(Excerpt from story number 6)

Eyes...And Dark Circles

     Although Linda was discussing her nutritional problems with some of my sales staff, I could not help but notice the dark circles under her eyes. Allergies, kidney problems, or weak adrenal glands were my first thoughts. Unfortunately, my sales staff was so bewildered by her other crises that they paid no attention to her eyes. Finally, I was invited into the conversation for my opinion.
     Linda was allergic to soy, wheat, soft cheeses, whey, yogurt, and bread and yet could eat ice cream and drink milk. She had been to many medical doctors and several of our competitors, but to no avail. No one had an answer for her. Yes, she was on medication for her problem, but its success had been minimal. As I walked toward Linda, I noticed her head was tilted to one side. We were introduced, and she began telling me her story. As she talked, I looked for other obvious deficiencies. The most noticeable was revealed by her teeth. She had poor teeth displacement, my first clue suggesting a calcium deficiency. Her hair seemed dry, and as she talked her head continued tilting from one side to the other. Another clue, this one indicating weak adrenal glands, which would explain the dark circles under her eyes.
     I asked, "Do you have airborne allergies as well?" I knew the answer would be yes, and it was.
     "Do you have headaches?" Again, I knew the answer would be yes. She added that her headaches had been diagnosed as migraines.
     "Are you on medication for the migraines?"
     "Yes," she answered and then added "but to no avail."
     "Do you have episodes of itchy skin?"
     Another yes and then she said, "Especially when I have my breakouts from my eating allergies. Over the weekend I had a taste for cheese, and this is the result." She showed me several spots on her arms, upper legs, and tummy. "This really itches me."
     "May I touch your hand?" I asked.
     With a smile she answered yes by extending her hand and placing it into mine.
     One of my staff said, "Don't worry Linda, Bob always touches people's hands. It's for a reason."
     Her hands were definitely cold, too cold for weather that was currently in the high 90s.
     "Well?" she asked.
     "Do you also have cold feet?"

(This story is continued on page 39 of Look At Me, I'm Talking to You)



(Excerpt from story number 74)

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

     "Look. Look what you've done to my son!"
     Everyone in the store heard her loud voice, including my employees and my customers. Her manner convinced me that she wanted everyone to hear her, and everyone did stop to listen to her and what she was about to say.
     "I came in here last week just to buy some vitamins, and you, you Bob, suggested that I buy, no, you gave me the pills, and I gave them to my little David. I trusted you and look what happened to him. In less than a week, my little boy has become tolerable. Tolerable. How can I ever thank you? she asked.
     The tears that had been streaming down her face changed to heavy sobbing. One of my employees walked over and placed her arm around Miriam's shoulders and just held her until her crying lessened.
     Through her tears she said to her son, "David, go thank Mr. Bob for helping you to get better."
     David, who had just turned six, walked toward me, extending his hand to mine. His hand was just as moist as I remembered from last week...

(This story is continued on page 201 of Look At Me, I'm Talking to You)



(Story number 55)

Slumped Shoulders

     While waiting for my order at a local delicatessen, I noticed that one of the younger waitresses had very slumped shoulders. Slumped shoulders could be caused by trying to appear shorter, trying to hide excessive breast endowment, or by severe menstrual cramping.
     This young waitress seemed to fall into the third category. If she had been in my store with her mother, it would have been easy to approach her. Fortunately, I knew the manager of the deli so I asked to see her. Hopefully, she would be on duty at this time.
     "Hi, Bob, how can I help you" Elsie asked.
     "Elsie, how well do you know the young waitress with the ponytail?"
     "Very well, she's my daughter. Why?"
     "The way she's standing makes me think she has a nutritional deficiency. I've got to ask you a very personal question about her, if you don't mind."
     "Bob, I didn't know you can see deficiencies of vitamins. How do you do it?"
     "Anyone can do it; it just takes practice. It's okay to ask you then?"
     She nodded yes.
     "Does your daughter have severe menstrual cramping?"
     "Oh my gosh, does she ever. How did you know? She's on pain medication for it. She dreads having a period. What can be done?"

(This story is continued on page 158 of Look At Me, I'm Talking to You)



(Excert from story number 41)

Asthma

     I've seen people grimace with pain as the limited amount of oxygen they breathe in finally reaches their lungs. But seeing a child struggling to take a deep breath, or even trying to breather normally, hurts me almost as deeply as it hurts them.
     Sandy, a local newpaper salesperson, came into my store early one afternoon to bring me an ad copy I needed to proofread before publishing. She had two little children with her.
     "Hi, Bob I apologize for having to bring my children with me, I know it's unprofessional, but I had to pick them up earlier than usual from school."
     Sandy was a very aggressive salesperson for whom I had a lot of respect. I knew she was a divorced mother with two children, but I had not realized how young they were until seeing them that day.
     "Don't kid me, Sandy, you brought them with you to show them off," I said with a grin. "And they are beautiful children. My compliments to you."
     "Thank you. Yes, I think they are beautiful too. Bob, here's your ad copy. Proofread it and call me tomorrow if there are any corrections or additions. Excuse me for hurrying, but I want to get home as soon as possible."
     I could have just said, "thank you" and "goodbye" to Sandy and her children, but I noticed something I needed to ask her about.
     "Sandy, does your daughter always breathe through her mouth?"
     "What?" she asked.
     "I noticed that your daughter breathes through her mouth and not her nose. Chest cold, allergy, or asthma?"

(This story is continued on page 122 of Look At Me, I'm Talking to You.)