Love all the posts-- short and long, funny and not.

I'm dashing around today, so briefly, what I recall at this cooler time of year is the entire YEAR I Lived On Oatmeal.

There are a lot of ways to make oatmeal.

But none of them prevent hair from falling out and gums from bleeding.

I still have one spot where the gums never did recover, and not enough money to pay to have that or any other mouth problems fixed.

Good thing my teeth are from me ma and not me pa, because her peeps had New England teeth. Nary a cavity-- lifelong. When my gums flare up I just rinse hard with germ-killer and wait for the pain to pass. (The pain travels down the vagus nerve thru the chest and thus feels just exactly like a heart attack is described-- but never is a heart attack, TBTG.)

But before long I will lose the two lower front teeth-- not enough gum left there to hold them. Every ear of corn I eat in the summer is a blessing and a curse; when I chow down on one at a parish picnic and have to grin my pleasure, I always wonder if teeth will fallout as I do it. (There is a heavy price to pay for skipping the corn, which also gives me the shits but that's age, not being poor, LOL.)


Another "benefit" to being raised poor: having people tell me that since I am a "real survivor" and/or "tough," I don't REALLY need their help. (Another blessing and curse.)

~Susan