Better Living Through Pharmaceuticals

Is it my imagination or is everyone on some happy pill?

I am not a doctor, although my doctor will tell you I like to pretend I am. There are jillions of kids being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. (Here's a pill.) There are millions of people being diagnosed as depressed or bi-polar. (Here's a pill.) Now, there's a commercial on television about Restless Leg Syndrome. (There's a pill.) If you're jittery or on edge, I'll bet your doctor will give you a pill. And what about autism? I have no doubt it's a legitimate disease but come on. Some children are just high strung. They do not have ADD, ADHD or Autism. My leg twitches at night. I do not have Restless Leg Syndrome (if there is such a thing) and I do not take a pill. I just kick Big Daddy.

The oldies self medicate and occasionally over medicate. It's terribly frightening to me. I understand the urge to get some sleep but I can't go there. I can barely take a pill.

I had a conversation the other day with a friend and he/she said their marriage was so much better once the spouse starting taking a happy pill. I will not tell Big Daddy about this conversation because he will have me on drugs so fast I will not know what hit me. (Just kidding!)

Ice Cream Solves it All

We've all heard the phrase, "Better living through pharmaceuticals." We are a quick fix/pop a pill society. I understand the motivation but I am terribly anti-pills. I take an Advil now and then. I take sinus medication occasionally. Other than that, I'll pass on the medication -- just give me some ice cream.

I'm not making light of life altering and life saving medications. Some of the other stuff is an easy out. I'll take the ice cream.

When the baby was younger, we regularly made chocolate malts. He still says it's one of his favorite foods. We had an old-time shake mixer like they had in soda shops. We wore it out so we had it rewired plus we bought a newfangled one, just for back up.

When I was a child, ice cream was our Saturday night treat. As an adult, one of my parents would (and still does) show up when I was feeling puny. They always brought ice cream.

Dessert is an indulgence for me, one I don't do very often. But ... when I'm depressed or sad, when I have a cold, when I'm feeling old, cranky or just sorry for myself, I don't need a pill. I need some ice cream.