Hello Wise Friends
 
I have no problem that needs fixing or question that needs  answering.  I 
just have a neat little something to share with you.  Something to make you smile 
and hopefully help you if you have had a rough  day.
 
I belong to another group that are all about home canning  food.  This is a 
great hobby of mine.  Anyway, one of the main  contributers is an older 
gentleman who is in his late 60's.  I have been  talking to him on the canning board 
for several years.  He is  brilliant.  No formal college education but knows 
literally all there is to  know about gardening, and such things.  I have a 
tremendous amount of  respect for him.  So anyway a couple weeks ago, he just 
happened to mention  that he came from a very poor family and that because of 
their circumstances his  poor mother breastfed him until he was 6 YEARS OLD!!!  I 
began to laugh in  my seat as I read that.  I immediately wrote back to him 
and explained to  him that instead of being so glum that his mother was forced 
to do that, he  should instead put new a new arrangement on her gravestone in 
thanks.  I  explained that he could probably thank the longevity of nursing 
for his  intelligence, and later in the conversation for the almost perfect 
teeth he  has.  (he has had only a couple cavities and "blessed with perfectly  
straight teeth")  He has been accused of lying when people comment on his  
"perfect dentures" and he tells them they are his real teeth.  He asked me  what 
other things breastmilk was known to be good for and I told him (along with  the 
rest of the group)  He (and they) have a new healthy respect for his  
mother's circumstance.  That out of that financially poor household,  came the 
richest of gifts.  Of course there is no way to "prove" that  it was all breastmilk, 
but I am sure that it certainly didn't hurt him at all  :)  He asked me the 
question, "well if breast milk did all these wonderful  things, why don't all 
women breastfeed their children for an extended  period of time"  I answered as 
briefly as I could and recommended Gabrielle  Palmer's book, the Politics of 
Breastfeeding (My new favorite book).  He  plans to check on it at the library 
this week.  
 
I would love to use him for "show and tell" to the folks  that say...well 
I/my kids used formula and we turned out just fine.   
 
Isn't it funny how in the strangest of places, we meet our  newest and best 
allies??
 
Renee Drake RN CLC

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