      
      
   MH>  but I am going to do is take FMLA leave for the   
   MH>  operations.  I have almost 6 months worth saved   
   MH>  up from working so long where I am currently.  I   
   MH>  am going to be off up to 2 1/2 weeks to be with   
   MH>  our son and make sure everything goes smooth.   
      
      
             Sounds good to me.  I stayed with Nora while she was in hospital,   
   and although it was no picnic I think it was well worth the effort.   
      
      
      
   MH>  My wife doesn't have as much time since she just   
   MH>  started a new job.   
      
      
             ... besides which, I understand that some employers get nervous   
   about whether a woman will fly the coop because she's pregnant and/or one of   
   her kids is sick.  It's easier to get time off after you've been around for   
   awhile.  :-)   
      
      
      
   MH>  We have scheduled the first operation for November 1st.   
      
      
             I hope things went well there, but I realize you may still have a   
   lot on your plate right now....   
      
      
      
   AH>  ... Bernie Siegel is an oncologist who wondered why   
   AH>  some people survive cancer while others don't.  When   
   AH>  I read his book I realized I'd been doing exactly as   
   AH>  he said (athough others thought I was crazy) & decided   
   AH>  to do more of it.  That was how this echo was born.   
   AH>  Her Nibs is still alive & well, thankyou....  ;-)   
      
   MH>  That is fantastic!  There is never too much education/   
   MH>  knowledge and being there and a part of things every   
   MH>  step of the way is important.  I'm really happy to hear   
   MH>  your story.   
      
      
             Thankyou.  I see Bernie Siegel's work as applying to many   
   situations, not just to cancer.  His work gave us the idea for the name of   
   this echo... but this echo is not about any particular medical condition.    
   It's about how people handle such matters, and I think you & I are on the same   
   wavelength there.  :-)   
      
      
      
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)