The Cotton and Silk book is a great history of how the politics of Central Asia have affected their culture and with it, their textiles.
The different powers that have swept over the area, from Tamerlane to Genghis Khan to the USSR, have impacted the available materials and markets. The basic cultural assumptions seem to have survived though, despite mass displacement and famines.
Some great illustrations of clothes and hats in this collection. Sleeves are long enough to cover the hands, and a lot of sparkle and tassels and complicated decorations, particularly on baby clothes, are believed to ward off the evil eye. Women's head dresses have a long back panel to cover the braid, same reason.
Some women's hems are left raw, unfinished, as a symbol of hope for more children, and, in children, the hope of healthy growth. Images such as the ram's horn, are seen as protective. Interestingly, the women's tall head dresses and dark face coverings, looking very ominous to onlookers, are often lined with brightly patterned fabrics, usually Russian printed cotton. Veiling has pretty much gone into disuse in modern days.
On to other grown up things, which I'm taking care of next week
It's the DNR (do not resuscitate) order, along with other instructions to medical personnel when I get to that point. It's the actual medical orders, to be signed by my doctor and copy with her files, copy on my fridge door.
Handsome Son is coming with me to the doctor meeting where doctor and I will review and sign. Seems like a good idea for him to meet my doctor under calm circumstances when I'm feeling pretty well, definitely lucid and able to decide these things.
Also for him it's useful to see what decisions there are. I already have a Living Will, aka Expression of Wishes on file and Mike has a copy, but that's about final illness. This one is specifically about last moments, when medical personnel are involved.
Not saying it's easy. Especially when I'm clawing my way back to health from this draggy old virus. But I don't want any dispute over it later, with medical personnel assuming life at all costs, as I believe they usually are supposed to.
Anyway I'll set it and forget it. Meanwhile wondering what to do with my wild and beautiful today..
Happy day everyone, enjoy whatever your day is full of!
The jackets (?) are very colorful though I wonder why, on some, the pretty fabric is on the inside and solid on the outside as the colorful cloth is only seen when donning the garment.
ReplyDeleteI have a very basic will but it does include a DNR. I do not subscribe to the fearful religious version that any life is better than no life but there are times when living isn't living, just an empty painful transition to the inevitable.
Is it safe to give my answer to the puzzle?
Not the answer, just a funny clue. I'm giving it another day before the Big Reveal (s)
DeleteI looked back and can't see any plain outsides. Stripes, as far as I can see.
You are so very, very wise to get these things in print and in order. We need to do that as well. Thank you for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteBest time is when you're feeling well!
DeleteBeautiful garments, though I imagine living in Central Asia, particularly in the era of Genghis Khan, was no picnic! I'm sure it's sobering to consider the DNR but bravo for thinking ahead and doing it. It's an unfortunate necessity of modern life.
ReplyDeleteI noticed how much hardship there was in every era. Even Genghis Khan paled in comparison to Stalin. But such fortitude to preserve what they could of their culture.
DeleteIt is good to have that DNR in place. It saves family the tough decision at a difficult time.
ReplyDeleteIt's particularly important to have it visible in the house, usually on the fridge, for incoming emts to spot quickly.
DeleteWe have wills but not the medical directives. It's good HS will be with you. It's not easy to think about but necessary. The textiles are really lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe Living Will is not a will. It has nothing to do with property. It's only about wishes for last illness. I have a property Will plus a Durable power of attorney in place, son named as contingent if Handsome Partner not available. His name is the same anyway, will probably save confusion.
DeleteI really should look into the whole end-of-life issue, including MAID. I guess you can only do so much, but you can do something.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what MAID is! You can do a lot to save your family from arguments with medics, great stress. I know from experience the pressure some doctors, surgeons the worst, can bring on families to agree to surgery, useless for an already dying patient. I'm sparing everyone that.
DeleteYou are wise to have all your medical and legal documents drawn up and in place well before you will need them. Far too many people let things like that slide because they are afraid of, or in denial about, the realities of aging and death.
ReplyDeleteIt's so unfair to the family. Likewise failing to declutter the house and leave instructions about the disposition of the contents. It's awful when adult children don't know what you'd have wanted.
