Health care reform emerging from the U.S. House of Representatives appears to include a Public Option. Just how that choice will occur, if it does, in the final bill the House and Senate members must formulate, then pass and send to the White House for our President’s signature, remains to be seen in the next few weeks, months ahead.
Bipartisan support for this bill has been abandoned by the sole Republican who earlier alarmed her political party by supporting in committee the bill’s formulation until the Public Option was added without the "trigger" element she wanted. Others in both political parties seem to lack the courage to step forward and vote positively for what the majority of the American people have said they want -- the Public Option.
I strongly urge reading Ronni Bennett’s recent discussion on “Time Goes By” – ‘The (Non)Public Option.’ She gives a succinct analysis on the bill-castrating “trigger,” also offering a view of what is really going on in Washington. She provides an excellent source link to a web site, Open Secrets, by which we can easily see some of the specific corporate and interest groups efforts to wield congressional influence. Their self-interest views may well take precedence in our legislators issue positions over those actions that would be in each individual citizen’s best interests – including yours and mine.
"Open Secrets" is an excellent credible web site reference, for now and in the future, that tracks the monies our duly elected Congressional persons in House and Senate accept in campaign contributions and provides other factual information. Everyone supporting any political party, also Independents, would be wise to read there exactly where the monies and the legislation come together.
"Follow the money!" in relation to specific issues before Congress. Being an intelligently informed citizen is especially needed now and in the decision-making process regarding whether to re-elect some of our Congresspersons on their next election day.
Presently, the correlation of that site’s data can inform us on such issues as health care reform. We may recognize a need to stress our favorable view for a Public Option to select Congresspersons to offset the weight of their political contributors unfavorable views. Your Representative’s and Senator’s name is easily located there.
What's especially interesting right now are the monies the health insurers and pharmaceutical companies are pouring into our Congresspersons’ campaign coffers.
We can be assured that these health care reform plans coming out of Congress are being tailored to be exactly to the benefit of those companies income and not our own best interests, especially if they eliminate the Public Option.
Once again the American people are being sold down the river. Far too many citizens are allowing themselves to be deceived into believing these companies and interest groups so-called compromises reflect legitimate bargaining. Their actions are part of a show-case design process in which they support, alternately protest, then acquiesce to some weakened plan variation. They are attempting to convincingly mislead the public into believing that they are genuinely seeking a solution to the health care issue instead of sincerely assisting with the development of a viable system that’s needed and best for our nation.
The insurance, pharmaceutical companies and their lobbyists are all about strengthening their monopolistic grip on the American health care purse contents. These companies have enlisted far too many of our Congresspersons who either directly or tacitly cater to them. Our nation's intense need for health care costs to decline will not occur except on a most superficial level, if at all, and costs will continue to rise unless private insurers are challenged with an alternative system giving everyone choices including a Public Option.
I care about the kind of country and government that will exist for each of us, our citizenry and future generations. This is not the time to throw up our hands in discouragement and swear off further advocacy for a Public Option, or to abandon our future voting privilege.
It is time now, and will continue to be time, to let our Congresspersons know our views and that we hold them accountable for their actions based on our informed knowledge.
We now have an unprecedented number of ways to communicate our views quickly and easily. Our taking action is always important during the best of times and the worst.
“The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
A truth as important today as when issued by Plato.
“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment."
Another truth of which we should be mindful from educator Robert M. Hutchins.
This is not to say we must dedicate every waking thought and action to focusing on issues of our day. We want to enjoy life, lead active lives in all respects, but we do need to devote some time to exercising our right and responsibility for living in these United States by participating in the striving democratic system within our republic.
Health care reform is one of the most critical and important issues of our time. Continuing to do our utmost to bring about needed health care changes including a Public Option may be the most crucial action we can take that will directly affect our own lives, significantly impact that of every American and future generations to come -- our legacy.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Third Year Blog Anniversary
Three years ago I took the great leap into the blogosphere with "Along The Way." I'm giving my blog a slightly new look for the second time. Launching my blog when I did was a consequence of accidental mouse clicking, coupled with my panic at having done so and lack of technical knowledge to rectify the situation.
