GammaGlobulin

Dear Friends, When I was in my middle years, I knew my linguistic abilities were a-waxing. Now, in the twilight of my time on this orb, I finally must admit that the very thing that makes me human, my ability to use language, is gradually waning. Sometimes, I forget how to spell certain words. I no longer am able to so easily generate words I need to use. What is to be done with me, in such a state as this? Here is an example, for example: This word “externality”, I can never remember when I most need to use it. Sometimes, I must pause, mid-conversation, while I struggle to cough up this simple but useful word. How can I even carry on like this? What can I do to improve my word-generation facility? Sometimes we hear of those like Philip Roth, or even a Wouk, that could write lucidly with perfect paragraphs, even until the day before they kicked off. Do you feel sad, assuming you, too, are in my boat? For people like us, those who have superior intelligence, we can usually maintain our outward appearance of being fairly capable of writing coherent sentences, using appropriate vocabulary… But, then, when our time comes, we do not just lose our minds gradually, but our cognitive abilities just seem to drop off a cliff, and with little warning. According to research, it is the dumb person who loses his faculties gradually, though earlier in life. I had not given much thought to my cognitive decline in my youth, even though I did know that I was experiencing this waning, probably beginning in my early 20s. There really ought to be a pill one could swallow to solve this issue. I mean I do not mind living, and I am able to endure life pretty much as well as the next guy. I just don’t like the fact that some (most) of my cognitive functions have been continually and steadily declining, for decades. My math skills were somewhat still OK, up to my 60th year. I was able to manipulate math calculations in my head, without paper, pencil or abacus. But when I hit 68, it was as if I was solving these math problems in my head in slow-mo (slo-mo). Some days, I even feel like, one day, I may become the Marlon Brando character in the film, The Godfather, lying in a tomato patch, with some kid spraying me so lovingly. But, you know, Brando always mumbled. Brando might have had a speech impediment to begin with. So, what is to be done? Is there a fix for this? How much longer must we wait for a cure to our, commonly experienced, verbal warning problem? Regards as usual, Gamma

Dear Friends, I am just wondering about this question. For example: When I was 17, it was easy for me to satisfy a 50-Year-Old American woman, a friend of our family. She loved looking at my bod as I used a pickaxe to dig up tree-roots in her yard. She used to sit on her porch while watching me swing my pickaxe, and the Thud, Thud, THUD, of my pick as it buried itself in her lawn seemed ultimately fascinating and riveting, for her. She could not get enough of it. Anytime I was digging up her roots on her lawn, she would prepare a tall glass of iced tea, and sit on her porch, just watching me. She was not hot. But, she was not a virgin either. And, I thought that my digging around in her lawn might provide her with a bit of amusement. And, for sure, I knew what was going on, even if she did not. I would take off my shirt, in the month of July, and the sweat would roll down my torso. I had been a world-class rower at the time, and handling a pick for an hour was, by comparison, like fiddling with chopsticks, to me. When I was young, I enjoyed seeing this 50-Year-Old Mrs. Robinson leering at me, with her son sitting next to her, not having a clue. I guess this is why we guys, who have a very HIGH IQ do these things, just simply because we get bored in the month of July, when the Dog Days are not yet upon us. So, .... Now that I am 71, do you think I still have what it takes to satisfy a woman of 43? I have no idea what women think about me, actually... Maybe you can tell me. Regards, Gamma Note: By the way, after all that pounding on her lawn, digging up tree roots with a pickaxe, I finally asked this old lady to go for a ride in my MGB, on the Expressway, down to boathouse row, to see the lights. With the top down, going 80, she held my hand. Such a let down... TRULY!

Dear Friends, Nostalgically speaking, Hawaii was once the epitome of romance and luxury, sort of an exotic dream for many, a place of pineapples and volcanoes and missionaries. These days, you can go anywhere you like by hopping on a jet plane. Therefore, why do you choose to live in Thailand rather than to live in Hawaii? Is it the present-day culture of America that causes you to steer clear of these magnificent volcanic islands? Or, is it the culture of Thailand and the SE Asian food that keeps you here in one of the longest countries, north to south, on Earth? Thailand, these days, is not the same as it once was, 50 years ago, and therefore, much of the allure of Thailand has become diluted due to ever-intruding influences from the West. If Thailand, as is true of other countries, is becoming evermore westernized, then why not just live in Hawaii, an equally exotic place, at one time, which has now become totally taken over by western culture? As you can see... The guys above are very western. BUT, in Hawaii, the food is terrible. By contrast, the food in Thailand is AMAZING! And so, my friends.... In my opinion, one should come to Thailand, instead of Hawaii, if one wishes to witness a still-vibrant culture with amazing food from all around the world, a gastronomic delight, and an amalgam of all possible flavors and spices. What is your opinion, comparing Hawaii to Thailand? Is it not like comparing Pablum to Stir-fried Pumpkin? Even the lowliest dish in Thailand is worth two conch-shell-blowing guys in Hawaii. If you love Thai food as much as I do, Then, leaving Thailand is unthinkable. There are many other reasons why Thailand is far better than Hawaii, except maybe for just a short island hop. What are they? Other than the weather? Regards, GammaGlobbulin (sp)