DeleteThat’s very organised of you. I totally agree do it while your ok. I definitely do not want to be kept alive at all costs. Might have to look into it sooner rather than later I think.
ReplyDeleteThe clothes are absolutely stunning.
Angela, Handsome Partner and I wrote our wills, plus Durable power of attorney way back when we were almost as young as you. Not easy but we were so glad it was done. Particularly the POA because I had to use that many times in his last years.
DeleteMy father was 95 and living in aged care when he had his final stroke. One nurse wanted him sent to hospital and another assured me they would do everything to keep him alive. In a bloody nursing home. I think I might have raised my voice a tad when I said they would do no such thing - they would keep him comfortable. His last word was "ice-cream" and the gorgeous carer gave him some and he died that night in his sleep. It is grand that you are able to do what you are doing but so sad that it is necessary. Our medical profession need to be taught a bit more about quality over quantity.
ReplyDeleteThat is my rant for the day spoken in a very French accent because I cannot count!
Sounds as if my puzzle guess about your puzzle guess was right, if you follow me?
DeleteYes, exactly that scenario, stupid decisions driven by legal liability fears.
My sister, her husband and I lived together for thirty odd years. I love my sister who is rather unable to take a decision and move on it, and as I made her responsible for pulling my plug I led the parade to draw up documents. With me as backup, she decided to draw up her own will and Living Will and POA. Her husband could not bear my name on the line where his should have been, so he took the responsibility. From then on updates were easy, especially as he grew in understanding. Eventually he had to deal with the father, and became the leader of his own little band of siblings. Interesting how things get done. My sister would have talked herself blue in the face had not the first apple fallen from the tree of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteGood leadership from you, I'd say.
DeleteThose papers are a gruesome necessity.
ReplyDeleteExcept that they contain instructions for pain management as part of the situation.
DeleteThe thing most striking about the clothing is the use of colour. Beautiful. On the end of life wishes, my mum had a DNR. She came round from her 'should have killed her' heart attack but might have faded in a day or two (as did my grandmother) had it not been for medication. She was alive, medicated, bedridden and incoherent for another 4 months. 4 months that convinced both my siblings who sat with her that they would have not only DNR but a 'do not medicate' expression on their directions for end of life. Mum's heart could not be restored, she had known that for months before the attack, so the medication was not the promise of a potential return to health but simply prolonging a life that had become a burden to a woman who had always been active and had been prepared to go when the inevitable heart failure happened.
ReplyDeleteI think that situation is not prolonging life, it's prolonging death. I'm sorry your mother had to endure it.
DeleteInteresting to read your notes about the clothing and to see the ornamentation on the skull caps in particular.
ReplyDeleteYou've made me wonder now if our end-of-life papers include the DNR - will have to go and check into that to be sure. Prolonging death if there's no reasonable hope is definitely not what any of us want. We're actually kinder to our pets than we are to our humans.
Yes, I've often thought that the law allows more mercy and individual judgment about pets than about humans. Good to check your own wishes are recorded. Also lodged in your doctor's files.
DeleteMy wise parents taught us that a) a timely death is not to be feared (though untimely deaths can certainly be tragic), and b) have your end-of-life conversations and do your paperwork while you are healthy and lucid. It made everything so much easier at their respective passings. Glad you and Handsome Son are able to talk about the Difficult Stuff, and that you're all too aware of the need for DNR-on-the-fridge.
ReplyDeleteThat part of your post somewhat overshadowed the book review. It looks fascinating, judging by the photos you shared here.
Chris from Boise
It struck me as an interesting juxtaposition of life and death!
DeleteYes, important to talk about hard stuff. My family of origin was hopeless at it and I was determined to do better, having watched their examples. It's not easy to keep talking about your own death, but it's very good for your survivors.
You are so wise making these decisions now while you are able.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best steps we made together with my husband was concerning a DNR order. He now wears a bracelet so if the EMT's or Paramedics arrive and his heart has stopped they will not try to start it.
ReplyDeleteThat special bracelet is worn at all times.
The bracelet was ordered by the doctor who honored our wishes and signed the DNR order.
Hubby is at end stage COPD and has multiple health issues. He doesn't want to extend things if his heart gives up.
Tough choices. We did our work like that about 10 years ago.