Missing Factor: I would like to apologize for my friend here . . .

About This Blog

It started out as a place where I, a newly retired, frustrated writer, could post my rambling little self-indulgent essays where untold millions of readers could ignore them instead of just my wife. In that regard it was an unmitigated success.

Lately, however, its primary function has been evolving into being the record the world of the 50s through the 70s from the point of view of a boy with hemophilia, which would, of course, be me. I am convinced that one of the reasons I survived some of my more dramatic hemorrhages is because I knew my grandfather had survived even worse. If he could make it given the treatment he received, I knew I could make it.

Now there is yet another generation of little boys with hemophilia, and their parents, trying to make sense of it all. Many of the problems my brother and I faced have been resolved by advances in medicine, but the vast majority are still there causing parents and boys to stare at the ceiling long into the night wondering how they are going to cope with some issue. Perhaps, if they can see how I, and hopefully others, dealt with the same issues, it will take some of the fear out of the equation, and give them the confidence to find their own way. After all, if a schlep like me can do it, think of how well you will be able to.

I am moving all of the posts not related to hemophilia, hospitals, and other things that start with 'H' over to my other blogs (listed brazenly in the sidebars and navigation buttons in the header), and hope that one or two of you will see fit to visit them, if only to find out my opinion of pick-up trucks.

11 October 2008

I would like to apologize for my friend here . . .

Aside from the sister-in-law who lives in Michigan, it seems that the majority of the people wandering onto this blog are algebra students. At least I think they are algebra students. The reason I am not a retired architect instead of a retired bookseller is that my math abilities are comparable to my ability to fly. That is, largely a matter for my dreams. They could be physics or chemistry students for all I know, but the phrasing of their searches leads me to believe they are struggling with a math problem; and since algebra is the branch of mathematics I understand least, I assume that's the kind of math.

Anyway, these poor souls are doing Google searches for "missing factor" or some similar phrase, and Google obligingly directs them here. I imagine it can be quite frustrating to be desperately searching for the answer to a homework problem or help preparing for a test and suddenly find yourself looking at the ramblings of some old geezer.

For this I sincerely apologize. I hope the exam goes well, and that you do find an answer to your missing factor problem

If it is any help, the missing factor in my life has always been 9.