by Dr Charles Parker on December 21, 2009 · 4 comments
Yukon Cold
A Warm Holiday Note
Years ago, when our kids were much younger, I had the bright idea that we should celebrate Christmas by reading poetry by the fire, as FDR reportedly did with his family. It was a good plan, hatched with two other families, to read poetry every Christmas Eve at our regular dinner with the three families.
- Start a tradition, moments to remember, poetry appreciation, – that sort of thing.
My deeper take on the project: Each selects a favorite poem, and reads it to the crew. Their take on the project: Each writes a poemfor the person they are gifting from the name-drawing a month before.
Oops!
My choice, as the first reader, on the first day of our new tradition: The Cremation of Sam McGee, by Robert Service. Well, the poem is a bit longer than expected, but thinking this is what everyone would be doing, I set out to read the entire poem. The poem is dark, mysterious, cold, and funny – but they were laughing way too hard.
The further I went into it, the more our families were laughing – I’m thinking: I’m funny, this poem is funny, but it isn’t that funny!
Punch line: They had written their short poems about the person, and I was far out into the Yukon, moiling for gold, with a frozen corpse, ready to throw him into the fire – completely off the mark of group expectations. The best part, after that big laugh at my oversight, was that the poetry tradition continued for years – even when the kids were in college, and we all had great fun sharing our thoughts, our gratitude, and roasting our friends before dinner.
To share a bit of the moment you may appreciate the ending of The Cremation of Sam McGee. Sam knew he was dying, and asked his partner to promise cremation. The cold of the Yukon had so penetrated his being that he couldn’t bear the thought of a burial in an icy grave. The poem ends with this view of matters – looking into the ’strange things done in the midnight sun:’
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said:
“I’ll just take a peep inside.
I guess he’s cooked, and it’s time I looked;”
…Then the door I opened wide.
And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm,
In the heart of the furnace roar;
And he wore a smile you could see a mile,
And he said: “Please close that door.
It’s fine in here, but I greatly fear
You’ll let in the cold and storm—
Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee,
It’s the first time I’ve been warm.”
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays wherever you are
- and thanks for your many comments and feedback! See you next year!
cp
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Just take the time to go through these many Vitamin D3 links, and do watch this video by Dr John Cannell. We have been hearing about the importance of D3 with depression for years, and know that it is directly connected with good thyroid function.
Now, with the forthcoming flu season, new information and Swine flu and D3 concerns for families, children, schools and the workplace, it seems like a good time to review the D3 details.
Do pass this post along to your family and workplace colleagues, and if you are in the medical field share this with your charges. And while you’re at it, read this: it will direct you to an important review of why D3 over D2 – since that choice is a frequent question. A few summary details from this comparison piece:
The two calciferols [D2 & D3] produced similar rises in serum concentration of the native vitamin, indicating equivalent absorption. But while both produced similar initial rises in serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D over the first three days, serum 25OHD fell rapidly in the D2 treated subjects and was not different from baseline at 14 days. Meanwhile 25OHD continued to rise in the D3 treated subjects, peaking by 14 days and continuing to remain high. Calculating the difference in potency by measuring the area under the curve revealed an even greater difference with D3 more than nine times more effective than D2.
Infants and children under the age of one, should obtain a total of 1,000 IU (25 mcg) per day from their formula, sun exposure, or supplements. As most breast milk contains little or no vitamin D, breast-fed babies should take 1,000 IU per day as a supplement unless they are exposed to sunlight. [The only exception to this are lactating mothers who either get enough sun exposure or take enough vitamin D (usually 4,000–6,000 IU per day) to produce breast milk that is rich in vitamin D.] Formula fed babies should take an extra 600 IU per day until they are weaned and then take 1,000 IU a day, as advised below.Children over the age of 1 year, and less than 4 years of age, should take 2,000 IU vitamin D per day, depending on body weight, latitude or residence, skin pigmentation, and sun exposure.
Be well this winter, physically and psychologically. Test your Vitamin D3 – your GP, your Primary Care doc is likely on top of the testing. But don’t have them write for the D2 as mentioned in these articles.
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Program Notes here: Download the pdf for ADHD and TBI
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