medicine
My nephew, Rob Masterson is dad with a sense of humor, tempered by his deep love for his family. He has a way with each of his children that is unique to them. His oldest child, Christina Hockenbrocht is married now and lives in Colorado, so he doesn’t see her as much as the younger kids, but they talk periodically, and she knows that he loves her very much. His second daughter, Raelynn Masterson calls her dad her “hero” and loves the fact that he always calls her Raelynn Dawn and not just Raelynn. She says that he is always looking out for her and always tries to keep her motivated. She loves riding in the car with him, because he talks about the funniest things. Raelynn has a job, but has never wanted to drive really, so Rob takes her and picks her up from work. She says, “On the way home, even on the worst days, he always gets me to smile. He loves his ‘Dad Joke Fuel’ cup that I got him and wears the silly shirts I buy him like his ‘Best Farter’ shirt.” That describes the Rob I have always known to a tee.
Raelynn works at a carwash these days, and with her prior back issues, Rob worries that it might be too much for her. He was also worried about the type of medicine they keep at home messing with Raelynn. So, he insisted she and her mom, Dustie Masterson buy some Ibuprofen to keep in Raelynn’s purse instead of taking Acetaminophen nearly every day. Sometimes the pain from her back just gets to be too much, and Rob tells her to relax and deal with whatever I was doing, later, and to take some ibuprofen and a nap, and come back to it. Like most people, Rob gets upset when someone cries, but it’s because he doesn’t know how to fix it and it 
frustrates him…because he’s the dad. He wants to help, he just doesn’t know how. Nevertheless, Raelynn says, “His hugs always make me feel better. On the worst days, when I’m in pain, when I’m just tired and can’t focus, his hugs always help. Dad hugs are magic.” She also said, “Just today he brought a Pepsi to me, all the way across town to where I work, because he loves me. I can call him from my workplace and tell him I need something, and 9 times out of 10, he’ll bring it to me or find another way for me to get it, even if he complains about his ‘Gosh Darned Kids.’ Dad’s one of the most loving people, even though he acts tough and scary. He loves all our animals and makes an effort to play with them. Even Moxxi, who he claims to hate. He’ll sit there and just pet and love on him until Moxxi’s tired of it. He’s the only one who can play with Moxxi, with his hands. Moxxi plays to rough for the rest of us, and he loves playing with Dad because Dad encourages him to be rough.”
Rob’s son, Matthew Masterson got his license right away, and he helps out with the transportation of the girls. He works too, so he can help out at home and also so he can buy things he wants and needs. That is a big help for Rob and Dustie. Rob’s daughter, Taylor Masterson says, “Dad has always told me to follow my intuition and has always let me make my own choices since I was old enough to do so safely. Dad said a few days ago that I would make a great manager if I really put my mind to it. He says that whatever path I take in life he’ll support it. Dad never lets things slow him down, even a broken bone no matter how much his family wants him to rest he still insists on driving us where we need to go. Dad and Mom have given me a kind of unrealistic view of love, the love they have is so unnaturally rare that it’s unfair to see sometimes, but at the same time it’s a 
relief to see after seeing so much heartbreak in the world. Dad is my role model, and I know that he’ll be there whenever I need him most!”
Rob and Dustie have been married 22 years now, and they are very happy together. Dustie makes Rob feel so blessed. She has given him three wonderful children. Their lives are complete. Every new year is a new adventure, and they both look forward to the next chapters of their lives. Today is Rob’s birthday. Happy birthday Rob! Have a great day! We love you!
Funny thing…some things that used to be considered medicines years ago, have become common things today, like some condiments. Ketchup, for example, was sold in the 1830s as medicine. Apparently, an Ohio physician named John Cook Bennett, sold ketchup as a cure for upset stomach in 1834. Now, as a person who hates ketchup, I can say that it would have given me an upset stomach, but I am in the minority, I guess. It apparently took until the late 19th century for people to realize that while it didn’t help their upset stomach, they liked it on their food. wasn’t popularized as a condiment until the late 19th century! Apparently, Bennett sold the mix as a cure all for a number of things…including diarrhea, indigestion, and rheumatism. While it might have been a novel idea, it wasn’t based on fact.
A mustard plaster, or mustard pack, is a home remedy believed to ease symptoms of respiratory conditions. 
