I Was There For You

Where are you for me now?

I was reading my local newspaper this morning, and as I read the letters to the editor, I let them get to me.

One writer indicated that reform just wasn't justified. Others have said that if people don't have insurance it's their fault. Apparently, if you don't have insurance you're lazy.

Nope. Not lazy. I have a chronic illness, called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Lupus for short. I did not get it because of poor choices in my life. I was told by two different physicians that I would not see my 35th birthday. I'm 46 today, and healthy. Very healthy. Because I take care of myself. You wouldn't know to look at me that I've suffered a massive heart attack, pneumonia more times than I can count, nephritis, massive skin sores, plurisy, on and on.

Over all the years I've known I've had this disease, what have I done?

I've helped you. I've helped you with your children. Provided for them when you couldn't, or wouldn't. Protected them - sometimes from you.

I've rescued the pets you abandoned, and sometimes the ones you abused. I've rehabilitated others so that you could have a lifelong friend - one who was totally devoted to you.

I've made sure that there were things in this community for your enjoyment. For your quality of life. And you really, really enjoyed them!

I've stood longer, argued longer, and held my breath longer, so that you could get what you needed.

Your business is here because I thought you should be able to have it. Your home is liveable because I got involved when others wouldn't.

I've stepped out and provided you opportunities you didn't have without me.

In disasters, I was there when others weren't. And I was likely sick at the time. But I was still there. And your home still stands because I was.

I've paid for your meal & I've paid for your groceries, when you couldn't.

I've made sure that the least among us had what they needed. And I've not done it nearly enough. Neither have you.

I've stood between you and "the man", when you were about to be deprived. And you weren't.

I've found myself in the most amazing situations, and I rarely tell anyone about any of it. Some who know me well, know of some of these things. Even my husband doesn't know about everything, but he knows I'll always do something that needs to be done.

I've never, ever asked you for anything. Sometimes, when you had the opportunity to thank me, or asked me what you could do for me in return, I told you, "pass it on". I hope you have. But it wasn't required. I gave to you because I love you.

But - somehow, my health care isn't justified.

It's called heartache, because it actually hurts your heart.

As Relevance Goes

This is a Pinocchio Toilet Brush. It is available for sale here.

It would be interesting to note it's relevance alongside the Legislators who don't support meaningful Health Care Reform when they return to The Hill.

Drain the Swamp

My Dad passed away in May of 2000, he was 76. After he died, I was going through his personal papers and found things I'd expect, and serendipitously, some things I hope they'll find in my personal papers when I'm gone.

One of the latter items, a mimeographed copy, is posted in my office, said this:

"It is the moral duty of every company man to accept the unbelievable, anticipate the unknowable and obligate himself to the unthinkable.

However, it's hard to remember your objective was to drain the swamp when you're up to your ears in alligators."

It hangs in my office, and was written in Dad's own beautiful hand.

The last part of this would be my great advice to all those legislators who are seeking real health reform:

Drain the Swamp - forget the alligators. Let us take care of the alligators, you get back to the business at hand. We'll protect you when you need us...unless of course, you don't get that swamp drained like we asked you to.

Why Health Care Should NOT be Tied to Employment

If we made health care an individual program, rather than tying it to your employment - things in this country would look very different.

Consider this:

Jerry's wife had a difficult pregnancy when their daughter was born, and she suffers some minor health issues as a result. They're relatively minor, but are easily manageable with the proper care. Unfortunately, their daughter, now 4, has juvenile diabetes, which can also be well managed, but only if they have the medical coverage that Jerry is provided in his job.

Jerry's a mechanical engineer, and a big dreamer. He's developed a new technology, but he can't leave his employer to go develop it and market it, because he would no longer have the medical bennies he needs for his family.

If Jerry, his wife and his child all had coverage not tied to his work, he could leave his employer, make a huge contribution to his society (make a fortune) and take care of his family with no worries. Oh, and, there would be an open position at Jerry's company...for which a huge line of people would line up for, seeing there's such a shortage of good jobs.

There's a ton of Jerry's out there.

Then there's my brother:

My sister-in-law is a teacher. She's overdue to retire by four years, but yet, she still works to provide those bennies that they can't access otherwise. She makes pretty decent money as she's been teaching for 34 years. My brother's disabled, but isn't eligible for health care benefits such as medicaid or medicare. His wife has to continue to work until they're eligible for medicare in another 7 years. Oh, and my brother is uninsurable on his own since he's declared disabled, just not disabled enough.

Suppose they each had health care having nothing to do with work. Someone else would be able to have that teaching position, thereby employing another person.

There's a ton of people like my sister-in-law out there. Thousands upon thousands of people put off retirement because of just this issue.

And here's Bob:

Bob is a retired Marine. A decorated one at that. He's been separated from his wife for almost 20 years, but they've never divorced. She has a chronic disease and has always received the best care from the VA, due to the VA benefits that extend to her as Bob's wife.

Bob won't divorce her, because she can't get that care any other way. But the woman Bob's been seeing for the last couple years - while she thinks he's a good man for always making certain to still care for his ex - would like to marry him someday...but that's out of the question. Out of the question at least, until Bob's wife dies.

There's other Bob's out there.

And Elizabeth...

