Beginning ~ with a parable

Beginning

On a cool October day in the oak-forested hills of Lorena Province in Iran, a lost child was saved in an inconceivable way.  The news of it came to me as a parable that I keep turning over in my mind, a message from some gentler universe than this one.

Small Wonder ~ by Barbara Kingsolver, 2002, literary essays, xvi + 269 pages

In twenty-two articulate essays, Barbara Kingsolver raises her voice in praise of nature, family, literature, and the joys of everyday life while examining the genesis of war, violence, and poverty in our world.  This collection of essays that begins with a parable gleaned from recent news:  villagers search for a missing infant boy and find him, unharmed, in the cave of a dangerous bear that has mothered him like one of her own.  Clearly, our understanding of evil needs to be revised.  What we fear most can save us.

In "Setting Free the Crabs," she uses her daughter's decision not to take home a beautiful (and occupied) red conch shell from a Mexican beach to illustrate our own need to give up our sense of ownership of the earth, to resist "the hunger to possess all things bright and beautiful."

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Thursday Thoughts

The fastest land animal is a toddler who's been asked what's in their mouth.

I just heard this and want to share it with you:  "Life begins at the end of your confort zone." -- Neale Donald Walsch

Old Turtle books

Old Turtle ~ by Douglas Wood, watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee, 1992, pages

This book by Douglas Wood is about creation and the nature of God.  When it first burst upon the publishing scene in 1992, it was recognized as a classic fable about ecology, peace, and the interconnectedness of all beings.  

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth ~ by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Jon J Muth, 2003, children's, 64 pages, 10/10

This sequel comments on earth and all its creatures, who are suffering because the people will not share their truth with those who are different from them.  Then one brave little girl seeks the wisdom of the ancient Old Turtle, who sees that the people's truth is not a whole truth, but a broken truth.  Old Turtle shows the girl the missing part of the truth, and the little girl returns with it to her people.  When the pieces are brought together, the broken truth is made whole at last — "You are loved ... and so are they."  I couldn't put it down.

Old Turtle: Lessons of Old Turtle ~ by Douglas Woods, watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee, 2007, children's, 56 pages, 10/10

Simple yet profound, it has brought hope and inspiration to children and adults around the world since 1992.  Someone commented on Amazon that this book "teaches us about honoring the diversities among nature, plants, trees, mountains, the ocean, and all of the different kinds of people on Earth."

Old Turtle: Questions of the Heart ~ by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Greg Ruth, 2017, children's picture book, 56 pages

Why are we here?  What is the purpose of life?  How do we find happiness?  Once again, Old Turtle's wise answers offer readers of all ages inspiration, solace, and the most important gift of all -- hope.  This picture book is sure to delight fans of the original.  One person commented that this "is a great book about inclusion."

Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle (based on the book Old Turtle by Douglas Wood) ~ music by Joseph M. Martin, orchestrated by Brant Adams, 2000, music, 72 pages

Long ago, an argument arose between mountains and rivers, stars and ants, lions and bears on the nature of God.  A terrible cacophony of quarreling voices rang out until wise Old Turtle quelled the din, explaining that "God is all that we dream of, and all that we seek ... all that we come from and all that we can find."

Based on the book by Douglas Wood, with its elegant dream-like watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee, Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle is a choral and symphonic experience, which must not only be heard, but felt by the soul.  Staying true to the text of the story, Joseph Martin has masterfully crafted the many characters and moods of the book into a musical fantasy for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) chorus and narrator.  Brant Adams' rich and colorful orchestration adds depth and a sense of awe to this choral symphony.  The work leaves audiences speechless, until they jump to their feet in enthusiastic applause.

Though I requested the other books from the library, I own a copy of this last one (music) and had it on hand as I composed this blog post.  Here are awards the original book won, according to Wikipedia:

• 1992 ILA Children's and Young Adults' Book Awards - Younger Reader Category
• 1993 American Booksellers’ Children's Book of the Year - winner
• 1993 International Reading Association Children's Book Award - Picture Book

National Ice Cream Day ~ need I say more?

Oh, I will add that National Ice Cream Day is on the 3rd Sunday in July, which also happens to be during National Ice Cream Month.  Let's eat ice cream!

The Hidden Life of Dogs ~ by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, illustrated by Jared T. Williams, 1993, science, 148 pages

The author is an authority on canine behavior.  She observed the exploits of her dogs during a thirty-year period, including how they dug themselves a vast underground den.  An Amazon customer mentioned that the author's revelations about the basic nature and needs of dogs was helpful, adding:  "Even if you have no dogs, it is a fascinating read."

So I checked it out of our small library and am ready to start reading it.  By the way, if you eat ice cream while reading this book, please do not drip it on the pages.  I'm sure all readers know that sticky pages are NOT good for books.

  

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.

Caturday question

Skeeter Syndrome

Skeeter syndrome is a localized severe allergic reaction to mosquito bites, consisting of inflammation, peeling skin, blistering, ulceration, and sometimes fever.  It is caused by allergenic polypeptides in mosquito saliva, and therefore is not contagious. ~ Wikipedia

What is skeeter syndrome?

• Skeeter syndrome is a large local allergic reaction to mosquito bites marked by significant inflammation.  If you have it, you’re allergic to substances in the mosquito’s saliva.  Some people have so much swelling that they have trouble moving.