However, there’s no evidence that mustard plasters work. The treatment may also cause unwanted side effects such as skin irritation and burns. A mustard plaster is mainly used for coughing and congestion, but it’s also used for pain such as: backaches, cramps, and arthritis.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a type of vinegar made with crushed fermented apples, yeast, and sugar. Vinegar is used in things like salad dressings, pickles, and marinades. While these food used are one thing, vinegar has also been used it as a home remedy…and still is today. Things like fighting germs to preventing heartburn. Recent studies had shown that it might have some real health benefits. Things like reducing blood sugar levels and aiding weight loss have been explored. As with other “condiment medicines” no real evidence of these benefits has been found. The good news is that ACV is harmless, if used correctly. 
Vinegar does contain contains some of the nutrients in apple juice, including B vitamins and antioxidants called polyphenols, which is a good thing.
I suppose it could be said that these and other condiments contain vitamins, minerals, and other things that might be good for us, there is no proof that they are a substitute for medicines. The addition of sugar as an ingredient in modern recipes makes me question the nutritional value of these items, much less the medicinal value of them. Nevertheless, there are lots of medicines that don’t really help either and some that are actually detrimental to health, so that fact might need to be taken into account when we consider whether to go with natural medicine or man-made medicine.
Whether you or I prank anyone on this day makes no difference. This is the day for it. Why would anyone think that we need a day to be set aside whereby it was perfectly “legal” to play multiple tricks on people? Maybe they thought that after a long dreary winter, we needed a day to just get silly. Sounds good to me. I love a good prank as much as the next guy. I can’t say that I have always been good at pranking, and I can’t say some pranks haven’t blown up in my face…apparently not everyone likes to be pranked. Go figure!! I think for me is stems from my childhood years when my sisters and I tried to pull every April Fools’ Day joke we could think of on friends or family who happened to cross our paths.
While many possible origins for the national prank day exist, no one truly seems to know where or when it started. Maybe the origins story is a joke in its own right. It could be that whenever and wherever it got started, the initiator decided to say that the tradition started somewhere else so that they could say that they were just following the tradition they had heard about. That idea isn’t so farfetched, now, is it? Somebody, somewhere had to get this started. Still, maybe for those who don’t like being pranked, the originator didn’t want to take the blame. That makes sense to me too. If you have ever been “that guy” who pranked someone with no sense of humor, you know that you would gladly blame someone else…anyone else for making you do such a thing.
I’m just thankful that it was a tradition in our family…from our parents, Al and Collene Spencer, all the way down to my sisters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryl Reed, Alena Stevens, and Allyn Hadlock…and then on to the 
generations beyond. People really should be taught at a young age to take a joke, and even to laugh at ourselves when we’ve been had. It’s a well-known fact, even from the Bible…Proverbs 17:22, “Laughter is like taking good medicine.” It is true, and even medicine has agreed that laughter is good for you. Laughter reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, boosts mood, and diminishes pain…just to name a few good things about laughter. So, for all you people who have no sense of humor…lighten up and laugh a little. You know you want to!! Happy April Fools’ Day everyone!!
I think that many of us have thought about a hidden treasure…probably as kids, but maybe as adults too. In fact, with the number of metal detectors sold every year, maybe there are just as many adults looking for hidden treasure as kids.
Dr John Marsh was born June 5, 1799 in South Danvers, Massachusetts. In college at Harvard, he had intended to study ministry, but changed his mind and received his bachelors degree in medicine. He then studied medicine with a Boston doctor. He then decided to move to California, and became an early pioneer and settle in Alta, California. He was also the first Harvard graduate, the first to practice medicine there. He knew Hebrew, Latin and Greek, and was the first to compile a dictionary of the Sioux language. He became one of the wealthiest ranchers in California, and was one of the most influential men in the establishment of California statehood.
The Reverend William W Smith introduced Marsh to Abigail “Abby” Smith Tuck, a schoolteacher from New England, who also served as principal at a girls school in San Jose. After a brief two-week courtship, they were married on June 24, 1851. Soon after the wedding, the couple moved into the old adobe. On 12 March 1852, she gave birth to a daughter they 
named Alice Frances. Shortly thereafter, Marsh set out to build his family a home. Abby had picked the spot for their home. The home that was nestled in the foothills of Mount Diablo. The home was located next to a creek that was later named Marsh Creek after the doctor. While the home was stunning, the cost of building it did not exceed $20,000.
