At church on Wednesday evenings, kids have a time for choir and a time to learn about missionaries. I teach the Pre-K and Kindergarten kids at their missions time. A while back, our topic one month was missionary medical teams who were working with a people group living in remote areas, somewhere in southeast Asia, I think. With very few roads in dense forests, the people did all their traveling by river. A trip by road to a physician or clinic would take days, so hardly anyone went to a doctor when they were ill. A medical team worked regularly as missionaries, traveling by boat along a river, visiting various communities, seeing those who were sick, dispensing medication, and immunizing people against common illnesses. We had some photographs, and I was explaining to the kids about the boat.
“The boat goes up and down the rivers, taking all the things that the doctors and nurses need to help people be healthy. There’s a doctor’s office that even has a waiting room.” The children understand about waiting for their turn to see the doctor.
“There’s a dentist office, too,” I said.” “For people who are having problems with their teeth.”
“And,“ I said. “There‘s a drug store right there on the boat.” The children stared at me, with faces that showed astonishment bordering on horror. I was mystified by that response and tried to figure out what I’d said that alarmed them so. After several seconds, (during which I had reached no conclusion at all), one boy said, “Ohhhhh, the good drugs.”
“Yes, “ I said, finally getting it. “The good drugs. The medicine. Like when your mom or dad take you to the doctor and you get a prescription and then you have to go and get your medicine. It’s that kind of place. People get the good drugs that they need to get well and stay well. That’s the way the doctors and nurses show kindness.”
Wow, I thought. Doesn’t anyone use the term “drug store” anymore? Well, maybe not. As I asked around, most folks agreed that people refer to the store by name, Walgreens, or CVS, or, for me, I use the pharmacy at Target. I guess the generic names of places aren’t used much any more. The drug store, the discount store, the five and dime. (Oh, yeah, try popping the term “five and dime” into a conversation with anyone under, oh, 40 maybe, and see what sort of response you get. For those of you who are under 40, or maybe even 50, I’ll let you Google that.)
I’m reluctant to use the acronyms in e-mails that other folks do. I’m worried that I’ll use one wrong and offend someone. Even the old, overused, old-fashioned ones (invented ten years ago). I’m worried that suddenly, their meanings will change and I won’t get the memo. What if I wake up some morning and they’ve become “Lunch? Octopus Linguine!” or “Oh! Mr. Greenjeans!” or “YES! Ostrich Loves Ocelot!!” (As long as you’re online, you can Google Mr. Greenjeans, too.)
My parents’ lives were different than their parents’. My life is different from theirs. My kids’ lives are really different, and Baby Peter’s is going to be something that the word “different” will be too tame to describe. It’s always been that way. It just seems that change used to happen like a glacier. Now it seems to happen like Road Runner.
Therefore, I’m relying on the kindness of others to lead me through the labyrinth of modern life, whether it’s the preschoolers who remind me that I need to update my vocabulary, or the Genius at the Apple store who’s helping me decide what I need to buy, or someone who will help me figure out WHERE did all my EVERNOTE stuff DISAPPEAR to when I UPGRADED my PHONE!!!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (NRSV)
Thank goodness.
I do not even use lol because I can’t remember if it is laugh out loud or love you lots.
I need a dictionary. Actually, one probably exists. But I imagine it changes regularly. Meanwhile, DTAWN (don’t take any wooden nickles).
Nickels–:)
I loved Mr. Greenjeans.
And I’ve been too scared to upgrade my iPhone. But my nice YOUNG teaching partner said she’d help me.
Really, the upgrading isn’t hard. It’s figuring out all the things I have to do differently, or refresh, or adapt, or reload, or just understand, now that things are “better” with the upgrade. And, the “nickels” reference. Do you think it should be “nickel and dime” store? That’s correct, too, but so is “five and dime.” I looked it up. And, that’s what Mother used to say, in regards to T. G. & Y.