#eb 220

[jacularmetteld]

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[rileyrooin]

Ear Biscuits 220 (x)

[floralcrownrhett]

EB 220

[jacularmetteld]

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[recsineffect]

Dolly Parton's America - WNYC Studios & OSM Audio

In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-episode journey into the Dollyverse. Hosted by Jad Abumrad, creator of Radiolab and More Perfect. Dolly Parton’s America is co-produced by WNYC Studios, home to great podcasts like Snap Judgement, Death, Sex & Money, and Nancy.

Rhett’s rec in episode 220 is this absolutely incredible podcast (he’s also a fan of Radiolab!).

[loulougoingsolo]

About aging parents and parallel parking

One of the many things about Rhett and Link that draws me to being their fan is the fact that I'm pretty much their age, I grew up in a small rural town, and I'm currently going through similar things as they are in life. No, I'm not the owner of a multimillion dollar company, I don't have a spouse or kids, or a huge group of friends to consume multiple turkeys with on Thanksgiving. We don't even have Thanksgiving where I live. But I still have so much in common with the guys.

I haven't done this in a while, written a commentary on an Ear biscuit, or on GMM. Life hasn't given me an opportunity to write, and I'm a little rusty. But I just finished listening to today's Biscuit, where Rhett and Link talk about their own Thanksgiving festivities, which were so different from each other. And what Link told about his Thanksgiving, is why I had to write something. This is not really a commentary, I suppose, but an extension of the things they talked about on the podcast. Link's stepdad, Lewis, had some serious health issues, and it provoked him to talk about how no-one is getting younger, and about his fears involving the future.

My parents are in their 70s, and as the child who lives closest to them, I'm in contact with them on most days. In many ways I depend on their assistance in my own life, but in the past few years, it's become obvious they are aging, and especially this year, I've been helping them in my own way a lot more than before. Sometimes they need help with little things like a printer problem, other times I help my mom carry her groceries. This past week, I urged my mom to get her heart checked out after she complained about a weird feeling in her chest and had an irregular pulse. Turns out, she has atrial fibrillation. Another health scare after so many others in recent months. I worry about my parents, and about how to take care of them as they keep getting older. I and my siblings aren't very well equipped to dealing with things like these. The idea of my parents getting old and frail horrifies me more than anything. I don't deal well with even minor changes, and I can't even imagine a future without my parents. And at the same time, each day, it becomes more clear that we as a family need to find a new normal, too. I have no idea, how.

I know Thanksgiving is long gone, and it's time for Christmas preparations, but after this Ear biscuit ended, I decided to write down the things I'm thankful for, before it's too late.

I'm thankful for having parents, who despite being far from perfect, have repeatedly proven to be the best parents I could have. They've been nothing but supportive through the years, and if there was a time when I didn't see that, I do now. We're not a family who expresses their feelings openly, and we don't say ’I love you' to each other in words, but the love is there, in deeds if not in words.

I'm thankful for my brother, who shows he cares by tagging me in a FB competition. I tag him back, and if one of us wins the bag of chips, we'll share them. That's love. So is my sister asking me for help with a problem. She trusts me, which is so much more than I could have hoped for a decade ago.

I'm thankful for the happy moments I've experienced, and for learning to appreciate the little things. Happiness is not a constant, but even if it's just for a moment, it’s important and valuable. Whatever happens tomorrow, doesn't diminish the feeling of happiness today. I'm even thankful for the tears and meltdowns I've experienced, because they've taught me something about my limits.

And to conclude, I'm thankful for the fact that my mom forced me to get a driver's licence when I claimed I would never need one. I may not know how to parallel park just yet, but I'm pretty good at driving in reverce, and at finding the easiest parking spaces in any given city. One day, I'm sure Lily will be just as thankful to Link. And when she gets there, she'll know how to park her car.

If you've made it this far in reading, I am thankful. I'm also hopeful to maybe get back to writing again. I lost my routine at some point, and it has been nearly impossible to get it back. But I value anyone, who got this far. And try to improve. ❤