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For What It’s Worth by L.E. Murphy

W ell, I’m still here at e Harrison, counting the days till I can get out. Not that it isn’t a great place. In some ways it’s much better than expected but in others I’m still trying to get the kinks out…if only I could run the world, lol. But I digress. One of the most interesting things that has happened to me this week is that I realize that culturally, many of us take things for granted in some cultures or geographic locations while others don’t. For example, as most of you know, I am an author and have written several books, the last two of which are part of a three book trilogy, (the third I am writing now while I am holed up in this home away from home). Anyway, aer a couple of weeks of being here, one of my helper aids, not sure what to call them, but not nurses, not housekeeping, but the hub of the wheel who keep things rolling along such as getting me to my meals etc., happened to ask what I was writing. I happened to be seated at my computer, pounding away, and I said I was working on my third book. Now, I have four grown children and six grandchildren. I like to think I raised them well, educated them well, and fostered a love of reading, but I am sorry to say that two of my four children have yet to pick up any of my books. I don’t take oense, it’s just not their thing. In any event, when Marie, the health care aide, heard I was an author, I thought she was going to pass out. I mean she whooped and hollered so loudly that you would think I just got o a bus from Hollywood and was a celebrity. Honestly, I was taken aback. I’ve never seen anyone so excited and it was almost embarrassing, but I really appreciated it. I thought about it most of the evening, and realized that perhaps it is a cultural dierence, maybe a nancial dierence, maybe an educational dierence but this woman, who works for minimum wage was immediately my biggest fan. I had a couple of books brought over from home, and the next day you would have thought I gave her a million dollars. en she said she couldn’t read English very well, but she would try, and just to have them was an honor. I am stunned. What happened next was even more surreal. A knock on my door

an hour later, an older male nurse, also from another country, holding one of the books I gave her and she asking me to make him give it back. You can’t make this up. I had several more copies brought over the next day, and not only did he get his own copies, but two other aids came to my door wondering if they might have some. Now, while I am personally pleased with the books, and am not about to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature, I'm still baed by their excitement and response. I do recall a time when authors were revered, especially back in the ies and sixties of modern day times, but then reading lost its

luster, and writers were a cheap dime a dozen. I am honored by their attention, but more than that, I am saddened by what has become complacency among much of the population, regardless of what people have achieved, from being a rocket scientist to being the best darn waitress in the out of the way diner in a small town. All of them, all of us, have poured our heart into what we try to do, and I almost forgot what it was like to have strangers appreciate our eorts. I for one am going to congratulate and appreciate everyone from here on, out loud. We’re all just trying to do the best we can and it’s really nice to be recognized. is is not a slur on my best friends, who have always gushed about what I have written, but by the stranger who you don’t know and meet accidentally, who make you think what you are doing is really worthwhile. I’m making it my business to thank everyone, all the time, forever, whether they are the plumber or the teacher in public school. Sometimes we forget that everyone can use a pat on the back and it costs us nothing. More news from e Harrison on my next article. I have a feeling it’s going to be about the food if they don’t get their act together with my special diet, lol.

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Vol. 644 MC/SLC

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