Who does skeeter syndrome affect?

• Although it’s relatively rare, skeeter syndrome can affect anyone.  However, it often affects children, older adults, and others who may have impaired or undeveloped immunity levels.

You may have had typical reactions to mosquito bites all your life, but then suddenly develop an allergy to the saliva.

• One reason for this may be changes within your immune system.
• Another reason for the change may be that you’re highly allergic to the saliva of one type of mosquito, but not to another.

How does skeeter syndrome affect my body?

• With skeeter syndrome, people may develop fever as well as a large local allergic reaction.

Providers may prescribe antibiotics, but antibiotics won’t help skeeter syndrome.  Cellulitis, an infection, can happen days after a bite when scratching results in infection.

Symptoms of skeeter syndrome may include:

• Large areas of swelling.
• Skin warmth.
• Skin color or texture changes, such as reddening of lighter color skin or darkening or other appearance changes in darker color skin. This also may include the area getting harder.
• Itching.
• Pain.
• Blisters.
• Fever.

What causes skeeter syndrome?

• Skeeter syndrome occurs as a result of an allergic reaction to proteins in mosquito saliva.  A mosquito has a long mouthpart called a proboscis that it uses to bite you.  The mosquito pierces your skin, sucks your blood and secretes saliva into your bloodstream.  Being allergic to the polypeptides in the saliva of a biting mosquito causes skeeter syndrome.
• If you’re allergic to these polypeptides, you may see skeeter syndrome symptoms starting about eight to 10 hours after the mosquito bites you.  Symptoms typically resolve within three to 10 days.

How is skeeter syndrome diagnosed?  Your healthcare provider will take a medical history and do a physical examination.  They may ask you:

• If you were bitten by mosquitoes.
• If you’ve had previous reactions to mosquito bites.
• If you’ve traveled to a different country or different part of the country.  Different types of mosquitoes have different types of saliva.
• About the timeline between when you were bitten and when the rash started.
• If you have any other signs and symptoms that concern you, such as shortness of breath.

How is skeeter syndrome treated?

• If your provider thinks you have a mild case of skeeter syndrome, they will suggest that you:
• Take oral antihistamines.
• Cover the bite with hydrocortisone cream.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers/fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you have pain or fever or both.
• If you have a more severe case of skeeter syndrome, you may need to take systemic corticosteroids.  Steroids are available as pills or injections.

You should probably recover from skeeter syndrome in three to 10 days.

Prevention:  The best way to prevent skeeter syndrome is to prevent mosquito bites. This means:

• Eliminating any standing water.
• Avoiding areas infested with mosquitoes.
• Using a bug spray registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (typically containing DEET).
• Wearing long pants and long sleeves.  Wear thick clothes if you can because mosquitoes can bite through thin clothes.
• Using screens to cover windows and doors.
• Staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active (dusk and dawn).
• Treating your clothing, tents, and nets with mosquito repellants.
• Covering your sleeping area with protective nets.
• If you have had severe allergic reactions before, your healthcare provider may suggest you carry epinephrine.  This medicine is available as an injector that you carry with you.

What can I expect if I have skeeter syndrome?

• Skeeter syndrome may last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.  You can go back to work or school when you feel well enough.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

• See your healthcare provider if you’re bitten by mosquitoes and have an extreme reaction.
• Get emergency help if you find your mouth or throat swelling or if you have trouble breathing.
• If a mosquito bites you and you develop severe swelling, pain, and itching within hours of the bite, you may have skeeter syndrome.
• If you have trouble breathing or other more serious effects, you should get immediate medical help.

Management and Treatment:  If your provider thinks you have a mild case of skeeter syndrome, they will suggest that you:

• Take oral antihistamines.
• Cover the bite with hydrocortisone cream.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers/fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you have pain or fever or both.
• Your doctor may also recommend injectable epinephrine to prevent anaphylaxis.

Why am I so into this subject?  Because my right forearm looked like that leg (above) when I got a mosquito bite recently ... and I'm an old lady.  I also read that:

• You can help yourself in the future by making an effort to avoid mosquito bites.
• Use mosquito repellant, avoid mosquitoes when possible, and wear protective clothing.

Taking a probing look at our world

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis ~ by J. D. Vance, 2018, memoir, 264 pages

Part memoir, part historical and social analysis, J. D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy is a consideration of class, culture, and the American dream.  Vance's grandparents were "dirt poor and in love."  They got married and moved north from Kentucky to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them.

Their grandchild (the author) graduated from Yale Law School, which is a conventional marker of their success in achieving upward mobility for their family.  That's the short version.  The slightly longer version is that his grandparents, aunt, uncle, and mother struggled to varying degrees with the demands of their new middle class life.  According to this summary I found on Amazon, his family and Vance himself still carry around the demons of their chaotic family history.

Delving into his own personal story and drawing on a wide array of sociological studies, Vance takes us deep into working class life in the Appalachian region.  This demographic of the United States has been slowly disintegrating over the years, and Vance provides an attempt to understand when and how "hillbillies" lost faith in any hope of upward mobility.

With the announcement yesterday that J. D. Vance was former President Trump's choice for his vice-presidential running mate, I immediately called the nearest bookstore and put a copy of Vance's book on hold so I could pick it up in a few minutes.  I got it and started reading it last night.  Have you read this memoir?  What did you think of it?