I take my joy and serenity for granted. And also I take it for granted that everyday I will be happy!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE! This will probably be one of my last posts. If you women can accomplish getting this message out to teenagers you will not have neglected a group that needs your guidance. I know you can do it. Please help teenagers and especially teenage girls. Quoting Dr. Bernadine Healy from an article she wrote in U.S. News & World Report February 19, 2008 : “There’s an argument out there that oral sex is not sex….To some young people , oral sex preserves virginity – technically speaking – and allows for what is perceived as risk-free sexual intimacy. From a medical perspective, however, this is sex – and generally, as practiced, it’s unsafe. People seem clueless that sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human papillomavirus [and also syphilis] can take hold in parts of the oral cavity during sex with infected partners and that the oral contact can infect the genitals, too….Granted, the major risk for STDs comes with vaginal sex, but the relative ease and growing frequency of oral sex among those engaging in casual “hookups” is a virtual epidemic in the making. Providing our young people with graphic medical information and stern parental and medical guidance is long overdue. ” This information has not been provided to young people and should be provided immediately. This Mother’s Day (or pick another day) should be devoted to mothers and other women informing young girls about the dangers of oral sex. Oral sex transmits most STDs. Some of the STDs can give a person throat cancer, others are for life and others can later prevent a woman from getting pregnant. This is very serious because approximately 50% of young girls 12-19 had oral sex. A new study shows that 25% of girl teenagers 14-18 have a STD. This is approaching epidemic proportions with young teenage girls. Here is the problem. About 98% of oral sex is done without protection and teenagers do not know that oral sex transmits serious STDs. This is not anyone’s fault it is everyone’s fault. The message has never been told in a loud, clear and caring tone that oral sex transmits serious sexual diseases, and those diseases can lead to cancer and a woman not being able to have a baby. Yes it is time to scare the children. There has been only one article over the last ten years in a major newspaper that linked oral sex with STD dangers. The time is now for women to help get the message to girls. The CDC expects children to go to their web site before having oral sex and see that it is dangerous, sure and the cow jumped over the moon. Women must insist that the message of the dangers of oral sex transmitting STDs be out in the open and told to teenagers both girls and boys. The number of teenagers having unprotected oral sex keeps rising and the silence about its dangers is frightening. I suggest you check for yourselves at this CDC web site www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/std/std.asp and in the search box put oral sex then read the articles. I am urging all the women sponsoring this web site and those participating on the site to get this message out to teenagers this Mother’s Day. My wife who is very active in my 12 year old daughter’s PTA comes home from meetings relating stories of young girls allegedly having oral sex with boys. As you women know once a teenage boy becomes aggressive the girl has problems, and many rather than having intercourse instead calm the boy with oral sex as their defense. You women have the power, the connections and a large group to help. I have been trying for 10 years to no avail. I have spoken to women at NOW, I have written every woman in the House and Senate, I have written to former HSS secretaries Shalala and Thompson as well as Dr. Gerberding, I have asked both gay and straight organizations that have sex education and health as a purpose, I have spoken to and written to people at the CDC, I have written to reporters for health sections of the major newspapers many of whom are women; no group or person has done anything to get the message out to children that oral sex is very dangerous. By getting the message out to children you would all be doing a great service for both young girls and boys who do not know how dangerous oral sex can be to their health. It is up to women to get this message out to children. When it comes to oral sex and the ways it is usually performed the only safe oral sex is talking about sex. www.aimhigh101tipsforteens.com Note: AIM HIGH! does not contain any sex, politics or religion.

hmmm, I used to take much in my life for granted….that the happiness finally achieved after alcoholism, money struggles, my own obesssive, demanding nature getting in my way, raising 3 great kids, having a loving, patient husband, would always be there. Then our youngest was arrested for molesting his daughter, our first grandchild. My world will never be the same. This went on for a five year period, it wasn’t a one time thing. Now he is in prison on three 20 to life terms, her life is forever changed, his wife is having to cope with a job after being a stay at home Mom, the other two children are without a father they love and don’t understand why he disappeared suddenly, my husband and I, his brother and sister are devastated. Everyone is asking, what happened? Don’t take anything for granted, it can all change in an instant and everyone around you will be affected.

I take for granted my husband. And every time he proves me wrong. With my Health so bad, he had become the person that takes care of all me needs, He baths me, washes me my hair, cooks for me, holds me hair up when I am getting sick, brushed my hair, drives me to every doctors apt., goes in the doctors office so he hears what is going on, washes the clothes, cleans the house, he sets me up for the day. he makes everything reachable for me form my wheelchair, and he works 50 hours a week, drives an hour each way to work and he calls me 5 times each day. He loves me so much and I worry that he is doing to much. I try to remember to thank him every day. I worry that he will get tired of all that he does, but he keeps telling me that he loves me and when you love someone you do what you have to. So for all of you that have your health, try to stay that way. And when your husband tells you he Loves you believe it.

I cannot think of anything I take for granted anymore. Maybe the more your life has been turned upside down the less you take things for granted.

I have to agree with Liz….my health and coping skills.

After too many hurricanes, I can tell you what I no longer take for granted: running water and electricity! I wake up most mornings and grin when the toilet flushes! That being said, I guess the one person I take for granted most is my Mother. I tend to forget that as I have aged, so has she! She will be 83 on her birthday this year. I get ffrustrated with her and how she has changed from a strong woman to one who is more timid. I need to learn to accept the new “Mom” and be more appreciative of all the things she does for me, and for my siblings and their kids and grandkids.

My kids, until I read some horror story of kids killed playing with guns or riding unsecured in cars that get into accidents. My health, until I see somebody struggling to even walk or just to breathe without complicated mechanical assistance. My job, until somebody I know loses their own employment, especially when it happens at my company due to layoffs. My friends, until they move on. And, drat it all, my youth, which I once had but left behind while wishing my way through it.