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Thankful Thursday, 1/7/10 Social Networking can be a Lifesaver!

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX Preferred RS152252A

I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow.  So today, Thursday, 1/7/10, I am trying to be thankful on an empty stomach!  I can only eat clear broth and tea without milk and ice pops with no red or purple dye.  Woo hoo!  Can hardly wait for lunch!  I thought I should write my Thankful Thursday post before I start drinking the Magnesium Citrate because after that, I may be hard pressed to find something to be thankful for!

As some of you know, my 13 year old begged and pleaded to go snowboarding with a friend of mine.  Being an Italian/American mom, I don't let go easily and rather reluctantly, let him leave the nest on Friday, 1/1/10 to go snowboarding in the Pocono's.  By 4ish, he had a broken wrist and by Monday, he was in a full arm cast.   He was having a really hard time with the full arm cast idea and the itching was driving him crazy.  I posted an update on facebook and within a minute had a funny response from my friend Paul Slaybaugh, the smartest smart Alec I know! At first he responded that angulated breaks build character.  Then he expanded his reply to say breaks are temporary but the story lasts forever.  He went on to say that Max would be spinning this story to every girl within earshot and that wooing the fairer sex with scars is a time honored tradition and that he was proud of the lad! 

I shared that response with Max and got the first smile of the day out of him.  He came home from school the next day wreathed in smiles, and with an armload of signatures on his cast!  His sharpie marker actually ran out of ink and my job for that evening was to buy more markers!  Every day since, he's come home and told me how the story has expanded. We go back on Monday for another x-ray to make sure the break hasn't separated more.  If that's the case, surgery may be in order, so we are hoping that all will be well.

Today, 1/7/10, I am thankful to Paul Slaybaugh, for his wit and wacky wisdom.  He informs and educates us on Active Rain and he makes me smile over at facebook on an almost daily basis.  If you know anyone looking to move to Scottsdale, Arizona, give Paul a shout.   I am thankful for the human spirit which allowed Max to rally his spirits in a very short time.  I am thankful to all of my friends that reached out to cheer us up and remind us that things could always be worse.   There is a lot of talk about social networking being a time waster, but I am here to tell you that the friends I've made on Active Rain, some that carried over into facebook and expanded to their friends, are on some days, lifesavers.  They make me smile and brighten my days with laughter and I defy someone to tell me smiles and laughter are time wasters.  They are the riches in life.  I am thankful for all of my friends, both the friends I see in my every day life and for my virtual friends for all the smiles.

Carpe Diem!

 

Posted by

Susan C. Mangigian

re/max preferred
117 Campus Blvd, Suite 155, Newtown Square, PA 19073

610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell 

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Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Okay, I have story to tell you, but it will have to wait... and will come in the form of an email.  I will wait until after tomorrow.  It's about when my mom had her's a couple years ago.  I hope everything goes well and I certainly hope Max is on the mend and won't have to have surgery.

Jan 07, 2010 10:11 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Russell, they didn't recognize you until you turned around!!  You are so funny!  I have to say I am getting tired of the sh#tty deal I've been getting today (if I can be crude for a minute)! lol!

Colleen!  I didn't realize I put the wrong date on this!  I did write it today... it is Thursday, right?  Italian women do not perform well without food!  You are the only person that noticed, or at least said something!!  lol! Thank you for the kind words.  xxoo  I love you too!

Tammy, looking forward to the story and looking forward to getting this over with!  Your turn will come, you youngster!  xxoo

Jan 07, 2010 11:01 AM
Amy Salisbury
Leading Edge Properties - Charles Town, WV
West Virginia Realtor/Jefferson/Berkeley

Susan, Here's hoping tomorrow goes well! My dad just had his first one (much, much later than he should have!) and they found 1 polyp that they were certain was not benign.  Got the word on Monday--he is FINE!  Yes, we are all so thankful!!!  Looking forward to hearing from you again soon!

Jan 07, 2010 11:16 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Amy, I am so thankful that your dad got a clean bill of health!  That is truly something to be thankful for1  I'm sure tomorrow will be a breeze.  Can't wait to get it over with.  Have a wonderful night!

Jan 07, 2010 11:25 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Susan, Susan, Susan....did you think you could come over here and hide?  Not a chance.  Now knock it off.  We already need a freaking crowbar to get Paul's head through the door.  I've met him.  The dimples are photoshopped.