I had been toying with the idea of starting a blog but had already intentionally passed twice on doing so. I first thought I might start on my husband's October birthday, and later on my own but did neither because my blog was not ready. I was awaiting some future to-be-determined date. I definitely was busy making plans. That said, I am reminded of one of my favorite sayings, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."
I fully expected first to acquire many new computer skills, create a unique appearing blog, shape and polish writing subject matter, establish categories about which I would write, and generally organize my blog in an orderly fashion before ever beginning publishing. Then when suddenly my blog was "out there" for all the world to see I lurched ahead. I had little idea of what I was doing but concluded the prospect of writing here was intriguing.
My technical skills were very limited as I had only started using a personal desktop computer a few months earlier. I could easily see the many attractive features I might want to adopt from various blogs I visited. My aspirations and expectations were to quickly learn how to adapt many of them for use on my own blog, but that was not as simple as I thought.
Primarily the difficulty for me was needing much more concentrated time than I had to devote to the different tasks. My expectation of coming to my computer for fifteen to twenty minute blocks daily or focusing an hour or two on acquiring more technical knowledge was not a realistic approach that worked for me. Given the events during that life period, I also had need for self-indulgent time which could waffle between extreme activity and doing nothing.
My reality was that I became what some might consider addicted to writing, of every kind. The fascination of connecting with all these interesting bloggers I had never personally met who were scattered about every U.S. State and around the world caught my attention. I enjoyed commenting on their blogs, and exchanging lengthy incredibly frequent emails with some. I can best describe my activities then, as I have before, that I was like a squirrel running madly round and round on a perpetual nonstop rotating wheel. Time to learn many technical skills could not fit into that regimen, much less allow me many instances to explore the rest of the Internet.
My periodic part time work in health care as a Speech-Language Pathologist demanded some preparation time. Though I was no longer providing inpatient and outpatient therapy in acute care hospitals, or a local rehabilitation hospital, the retirement community settings I primarily was serving could become very busy with complex therapeutic patient needs. In addition to their speech, language, voice, hearing, visual and cognitive problems, I was continuing to encounter many individuals with a wide range of eating/drinking/swallowing difficulties.
My husband's pre-mature death some five months before I started my blog was a major life adjustment for me that absorbed time in multiple ways, becoming much more complicated than I could ever have imagined. We had shared much but each of us had acquired our own niche of responsibilities that we pretty much left to one another. After his death I gradually began to encounter much he had routinely handled, for which I had then to assume responsibility. He had remarkably left information and records I found that were of great aid. There were also a multitude of "little things" of major proportion I had to ferret out on my own that erratically, but perpetually, surfaced when I least expected.
I've not recorded all my specific life ups and downs in writings over these past three years, but a glance at the archive postings frequency from one month to the next reveals a wide variation in blog post numbers. The reasons for this vary, but here are a few influencing factors. Sometimes the numbers reflect my emotional state. Other times they show how I self-imposed set publishing demands, and how, occasionally, I became disenchanted with my perceived blogging obligation, so I stopped writing.
Some other instances correlate with social activities, trips I've taken away from home, or when I've had visitors.
I have been genuinely interested in the topics about which I have written. Following that criteria I can always count on at least one reader, me, the person for whom I initially stated this blog was being written. Once again I have surprised myself with the realization as to how much I value all of you who come to read my words. You have proven over and over again what I've always believed. As much as we are all different in many ways, we are also very much the same in so many other ways. Our differences are what make life interesting for me. Our sameness is what causes me to feel a deep sense of belonging to others, such an important component for mind, body and spiritual health. Thanks to each of you for being you and sharing some of yourselves with me.
