Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Hope is Rising


Let me ask you something. If you were a young woman who lived her entire life in Florida suburbia, then found yourself in Nigeria as a missionary where, among other things, you had experienced:

-visits to countless children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic
-vastly different gender roles than what you're used to (read - old school)
-no running water in your home
-no refrigeration for food
-peeing on the side of the road next to a bus
-being chased by wild baboons
-abject poverty all around you
-large vats of stew containing parts of animals you're not accustomed to
eating
-no cheese (NO CHEESE PEOPLE - in all of Nigeria!)

If you had experienced all of these things and even more things you didn't talk about, would this blog post horrify you?:



(Editor's Note: The following blogpost is brought to you with our sincerest apologies and assurances that the next entry will be worth reading.)

Ode to the Neti Pot
(sung to the melody of "My Funny Valentine")

My little neti pot
Blue little neti pot
You clean up stuff that's in my nose
Yes, you may gross some out
Still, you clear up my snout
You wash away those allergies

Is your method less than cool
When you cause my mouth to drool

Yes, you cause my mind to freak
when my nostrils start to leak
But you work...

But don't change your ways for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little neti pot stay
Each day is neti pot day

After raves reviews from several friends (and by "several", I mean 3) as to wondrous healing powers of the neti pot, I purchased one yesterday. (Much to my husband's dismay.) I gotta tell you, for me, it actually works. For those of you unfamiliar with the benefits of this little homeopathic tool, you may find this video helpful.




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Well, if your name is Mary Ann - or Mare as she's known to me, your answer would be "Yes. Yes it did." But it was also a means to get to know a very amazing young woman and someone I consider a friend.

Mare is back from Nigeria and is beginning a new adventue attending seminary in Austin (yay!) I had the wonderful treat of meeting her in person on Sunday. She stopped by on her way to Austin. And, yes my bloggy gal pals (you know who you are), she's way cuter and every bit as nice in person! I invite you all to pay her a cyber visit at her new home, Hope is Rising.

Welcome to Texas, Mare! You're going to love Austin! (And Austin will love you.)

19 comments:

Helen said...

I am so jealous of you both..

Shark Bait said...

You're weird.

Mary Ann said...

Oh my goodness! Katdish! Geeeeeesh. lol

You ask the question as if it should be answered differently. How could you NOT be terrified by that thing!?????!?

It was SUCH a pleasure to get to spend some real face time with you and I look forward to much more. haha Thanks for this plug. I don't know how exciting my blog will be anymore, but...it's pretty. =)

Sherri Murphy said...

I love Mare and yes, Kat, you scare lots of people. You don't need the netti pot!

Take good care of our friend- I know you will because you are a generous scary person.

Nick the Geek said...

Netti pots are evil. I speak from the pain I feel just thinking about using one. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I went through a terrible time with sinus nastiness. I think it is all behind me now but in the worst of it I really tried to make myself buy and use a netti pot because the Dr told me it would help. In the very depth of my soul I cried out against the evil and did not allow one into my house.

I'll be praying for you that you might see the light.

Stephanie Wetzel said...

Wow. That was possibly the most random post I've ever read here. (And that's saying a LOT.)

It didn't help that in the list of Mare's Nigeria experiences, I first read "being chased by wild baboons" as "being chased by wild balloons."

I think you need to retitle this as "Snot is Rising". Let poor Mare keep "Hope Is Rising" unsullied by talk of mucus.

Candy said...

I'm still trying to make the connection between beautiful Mare and NetiPot. Huh? So jealous you two got to meet. As RB said "two of your friends are no longer imaginary - to each other."

A good ole fashion nose hosin' works better that Neti. It's all about the water pressure, Nick.

Peter P said...

My 4yo son watched the video with me and said:

"That is SO cool. I think I want to do it!"

Nice.

Anonymous said...

Wow - it's amazing what you can find here when one clicks over from Billy Coffee's blog.

Several years ago, I was in Nigeria for a few weeks. The Neti Pot looks frighteningly similar to the coffee creamer pitcher in the hotel cafe. Glad I drank the coffee black. . .

David

katdish said...

Dear David,

Sorry/You're welcome.

Billy Coffey said...

We don't use those things in the mountains. That's what moonshine's for.

Good luck and prayers said, Mare.

Marni said...

Yay for a new journey in Austin for Mare!!!

And also? Father God, I'll go where you send me, but please let there be cheese!!!!!

Marni said...

Oh yeah, and what's with making the Neti Pot all fancy schmancy on the outside? Dressing up evil is all that is...

jasonS said...

Very cool- and netti pots? Color me skeptical (although I'll have to watch the video later- I may still be convinced).

Beth said...

Count me in the jealous group!

And I think "generous scary person" is a very nice description of you...that cracked me up, Sherri!

Wendy said...

Enjoy the sensation? Really? I tried one once and 'enjoy' is not the first word that comes to mind when I think about it. Ick. Must be because I didn't follow it up with those exercises...

Rebecca said...

What a fascinating and yet frightening post...only Katdish could cover such a broad range of emotions in one fell swoop.

Funnyrunner said...

This made me laugh. Your juxtaposition of a cold remedy with a missionary in Africa. What an awesome experience (Africa, not a cold)

FaithBarista Bonnie said...

O-M-G!! I could not stop laughing! My neighbors probably thought I had finally gone insane.

I would've sworn that was an SNL skit. I couldn't believe they should us rinsing nostrils *TWICE*.

I so wanted to past the netti pot video on FaithBarista, but I think my readers would need therapy after the viewing.

btw, My Funny Valentine is one of my favorite jazz standards. I can't believe you did that to it, Kat!

Welcome home, Mary Ann! Blessings in your transition back to good ol' USA.