I've known Elizabeth for years, and she is in the most miserable excuse for a marriage. She has MS. Some days are better than others, but mostly it's one lousy day after another - especially when it comes to her husband Mac. He works at a local mill, and has excellent benefits. She accesses those benefits constantly because of her MS. Problem is, Mack beats the hell out of her, and he always has. Well, not always, it took him a few years to ramp up to actually physically beating her. But now, she can't leave him, because she'd have no health care. But the worst situation in that house, is that their pre-teen son, Jacob, has a congenital defect, and he wouldn't be able to continue the care he's had. Elizabeth doesn't care for herself and her care, but the kids' docs are so good, she can't risk losing them for his sake.

Go ask anyone in your local abused women's shelter...there's lots of Elizabeth's out there.

And duh, (DUH!) if all of a sudden, 46 million people had instant access to health care, have you thought about the mayhem to come up with enough people to serve all of these newly covered folks? Doctors, Nurses (of all flavors), pharmacies, hospitals and medical clinics (that would need to be built) and corresponding staff...pharmaceutical companies, bedpan manufacturers, computers, air conditioning, coffee machines for all these facilities...technology, telecommunications for same, classrooms and educators to teach them....cars and mass transit for them to travel in to their work destinations...shoe and uniform manufacturers, identification lanyard manufacturers, magazines for waiting rooms on and on an on...

And...AND...how would this free up businesses in not having to deal with the disastrous effects of health care costs on them? No more mandating coverage - mandates that have been difficult to disastrous to business. Businesses could take the money they save, and actually employ more people. There's a thought. Even though many would just pocket the savings as a healthier bottom line.

Employment Crisis solved.

Health Care Crisis solved.

Technology Bank restocked.

Battered Spouse issues eased.

Well, I guess I just solved it all. Next?

PS: I've actually heard the fact that there's not enough docs and hospitals to serve that many people bandied about as a valid excuse as to why health care reform would be disastrous. Go figure.

Picture graciously provided by James Garza, a Bay Area artist. Other work from James can be seen here

At Least Someone Does...

Went to "Hooterville" today.

This is where my husband grew up. All the characters from the old television show can be found there - Mr. Drucker, Mr. Haney, Ebb, Farmer Ziffel, and of course, Arnold the Pig.

Here's what I found that welcomed me today, as I drove into town:


The other side of the sign said, appropriately:

"GOD UNDERSTANDS".

Someone needs to.

Mud Wrestling Granny

My favorite part of the Cowlitz County Fair is, without a doubt, the Demolition Derby. Good ol' redneck fun.

Since moving my Mom up here a few years ago, she's gone with us every year, along with my Mother-in-law, who, for her sake, sat out this years' event.

Mom's handicapped, and as such, is assigned to the front row benches at the stadium. Read: handicapped folks are sitting ducks.

For what - you might ask?

This:










That soon turns into this:






She wasn't as happy as she looked, by the way.

The World May Heretofore End..Two Posts, 1 Day

Alright. Now I'm pissed. Steaming mad. Fuming.

The "save marriage for hate mongers" group has gone yet another step too far.

So I reciprocated.

A young girl, age 9 knocks on my door (just a few minutes ago), and asks me to sign a petition to "Keep Marriage Between a Man and a Woman". I looked around, and since I live a relatively low density urban location, I expected to see an appropriate escort for the girl. All I saw down the hill was a car and two other children of similar age at other houses.

I didn't want to scare the girl, but I asked her why on earth would she be doing this with her summer vacation? She said her family's church wanted them to do it. Regardless of the fact that I'd LOVE to publicize the name of the church doing this here, I know good people who go there (not to mention the pastor), and I know they don't agree with this. But...I will be talking to them tonight, I guarantee you.

This is the SECOND time that I have been hit up by a young girl for this petition. Last time was in front of a local store, where I did give her mother and her father what-to-for making her be the front person for their chicken-shit petition.

I -WE- are straight allies, or so they tell me we are called.

My best friend, Brian, is gay. My aunt is gay. My husband's college roommate is gay. And that list goes on and on.

Telling me, as the young lady was told to tell me, that "marriage is for raising a family..." I proceeded to tell her that I don't have children. I wasn't able to have my own children. So that means that I shouldn't be married, right? Her response: "I...uh...guess so." (she was getting really uncomfortable here). (I have a gazillion step-children by the way.)

I then asked her, "suppose you grow up and can't have children? And maybe that's the way God wants it...because otherwise, surely, you'd be able to have children, right? And you want to grow up and get married, right? So how would that work, if you couldn't have children?"

She started to cry. Yes, I made an abused child cry. But I think she'll remember it. And I hope someday, she'll think about it. I can only hope. You cannot think this all the way through and have it make sense.

HERE'S MY MESSAGE: IF YOU ARE USING YOUR CHILDREN AND TEACHING THEM THESE THINGS AND NOT TEACHING THEM TO THINK INSTEAD, YOU ARE ABUSING YOUR CHILDREN, MENTALLY & EMOTIONALLY. STOP IT.

Well Now...

I'm not sure what's going on, but for awhile now, I find myself with new Twitter followers that are self-described "conservative activists".

While I avoid describing myself -ever- in terms of liberal or conservative (I HATE being defined, it's so disingenuous for me), with the latest issues at least, I lean quite a lot more liberal than conservative.

I was raised a conservative, but have found that the principles espoused by modern conservatives do not work in a real world, which is where I live.

That all said, why are these people following me?

PS: I'm not return-following them, I don't need to be prompted to get any more riled up than I already do. So there. But I think I liked it better when the spammers were following me before Twitter cleaned them up. Oooh! Maybe Twitter can clean out the con.....