Marsh was not only a doctor, but also a rancher, and was very successful, even though he was usually paid for medical services in the currency of the day…cowhides and tallow. Marsh might have been a bit of an eccentric, or maybe he just didn’t trust banks. Whatever the case may be, he was known to bury his money in the foothills near his home. Abby died in 1855, and maybe that was what set Marsh to burying the money. I don’t think anyone knows. It is thought that Marsh buried about $40,000 in gold coins in the area, but the money 
has never been found. On September 24, 1856, while coming home from Martinez, Marsh was murdered. It happened on the road between Pacheco and Martinez. Riding by, he was ambushed and murdered by three of his vaquero employees over a dispute about their wages. Two of the killers were found ten years later and brought to trial. One man turned state’s evidence and was released without trial. The other was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, though he was pardoned 25 years later. The third man was never caught. A California Historical Landmark #722 plaque still marks the site of the murder. John and Abigail Marsh are buried in Mountain View Cemetery, in Oakland, California.
My son-in-law, Travis Royce is a man of many talents. He has a great sense of humor, and worked as a radio announcer for a time. He was perfect for that job because of his quick wit and his ability to turn just about any situation into a funny situation, other than some of the news, of course. I’m pretty quick witted myself, but I can’t hold a candle to Travis. I simply don’t know how anyone can come up with so many funny jokes out of thin air. Travis was also the go to guy for many of the commercials for Time-Square Media, and even after living in the Bellingham area of Washington state for four years now, we still hear the commercials he did. Every time we do, we have to laugh, because of how long he has been gone now. The reality is that these were just great commercials, and Travis has a perfect radio voice. They own the commercials, so they can continue to use them, and we can giggle about the fact that they never could find anyone better than Travis.
I think it is awesome that Travis was born in May, because he loves mowing the lawn. I don’t know of anyone else who truly loves lawn work, but Travis always has. At their house in Ferndale, Washington, they have a big yard, and a riding lawnmower that came with the house. Travis was in seventh heaven over that lawnmower. Each year Travis watches the lawn…waiting for it to get even a little bit long. Then he is out there mowing. One thing that is good about that is that their lawn always looks great. Travis and my daughter, Amy love to entertain, and Travis loves to barbeque. They spend a lot of time outdoors, and that is probably why they love Washington state so much. The weather is mild, and allows for lots of outdoor time, and beautiful scenery.
Travis and Amy have been married for almost 24 years now, and in that time, Travis has become a precious 
part of our family. I love how he keeps everyone happy and laughing. Laughter is so important in any life, and it is especially wonderful to hear your daughter’s family all laughing and happy together, and to know that her chosen mate is the one instigating all the silliness. Many times I have found myself laughing at some sill stunt Travis pulled on his family our on the rest of the family. The say, laughter is the best medicine, well I guess Travis must be the doctor. Today is Travis’ birthday. Happy birthday Travis!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
I find it very sad to think that if a person had some ailments or injuries in this day and age, they would likely have lived through the episode, but in days gone by, and for President McKinley, that was not to be the case.
On September 6, 1901, while standing in a receiving line at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, McKinley was approached by Leon Czolgosz, a Polish-American anarchist carrying a concealed .32 revolver in a handkerchief. Czolgosz shot McKinley twice at close range. One bullet deflected off a suit button, but the other entered his stomach, passed through the kidneys, and lodged in his back. When he was operated on, doctors failed to find the bullet. That in and of itself was a very 
serious situation, but I believe it would have been survivable. Unfortunately for President McKinley, the doctors of that time had few, if any antibiotics to fight infection, and gangrene soon spread throughout the president’s body. McKinley died eight days later, on September 14, 1901. Czolgosz was convicted is of murder and executed soon after the shooting.
These days, there have been a number of people who have had injuries far more grave than President McKinley had, and yet they have come through with flying colors. I think it is irrelevant what a person’s politics are or whether you think President McKinley was a good president or a bad president, because this really isn’t about politics at all. The reality is that this man died largely because of a lack of modern medicines that could 
have easily cured the gangrene he had from the shooting, or in most cases, prevented it all together.
None of us likes to pay for the cost of some of the life-saving drugs that have been developed, but it is partly that cost that helps to pay for the research that goes into these new medicines. Whether we pay for them by donations before development or cost after development, really makes no difference. I know many people think that the drug companies gouge the patient, and I suppose that could be true to an extent, but which one of us has what it takes to find a medicine that cures some of the diseases we can cure today, that were a death sentence in years gone by?
