My Lobotomy

Yesterday was the first day of Fall. This is my favorite time of year. I remember taking trips to New Hampshire and renting a small cabin for a couple of days near Franconia notch. I loved the smell the woodstove generated and how crisp the morning air felt when I stepped out on the porch with my first cup of coffee. I loved wrapping myself in a blanket and sitting out there until my toes went a little numb. Today things are very different. It is 94 degrees in Texas. The air is still thick and humid. Went running Saturday and Sunday night and could not even catch a breeze. Just not the same.

I was at Barnes and Nobles on Saturday and came across the new book I am reading. It is called, My Lobotomy, A Memoir. It is written by Howard Dully and Charles Fleming. It is the true story of the life of Howard Dully. When Howard was 12, his step mother convinced his father that Howard's behavior would be better controlled through a lobotomy. A transorbital lobotomy was performed on Howard at the age of twelve by Dr. Walter Freeman. Although a Portuguese physician invented the lobotomy, Dr. Freeman ran with the procedure. His files indicate that he operated on more than 4000 patients with Howard being the youngest at twelve. This is probably one of the most disturbing books I have read in a long time. It is set in the 1950's and 60's when mental health was just not discussed and children were the property of their parents. The story recounts abuse, neglect and corporal punishment that Howard received at the hands of his step mother and father. It illustrates the power that parents have over the welfare of their children. Dr. Freeman met Howard and could not find the issues that his step mother repeatedly complained about, but went ahead with the surgery anyway. A good portion of the book is told by way of memories that his brothers have because he is unable to remember much past the surgery. I am halfway through the book and Howard is just about to be abandoned in an asylum by his ever so loving parents for the next few years of his life. I am disturbed by the book, but cannot put it down. Howard Dully lives today in San Jose California and works as a tour bus driver. He is married. Apparently this book is about triumph of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle. I am hoping to finish it today.

Judge OKs 'Hitler Youth' Buttons to Protest School Uniform Policy - Not sure if anyone saw this news article. I was watching an interview on CNN yesterday with mothers of two of the boys who are wearing these buttons. They are protesting because they put their children in public school and do not feel that they should be subject to school uniforms. One mother stated on CNN that, "the government should not have the right to tell her how to dress her children." Not really sure how I feel about this one. First, I don't think the children wearing the buttons actually understand what the image on the button conveys. I do not agree with a parent using their child as a walking billboard of protest. The children are the ones who are subject to punishment because of the buttons, not their parents who obviously made them. I wore a uniform for most of my childhood and truly grew up wearing it. It made little difference to me. Most of my friends wore uniforms in high school as well. Probably the only time you would see them in a tie to this day. I guess this debate will continue for years to come as more and more school districts try to adopt uniforms.