Stealing Words- SRA

I'm sat at my work table in the kitchen, preparing to write today's blog alongside my bucket of coffee.
My Shadow is watching every move after her morning walk and night curled up next to me and Mary on a comfy duvet.
I'm making sour bread later.
She will be watching every move no doubt.
Anxious bulldogs can be very needy,
It's a good job, I'm an old hand at all this.


I've been training up a new Samaritan recently and have asked him to shadow other experienced sams  in the weeks that follow. " Pick  and choose those great replies you hear other sams give their callers !" I advised " Be sure to steal them for your own interactions !"

We all steal words and phrases we hear others use.
Sometimes those words have such resonance they burn themselves in your own vocabulary for life.
All of us sponges...for the different, the funny.....the pertinent.

In the late 90s I nursed a somewhat taciturn man for many months.
He was a formidable character, every inch a stereotypical policeman from say a 1970s tv drama...sli butch, unsmiling and ever slightly distant....think Valquez from Aliens and you'll get where I'm coming from.
He was difficult to engage and only seemed to perk up when he was visited by his police colleagues both male and women.
One  policeman that visited seemed to be more smiley and less frivolous than the other visitors and I suspected with my gaydar at full beep that they may have been closeted lovers.
One day, when the visitor was leaving, I noticed my patient murmur " S R A" almost under his breath and this three letter goodbye was noticeably used too as a greeting after several visitations .
A week or who later , when I was teaching the patient how to manage his own bladder I asked him if I could ask a personal question and given the intimacy of the situation he surprisingly agreed , albeit  gruffly.
"When your mate comes to visit ....what does SRA mean?"
I busied myself with preparing the nursing equipment as he looked at me squarely and after a long pause  he said carefully
" It means  a Sudden Rush of Affection!" 

A hidden code between lovers

57 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:51 am

    After seeing Downton yesterday, I perhaps understand why such things as SRA exit.

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  2. That's really lovely.

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  3. Oh, I love that!

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  4. My heart just broke.

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  5. That picture of Dorothy begs for a kiss on her little forehead! What a sweet pic with her little pink tongue peeking out! ❤

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  6. Never heard that one before, which I suppose is the whole point of it being 'code'. Only wish there was someone here to use it on - someone other than a furry quadruped, I mean.

    Speaking of which, oh Dot's imploring expression above. If that doesn't win everyone over nothing will.

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    1. Careful what you wish for Ray

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    2. If you say so 😉

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    3. I wouldn't know. It's been years - nay, DECADES - since I had any romantic 'excitements'.

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  7. I thought it meant Satanic Ritual Abuse.

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  8. Barbara Anne2:23 pm

    I wonder if Dorothy is asking if she's there to stay or if she will be taken elsewhere today. She might need some reassurance or that kiss Marcia suggested.

    What a sweet story about your usually taciturn patient.

    Hugs!

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    1. She has followed me , even to the toilet , all day

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  9. Great story, my Dad was a taciturn policeman for 40 years but with a very tender heart.
    Dorothy is lovely but aren't Winnie and Mary jealous?
    Do you think Winnie recognizes D as the same breed?

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    1. Not jealous
      I have made it clear to Dorothy that Mary remains alpha female

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  10. I love your newest little dog, she's so sweet.

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  11. That face......looks either like love me more, or she did something bad you haven't found out about yet.

    Either way, ADORABLE!

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    1. She constantly looks guilty all of the time

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  12. There is undoubtedly an SRA look between Dorothy and you I suspect.

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  13. Barbara Anne3:01 pm

    Come to think of it, Dorothy is probably asking when your lap will come out from under your work table! :)

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    1. Winnie was just as clingy when she arrived

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  14. Tht is just so nice ... far better than a PDA any day.

    Dotty's eyes are speaking volumes, very similar to the looks I get from Mavis ❤ (Sorry, I should have used her full name... but she looks like a lovely little Dotty.)

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    1. She's followed me all day like a shadow

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  15. How touching and how sad. Glad they at least had that.

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  16. He must have thought very well of you John to share that with you and to say the words out loud at such a difficult time for him x

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    1. Funnily enough I don't think he did
      I think the moment was just right tonshare

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  17. You have a book to write someday, a good one.

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  18. Oh Dorothy seems right at home. What a wonderful family you have. Thank you for loving so freely. Not enough people have the love for home and fur kids and people that you do.

    Take care

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    1. Hi Connie
      She's infact asleep curled up with Mary as I type this

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  19. I love the code, although, like Raybeard, I have no one to share it with these days. Still, I'll tuck it away for the future.
    Dorothy looks like a sweet girl. What does Albert think of her?

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    1. Neither do I
      I used to share the code
      Always regularly too

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  20. Truthfully, that makes me sad. I think of all the people that had to hide themselves for so long. Pretending around everyone.

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    1. I don't remember the patient after he mobilised I think I was away in southport on a course

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  21. hopefully the days of having to hide will soon be over. what an awful way to live, not being able to be yourself! billy porter made a great speech at the emmy's last night.

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    1. I read about it and watched it on YouTube x

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  22. I've finally caught up with oh, so many entries. Thank you so much for all those pleasure you put into all our lives.

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  23. What a wonderful thing to share. And a precious sentiment.

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  24. What an adorable face... she looks as though she is on edge to be patted. Poor man, fancy not being able to be yourself; thank goodness that is all changing.

    Jo in Auckland

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  25. That is lovely indeed.

    And Dorothy is a very pretty girl.

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  26. I rather like the new John. No SRA, just the facts.

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  27. what a beautiful thing to share. But, perhaps it is a very popular thing...amongst other folks and it seemed odd to be asked about it?? who the hell knows. :) Still grand in my mind anyhow to know. Peace John Gray to you from Wisconsin.

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  28. Dorothy seems to have that SRA look in her eyes and hoping that she has found her forever home, lovely post today John.

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  29. What a wonderful face Dottie has and what a wonderful story you told. SRA.

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  30. Well that made me cry.

    Kisses to that smushy face.

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