I had been toying with the idea of starting a blog but had already intentionally passed twice on doing so. I first thought I might start on my husband's October birthday, and later on my own but did neither because my blog was not ready. I was awaiting some future to-be-determined date. I definitely was busy making plans. That said, I am reminded of one of my favorite sayings, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."
I fully expected first to acquire many new computer skills, create a unique appearing blog, shape and polish writing subject matter, establish categories about which I would write, and generally organize my blog in an orderly fashion before ever beginning publishing. Then when suddenly my blog was "out there" for all the world to see I lurched ahead. I had little idea of what I was doing but concluded the prospect of writing here was intriguing.
My technical skills were very limited as I had only started using a personal desktop computer a few months earlier. I could easily see the many attractive features I might want to adopt from various blogs I visited. My aspirations and expectations were to quickly learn how to adapt many of them for use on my own blog, but that was not as simple as I thought.
Primarily the difficulty for me was needing much more concentrated time than I had to devote to the different tasks. My expectation of coming to my computer for fifteen to twenty minute blocks daily or focusing an hour or two on acquiring more technical knowledge was not a realistic approach that worked for me. Given the events during that life period, I also had need for self-indulgent time which could waffle between extreme activity and doing nothing.
My reality was that I became what some might consider addicted to writing, of every kind. The fascination of connecting with all these interesting bloggers I had never personally met who were scattered about every U.S. State and around the world caught my attention. I enjoyed commenting on their blogs, and exchanging lengthy incredibly frequent emails with some. I can best describe my activities then, as I have before, that I was like a squirrel running madly round and round on a perpetual nonstop rotating wheel. Time to learn many technical skills could not fit into that regimen, much less allow me many instances to explore the rest of the Internet.
My periodic part time work in health care as a Speech-Language Pathologist demanded some preparation time. Though I was no longer providing inpatient and outpatient therapy in acute care hospitals, or a local rehabilitation hospital, the retirement community settings I primarily was serving could become very busy with complex therapeutic patient needs. In addition to their speech, language, voice, hearing, visual and cognitive problems, I was continuing to encounter many individuals with a wide range of eating/drinking/swallowing difficulties.
My husband's pre-mature death some five months before I started my blog was a major life adjustment for me that absorbed time in multiple ways, becoming much more complicated than I could ever have imagined. We had shared much but each of us had acquired our own niche of responsibilities that we pretty much left to one another. After his death I gradually began to encounter much he had routinely handled, for which I had then to assume responsibility. He had remarkably left information and records I found that were of great aid. There were also a multitude of "little things" of major proportion I had to ferret out on my own that erratically, but perpetually, surfaced when I least expected.
I've not recorded all my specific life ups and downs in writings over these past three years, but a glance at the archive postings frequency from one month to the next reveals a wide variation in blog post numbers. The reasons for this vary, but here are a few influencing factors. Sometimes the numbers reflect my emotional state. Other times they show how I self-imposed set publishing demands, and how, occasionally, I became disenchanted with my perceived blogging obligation, so I stopped writing.
Some other instances correlate with social activities, trips I've taken away from home, or when I've had visitors.
I have been genuinely interested in the topics about which I have written. Following that criteria I can always count on at least one reader, me, the person for whom I initially stated this blog was being written. Once again I have surprised myself with the realization as to how much I value all of you who come to read my words. You have proven over and over again what I've always believed. As much as we are all different in many ways, we are also very much the same in so many other ways. Our differences are what make life interesting for me. Our sameness is what causes me to feel a deep sense of belonging to others, such an important component for mind, body and spiritual health. Thanks to each of you for being you and sharing some of yourselves with me.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Almost Forgot ..... A Special Occasion
My mail arrived containing an envelope that clearly looked and felt like a greeting card of some sort was inside. I wondered to my self what was the occasion that would prompt a card? I carefully slid the letter opener along the envelopes flap, removed the card and read the words that answered my question .....
H A P P Y
B I R T H D A Y !
Why, yes, I realized, I am another year older.
The sentiments inside the card brought tears to my eyes as I knew they were heartfelt personal expressions from the sender.
