Tuesday, August 26, 2008

True Animal Magnetism?

Another interesting article touching on magnetism, albeit the non-human kind:

Deer, cattle have true animal magnetism: study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Grazing cattle and sleeping deer tend to align their bodies along the North-South axis of the Earth's magnetic field, European researchers said on Monday, giving new meaning to the phrase animal magnetism. Herdsmen and hunters have long known that cattle and sheep tend to face the same direction when grazing, but had believed they were simply positioning themselves according to prevailing winds or the sun's rays.

The article goes on to state that the researchers examined 8,510 satellite images collected (are you ready?) from Google Earth.

The article also mentions that it has been well known that birds, turtles, and a few other animals have some kind internal compass.

Also, and I did not know this, it said that humans (I am a human bean according to cornbread) who sleep north-south get more REM sleep than those who sleep east-west. How about them apples?

I think we better do a lot more studying before we start using the wireless electricity by way of magnetic fields.

On a more personal, caregiver note I dropped by the cleaners today. My better half instructed me to see "M" there because she would know what to do with the clothes my wife had entrusted to my safekeeping. She let me wash her socks the other day. I was sorting some clothes before washing and she said it almost looked like I knew what I was doing. Soon I spoke though and once again she discovered the truth. Still she did let me wash her white socks.

I had missed seeing "M" the last few times I was there. But she was there today and told me her grandma had died was why she'd been absent. Her mother had been the primary caregiver. At the end they had to place the grandmother in a nursing home. Still the family had kept someone there round-the-clock. Now the mother is blaming herself for the death because of the nursing home.

The story is a familiar one because I've heard it before. The names change but the plot is the same.

It always makes me feel the same way. I remember my own caregiving at the end of life for both my parents. So well I recall the feeling of being overwhelmed and pressured to the point of breaking. I was so close to the nursing home decision myself. Sometimes there just is no other choice.

It makes me want to comfort the caregiver I've just learned about. I wish I could remove the doubt and the guilt. But that's a process and takes time and is so very personal. It's well beyond anything I can do or say.

Doesn't have anything to do with magnetism but it was a part of my life today so thought I'd report it.

I now have clothes in three houses. I'm exercising in the new house now. The refrigerator is sitting in the middle of the living room. I put some water in it anyway. Getting closer.

2 comments:

Lori1955 said...

Hmmm, I sleep east-west. Maybe that is why I sleep so little at night. I think I'll try sleeping across the bed tonight.

As for the caregiver, oh how I wish there was something we could do or say to remove that guilt but as you said, it is a personal thing. You can use all the logic in the world but it doesn't change the guilt feelings. Had Hospice not come in when they did, I don't know if I could have cared for Helen at home any longer. I was truely broken by then but even with keeping her at home, there was still guilt over things I could have done differently. I think most of us go through that.

Congratulations on being allowed to wash the socks. :)

~Betsy said...

Great post, Terry.

I sleep North-South in the bed, but when Dave drifts off on the couch watching TV, he is East-West. Interesting. I'll have to mention that to him.

My heart really goes out to 'M' and all the other care givers who go through this guilt. We all have it to some extent.

I don't know how you manage with your things spread in three houses. I can't hardly find my belongings and they are all contained to one house!