Jan 07, 2010 12:20 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Susan!
I couldn't agree more...the Rain is about much more than business! I love the way it has expanded my world!

Jan 07, 2010 12:26 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Susan...Hoping you have much to smile about when you get the results of your colonoscopy and that Max will receive good news on Monday.

I share your admiration for Paul.  We should start a Paul Slaybaugh fan group on FB.

Kate

Jan 07, 2010 12:51 PM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Is she gone?  Did Lisa go back to New Orleans?  Whew!  \

Sorry Lisa!  I know I'm not supposed to but I can't help it.  He's so funny and smart and you know I'm a sucker for cute dimples, photoshopped or not!  

Paula, same here!

Hi Kate, thank you for your kind words about me and Max.  But if we start a Paul Slaybaugh fan club, Lisa H. and Elaine will kick my a$$!

 

Jan 07, 2010 01:02 PM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Susan - That's really sweet that Pauls facebook comments could add humor to your life at such a stressful time and cause you to share and inspire Max. Paul probably had no clue his quick witty theory would get that much mileage. It takes little time to make a comment on somebody's facebook status but some times short & sweet can be just enough to make somebody's day.

Jan 07, 2010 01:20 PM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Susan - Hope your test goes smoothly and you get home to a nice lunch.  Glad to hear Max is doing well and hope you receive good news about his arm this coming Monday.        

Jan 07, 2010 01:25 PM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Now you've sucked Kate into it as well.  For shame, Susan.  For shame.

Jan 07, 2010 01:55 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Susan, I didn't know Max had broken his arm, I hope it is healing in the cast and good for him to enjoy getting all those autographs!  Good luck on your test tomorrow, too.  I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Paul, I think I will have to look him up!

Jan 07, 2010 02:43 PM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Carol, it's just like a smile.  You never know how much of a difference you made in someones day, just by smiling at them.

Sharon, thanks!  I'll be glad when it's over and I'm praying that Max will not need surgery.

Lisa, I would hang my head except... I'm not sorry!  lol!

Mary, thank you.  Hoping for good outcomes all the way around!

Jan 07, 2010 09:53 PM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Susan, my young friend,

You do not look old enough to have a colonoscopy....

But I wish you luck and from what my sister says, you will not remember it.

Hugs to you and Max (watch out for those stories, they can come back to bite you later)(,

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

 

Jan 08, 2010 01:01 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Susan, I am so glad to hear you were cheered up by a combination of AR/Facebook.  I finally joined Facebook and I have done nothing with it because I just am not sure of the value of it to me.  You have shared a very encouraging story about the value of Facebook.  May God watch over you and your family and a heathly and swift (but not too fast if it helps get the BABES!!!) recovery for Max!  Could JJ sense that he was hurt?

Jan 08, 2010 10:49 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Susan, you are sooooo funny.. as is Paul.  He was so nice to relay that information.  And, it is so true.  Max will be ever so grateful for that break in years to come, trust me.  Hope you are doing well.  Didn't recognize the new photo until I went back again. Nice picture.  Take care...see you on FB!!! 

Jan 09, 2010 10:27 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Susan...As long as it's not mine (see your comment #29).  See I told you I'm not that nice.

Kate

P.S.  Is everything OK?

Jan 09, 2010 11:23 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Ann, I'm hoping the worst is behind him.  And I am old enough for the colonoscopy!!  

Bruce, you would have just as much fun on facebook as you do over here!  Thanks for the kind words.  xxoo

Suzanne, all is well.  See you soon on facebook!  xxoo

Kate, everything turned out fine.  Thanks!  And I'm going to give Lisa and Elaine your address!  I'm not that nice either!  xxoo

Jan 09, 2010 11:33 AM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Susan,

Yes, as mothers we hope the best for our children...  YOU ARE NOT old enough for one...there must have been some mistake by the DR>

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Jan 10, 2010 11:43 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Hi gang!  Max went in for his x-ray today and things look to be healing nicely.  We go back in two weeks to take another x-ray.  If all looks good, they'll cut the cast to a short cast, thereby freeing his elbow.  Thank God!  Thanks, as always for your support.  xxoo

Jan 11, 2010 07:13 AM