Do others tend to forget their birthdays, too, as they've gotten older, I wonder?
Of course, the day rarely goes unnoticed by others who care about us so we aren't likely to completely forget the day, and I don't want to. That card arrived yesterday, the day before my birthday which is today, so I'll have all day long to celebrate.
Last year at this time I was visiting my son and his wife. We drove to northern Michigan where we enjoyed dinner with his wife's parents. Coincidentally, my daughter-in-law's mother's birthday falls on the same date as mine, or is it that my birthday falls on the same date as hers? A dear friend who lived in Florida and I also shared the same birth date.
I passed on a last minute opportunity suggested by friends a couple weeks ago for a long desired repeat of a driving trip my husband and I took years ago up the east coast to Maine during peak fall colors. My friends flight east leaves today. Maybe another year. We'll enjoy their photo journal after they return and we experience one of our laughter-filled weekends together.
You may check WeatherChannel.com for fall foliage maps across the United States. Some lovely fall photos can be seen on that web site, also.
Time for me to start celebrating. This song holds special significance to me. I initially heard this musical arrangement at my then very young daughter's first dance recital. I think I'll listen to it again today.
Kool and the Gang's YouTube video can't be embedded so I'll have to click on this link to "Celebration."Why don't you join me?
H A P P Y
B I R T H D A Y !
Why, yes, I realized, I am another year older.
The sentiments inside the card brought tears to my eyes as I knew they were heartfelt personal expressions from the sender.
Do others tend to forget their birthdays, too, as they've gotten older, I wonder?
Of course, the day rarely goes unnoticed by others who care about us so we aren't likely to completely forget the day, and I don't want to. That card arrived yesterday, the day before my birthday which is today, so I'll have all day long to celebrate.
Last year at this time I was visiting my son and his wife. We drove to northern Michigan where we enjoyed dinner with his wife's parents. Coincidentally, my daughter-in-law's mother's birthday falls on the same date as mine, or is it that my birthday falls on the same date as hers? A dear friend who lived in Florida and I also shared the same birth date.
I passed on a last minute opportunity suggested by friends a couple weeks ago for a long desired repeat of a driving trip my husband and I took years ago up the east coast to Maine during peak fall colors. My friends flight east leaves today. Maybe another year. We'll enjoy their photo journal after they return and we experience one of our laughter-filled weekends together.
You may check WeatherChannel.com for fall foliage maps across the United States. Some lovely fall photos can be seen on that web site, also.
Time for me to start celebrating. This song holds special significance to me. I initially heard this musical arrangement at my then very young daughter's first dance recital. I think I'll listen to it again today.
Kool and the Gang's YouTube video can't be embedded so I'll have to click on this link to "Celebration."Why don't you join me?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Climate Change - Blog Action Day
This is Blog Action Day! Addressing the very serious topic of climate change in a superb informative colorful concise photo and link-filled article is the writer at "Darlene's Hodgepodge."
I strongly urge readers to click on the link above and acquaint yourselves with the myriad issues facing our world today -- not to be discouraged, depressed or frightened, but to discern what each of us in our own small way can do to mitigate some of the effects. We can choose ways in which to adapt our own lives as we adjust to these climate changes.
We feel these changes in California as we cope with drought. Our city and water company have instituted some voluntary conservation measures. These consist of determining a typical range of water usage for various size households. Water rate charges will be broken down into increasingly larger amounts with pricing accordingly. Watering restrictions for our yards, washing autos continues to be voluntary but likely those will begin to become more specified and limiting. Soon dollar penalties and fines will likely be administered.
I am in the process of converting part of my yard to drought resistant plants, eliminating some grass in this normally desert-like area of Southern California.
I will write more about this in the future.
I am enthusiastic about learning better ways in which to adapt to our environment and determining how to best preserve for future generations this spectacular planet on which we are privileged to live. I hope you are, too.
