I just received the following e-mail from my grandmother:

I'm tickled about Ms Pelosi being Speaker of the House! It brings
to mind about my Mother being an active Sufferegette--even tho she was
married (Clell approved of her activities, tho most husbands did NOT)
with one child or two, I was born in 1919 the year the bill was
past--don't know if I was in or of the womb... Anyway when the next
election approached, a pompous incumbent approached Mom when she was in
Grandpa Joe's store. He said in a confident fashion, "You Are going to
vote for me, aren't you, Rufina?"


she drew up to her full height and answered, "No Senator Big Belly, I'm
not, if you had had your vote--I wouldn't be able to vote!" Pass that
along to your daughters when they could appreciate it.
Love,
Gramma

Our foremothers did amazing things for us and our daughters. I only hope that I can pave the way somehow for my daughters, and theirs, in a similar fashion.

I've had a couple of interesting conversations lately that have led me to this entry.

The other day a friend called, she'd been looking on this weblog because her husband was diagnosed with food allergies. She was looking for my probiotic info. I THINK she found it, if not, Lori, it's linked in right there, just for you. The comment that I found interesting (and I apologize that this is not an accurate quote) was along the lines of that her husband thought that probiotic treatment was too hokey. I guess since the doctor, who gets some form of kickback from pharmaceutical companies who DON'T make such natural things as probiotics, but DO make such things as Claritin, Zantac and the like, didn't mention it, it must not be worth looking in to? I may be misrepresenting my friend on this one, but that was the impression that I got.

Add to that my best friend recently touted the fabulous outcomes we, and some other friends, have had using probiotics to her business partner, and her reply was "but I'd have to believe in it".

It's not Voodoo folks. It's not a religion. It's not a cult. It's science. The Physician's Desk Reference says (and I quote this again, having quoted it in my first piece):

The intestinal microflora are important for maturation of the immune system, the development of normal intestinal morphology and in order to maintain a chronic and immunologically balanced inflammatory response. The microflora reinforce the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa, helping in the prevention of the attachment of pathogenic microorganisms and the entry of allergens. Some members of the microflora may contribute to the body's requirements for certain vitamins, including biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin B12. Alteration of the microbial flora of the intestine, such as may occur with antibiotic use, disease and aging, can negatively affect its beneficial role.