BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise

Subject: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 May 06 - 05:59 PM

Now, here's a story I love about a man I've loved for a long time:

Never Trust Your Kidneys

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Peace
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:02 PM

Me too, Ebbie. I used to read his column faithfully when he wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle. Great insight, great wit and great humour. Thank you for posting that.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Peace
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:09 PM

'"I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?" Buchwald says, part humor columnist, part rabbi. "It's what you do on earth and the good deeds you do on earth that are important."'

from
here.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:10 PM

Well I'd add something but I think I'll just say "ditto." We don't seem to be producing too many of these guys anymore...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Donuel
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:13 PM

How to make Art:
Start with a profound wit and add a pinch of Oscar Levant, a strand of Will Rodgers, a teaspoon of George Carlin, some Barney Franks for sweetness and simmer on a geoploitical flame for 60 years. Toss with an assortment of ten different Presidents and shake vigorously until you burst out laughing.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: CarolC
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:14 PM

Oh, my. For some reason, I had thought he'd passed away years ago. Good to see he's still around. It's not surprising to see that he is facing the prospect of dying with grace and humor. More power to him.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Donuel
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:31 PM

Art's background of numorous foster homes, 8 episodes of clinical depression, the Marine Corps and being a syndicated humorist has prepared himself for anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:31 PM

Donuel, thanks. I like that recipe.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:42 PM

I think he has a soupcon of Allen Sherman to add a bit of ethnic spice.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: CarolC
Date: 23 May 06 - 07:37 PM

I think he is totally unique, and beyond any comparisons to other people. But that's just me.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Amos
Date: 23 May 06 - 08:09 PM

Like George Burns and James Thurber, giants in the Land of Laughter. "They can't believe I'm going to Martha's Vineyard instead of Paradise!". ROTFLMAO!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Peace
Date: 23 May 06 - 08:24 PM

Art Buchwald

For release 5/18/06

ATTENTION EDITORS: This column was written by Art Buchwald from his hospice in Washington, D.C., where he is undergoing care. Buchwald has resumed writing his regular column.


A CALL FROM BIG BROTHER

By Art Buchwald

Tribune Media Services

The reason Americans feel safe is because the government has all sorts of ways of watching them. The feds can do it from the air, from the ground and by mail. I feel safer if I know that somebody is eavesdropping on me.

The rest is at this site.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: robomatic
Date: 23 May 06 - 08:56 PM

Thank you Thank you Thank you for posting this. I read one of the deathwatch articles and assumed he was a goner This is almost as much fun as if Warren Zevon should turn up alive again (which he won't).

One of the best all around guys in print for generations!

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: frogprince
Date: 23 May 06 - 10:38 PM

The wife and I get out to the "the Vineyard" every couple of years; we couldn't affort it, but we have a lucky family connection thing. Buchwald has been a Vineyard regular for many years. Each summer they have a charity auction, selling things like a concert at your house by Carley Simon. Buchwald has been the auctioneer (perhaps that should be master of ceremonies) for years. We're usually there just in time for the coverage of the last auction to be in the local paper.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: EBarnacle
Date: 24 May 06 - 11:09 AM

As noted in the article, Buchwald was not dying of kidney failure but of refusal of treatment. Kidney failure is not longer fatal--if the patient is willing to do something about it. I suspect he is also diabetic, as indicated by the amputation.

It is also a pleasure to note that the reports of his demise are premature.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:54 PM

Ah, I love his wit and the way he puts things so succintly. I am really glad to hear he is still with us! Very interesting in how he dealt with non-treatment, etc. I love hearing of people who are facing such life changes on their own terms. Reminds me of Tuesdays with Morrie.

Thanks, Ebbie!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 May 06 - 01:52 AM

"Kidney failure is not longer fatal--if the patient is willing to do something about it." EBarnacle

That may be- but "doing something about it" is invasive, depressing and almost intolerable for some people. I had one friend who decided that he was just no longer willing to live that way.

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 25 May 06 - 10:07 AM

In the mid-1950s I was attending a small private school in NYC. A good friend sat at the desk next to mine. She came in from NJ every morning, buying a Herald Tribune on the way. She liked the crossword puzzle, doodled horses in the margins--but the most important part of the paper was the Art Buchwald column. We would read it together. Sometimes there would be something so good, she would rush into the room a few minutes before class started, the paper folded open to the column, and stand in front of me holding it up and placing her finger at the end of the line she wanted me to notice first,her eyes glistening. I would read, we'd look at each other and laugh out loud, she'd sit and we'd huddle and read the whole column and laugh again. At which point the teacher would indicate that class was starting and extraneous materials should be put away. Now. The good old days, to coin a phrase. Sigh. Thank God Art is A)still Art and B)still with us.    Tw

Subject: RE: BS: Art Buchwald's non-Demise
From: EBarnacle
Date: 25 May 06 - 10:28 AM

When I worked in the renal field, I realized that appreciation of the ability to take a piss is one of the great pleasures of life.

That said, it is still a matter of choice.

One of the things my patients said is that even one day with a transplanted kidney made up for a long time on dialysis.