I strongly urge readers to click on the link above and acquaint yourselves with the myriad issues facing our world today -- not to be discouraged, depressed or frightened, but to discern what each of us in our own small way can do to mitigate some of the effects. We can choose ways in which to adapt our own lives as we adjust to these climate changes.
We feel these changes in California as we cope with drought. Our city and water company have instituted some voluntary conservation measures. These consist of determining a typical range of water usage for various size households. Water rate charges will be broken down into increasingly larger amounts with pricing accordingly. Watering restrictions for our yards, washing autos continues to be voluntary but likely those will begin to become more specified and limiting. Soon dollar penalties and fines will likely be administered.
I am in the process of converting part of my yard to drought resistant plants, eliminating some grass in this normally desert-like area of Southern California.
I will write more about this in the future.
I am enthusiastic about learning better ways in which to adapt to our environment and determining how to best preserve for future generations this spectacular planet on which we are privileged to live. I hope you are, too.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Blogs of Interest
During the past months I slipped into my blog roll without fanfare some more blogs I enjoy visiting. They deserve a bit more attention in case you aren’t already aware of them and haven’t already been visiting them.
“Photoblogging In Paris” features the photographic delights that Claude shares with us from Paris and her travels elsewhere.
I first enjoyed Claude’s commentary and photos in her blog titled “Blogging In Paris.”
Claude has created a new blog emphasizing her photography. I am ever more mesmerized by the wide range of colorful photos she offers from that of the simplest objects, ancient to current architectural locations, spectacular scenes and lovely flowers that bring much viewing pleasure. Her most recent post visually showcases her trip plans to a faraway exotic location. I’m looking forward to the forthcoming photographs.
"Darlene’s Hodgepodge" is a most enjoyable visit with a variety of interesting commentary from the humorous to extremely serious. Her Southwest perspective includes sharing photos and family accounts that enable me to know her better. Sometimes pithy observations on current pertinent issues accentuate her advocacy on matters such as health care reform that is of such vital concern today.
Darlene evidences such a positive outlook that encourages me on effectively adjusting to health changes as they occur throughout our lives. She has had the unique experience of receiving a cochlear implant to enable her to hear again, some of the details of which she has interestingly shared. Most recently I’ve been fascinated with her occasional accounts of the re-learning process required to appreciate the pleasures of listening to music again.
"Hattie’s Web" takes me many places including to Hawaii’s Big Island which holds special personal interest to me. I’m always interested in what’s happening with Pele’, the periodically erupting volcano whose continuing lava flow into the Pacific Ocean is actually increasing that State’s size. What other U.S. State can say their land mass is growing? If Pele’ begins ‘dancing,’ as I like to characterize what happens when her lava flows, Hattie will know and share her observations. During Pele’s long quiet times I can enjoy the variety of Hattie’s commentary.
I’ve been virtually traveling with Hattie recently to some delightful European locations. Now that she has returned home she’s written a fascinating piece providing a list with brief reviews of many books she’s been reading. Hattie is not shy about expressing her views on the vital issues affecting Island life locally and nationally, often raising broad-ranging ideas that are important to me, too, on the Mainland.
Hope you enjoy visiting these bloggers as much as I do. I’ll be adding some new blogs I've recently started reading very soon.
“Photoblogging In Paris” features the photographic delights that Claude shares with us from Paris and her travels elsewhere.
I first enjoyed Claude’s commentary and photos in her blog titled “Blogging In Paris.”
Claude has created a new blog emphasizing her photography. I am ever more mesmerized by the wide range of colorful photos she offers from that of the simplest objects, ancient to current architectural locations, spectacular scenes and lovely flowers that bring much viewing pleasure. Her most recent post visually showcases her trip plans to a faraway exotic location. I’m looking forward to the forthcoming photographs.
"Darlene’s Hodgepodge" is a most enjoyable visit with a variety of interesting commentary from the humorous to extremely serious. Her Southwest perspective includes sharing photos and family accounts that enable me to know her better. Sometimes pithy observations on current pertinent issues accentuate her advocacy on matters such as health care reform that is of such vital concern today.