I was talking to my boss the other day, and he mentioned that his oldest grandson likes to make the animal sounds, and knows each one correctly and on demand. That reminded me of my oldest grandson, Christopher when he was little. It’s funny how some kids have such an interest in animals. Lots of kids take a passive interest in the farm animals and such, but some kids, like my my boss, Jim’s grandson and my grandson, Chris are so interested that they really learn those sounds and even know what the animal is doing when it makes that sound.
Many people like the wild animals, wearing pictures of them of shirts and hanging pictures in their homes, but when a child shows such an interest, at such a young age, it would seem to be something special. Listening to Christopher make all those animal sounds was always something that we delighted in doing. My very favorite sound was when he would tell you what the wolf says. His little voice seemed so tiny and yet he perfectly and softly howled like a wolf. It was so cute!! He could do all the other animals sounds too, from the domestic animals, to pets, to the wild animals.
I don’t know why some kids are so interested in the animals and the sounds they make. Since they have never been anywhere near some of those animals, how could they feel such a connection. Maybe they are like people who know at a very young age that they want to go into Veterinary Medicine, or some similar career, and others have the interest in animals just for personal reasons. I don’t know what my grandson will do with his life. At almost 17 years of age, he doesn’t seem to have that intense interest in animals that he did as a child. I know that whatever he does, he will be great at it, because he always puts his heart and soul into the things he does. No matter what he does though, I will always remember what he was like as a little boy, when he answered the call of the wild.
Door to door salesmen have been around for a long time, and while many of us wish they would leave us alone, people used to like buying things that way. From the traveling medicine shows to the peddler selling everything from tonics to hair dye. It was how people learned about new products and without shipping too.
Still, with some good products out there, people didn’t feel too ripped off for the most part. And many products like the Fuller Brush Company and others like them were on business a long time or still are today. It was simply a part of our history.
There were some unusual sales too, or at least to my way of thinking. One of those that always seemed strange to me, but probably didn’t at the time is the photographer. I’ve seen the traveling photographer on shows like “Little House on the Prairie” and others, but never thought I would personally know anyone who would have their picture taken by a traveling photographer. All that changed when I asked my Aunt Sandy about a picture I found of her and my grandparents when she, as the youngest, was the last of the children who hadn’t married and was still at home when the photographer stopped by.
Grandpa decided that having their picture taken was something that would be fun, as he allowed the photographer to take their picture. Now back in those days, there were no instant pictures, so I don’t know if the picture came in the mail, or in the photographer brought the picture back, but in my opinion, it was a really nice picture, and I’m glad Grandpa decided to have it taken.
These days, a photographer is not really necessary for most pictures. Cell phones and digital cameras can provide instant access to those shots that used to take a week or more to receive. And if a shot turns out bad you can see it right away, and fix it. And then there is photo shop, and other programs that allow you to fix bad pictures. I suppose either way has its good and bad points. And its place in history.
Going to the dentist is not usually something that kids like doing. It normally frightens them because of the painful Novocaine shots and the scary sounds of the drilling. Once they have been there, most don’t want to go back…but my niece, Chantel had a little bit different experience with the dentist, and I will never forget just how funny it was.
Chantel went to a children’s dentist. That was pretty much unheard of in the mid 70’s when she was a little girl, or at least it was pretty new to us. This dentist wanted to make it a good experience for the kids. So, when she had to have her teeth worked on, he gave her something to relax her. That would make her sleepy by the time she would receive the Novocaine shot, and probably pretty numb too. My sister gave her the medicine about 30 minutes or so before the appointment. Of course, it not only relaxed her, it was similar to being drunk. She got pretty goofy.
We were asking her questions just to hear her slurred speech as she attempted to answer us. This was not the first time she had been given this med and so we kind of knew what to expect, and she loved her dentist, because he had found a way to remove the fear of dentistry. Not only was she not afraid, she was always given gum after the dental work, as a reward for doing so well throughout the procedure. No wonder she liked him. What little kid didn’t like gum.
So, we asked her where she was going, and she said, “To da detist.” And then giggling, we would ask her again, just to hear the funny slurred speech. She tried very hard to tell us the whole story of the upcoming adventure she was going to have…with us laughing all the way through it. Finally we asked her why she liked the dentist and she said, “Ma buddy guve me gum.” Aw yes, the ultimate reward for a sweet little girl on medicine to make her relax.