Darlene evidences such a positive outlook that encourages me on effectively adjusting to health changes as they occur throughout our lives. She has had the unique experience of receiving a cochlear implant to enable her to hear again, some of the details of which she has interestingly shared. Most recently I’ve been fascinated with her occasional accounts of the re-learning process required to appreciate the pleasures of listening to music again.
"Hattie’s Web" takes me many places including to Hawaii’s Big Island which holds special personal interest to me. I’m always interested in what’s happening with Pele’, the periodically erupting volcano whose continuing lava flow into the Pacific Ocean is actually increasing that State’s size. What other U.S. State can say their land mass is growing? If Pele’ begins ‘dancing,’ as I like to characterize what happens when her lava flows, Hattie will know and share her observations. During Pele’s long quiet times I can enjoy the variety of Hattie’s commentary.
I’ve been virtually traveling with Hattie recently to some delightful European locations. Now that she has returned home she’s written a fascinating piece providing a list with brief reviews of many books she’s been reading. Hattie is not shy about expressing her views on the vital issues affecting Island life locally and nationally, often raising broad-ranging ideas that are important to me, too, on the Mainland.
Hope you enjoy visiting these bloggers as much as I do. I’ll be adding some new blogs I've recently started reading very soon.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Special Dates Bring Memories
This has been a significant annual date to me for more than forty years -- over half of my lifetime. Remembrances from other years of this day have kept slipping into my thoughts ever since this month began. This is the important date when our family celebrated my husband's birthday, the date I lovingly remember and on which I prefer to focus rather than that other date on which he physically departed this life.
This date has threads to other times that join in my thoughts to this one. One such date that always enters my mind is when we wed, so I usually have similar memory triggers earlier in the year when that month arrives. I recall how we conspired to keep secret from family, friends, and co-workers the fact we were getting married that evening after we each finished work. Ostensibly, we were going on separate unrelated vacations that happened to coincide. I didn't know until later that he had confided to his best friend our plans, because the friend came from out of town and always stayed overnight on that weeknight at my husband's apartment.
This mutual friend of ours, my husband's long time best friend, commuted some distance every day from northern Ohio to central Ohio to perform with the musical quintet on the live television show where my husband and I met. This was the one night a week when the friend's schedule allowed him to stay overnight and not have to make that long drive from his home to the studio for an early morning air time. My husband told me later he couldn't just give our friend the key and not explain why he wouldn't be there. I thought, I probably could have. But I realized he had a lot of history with this friend since they had met in college about fifteen years earlier; were bound also by their professional connection in my husband's various jazz musical instrumental and vocal groups. My local relationships didn't have the same depth of time as his, having existed for only three or four years beginning when I moved to that city.
After we returned from our honeymoon trip we learned that friend had confided our wedding news to another of their close friends, a casual friend of mine. This illustrious group had all been bachelors together as I mentioned recently in this link to my "Route 66, Music, Memories" piece noting they had shared a cross country driving trip. Only on returning from our honeymoon did we learn how precariously close we had come to being subjected to the humor and whims of these friends vivid imaginations of how best to welcome us back to our apartment on our wedding night. I had already moved my belongings to my husband's bachelor abode so we both could immediately begin living there. Spending our wedding night in what was now our apartment was the plan, then we could leisurely leave whenever we pleased the next day for an extensive driving trip to include Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
I'm still not sure to this day how or why these buddies managed to restrain themselves from instigating some of their hastily planned mayhem during the time we were being wed. They even resisted initiating any pranks while we were gone on our trip. Maybe they were afraid they wouldn't have adequate time in our apartment before we returned following the ceremony, since they didn't know whether or not we had additional plans that night. We did, and went out to dinner after saying our vows. Also, they might not have wanted to risk us catching them in our apartment. Should we arrive unexpectedly a lot might have been happening between the bride and groom once the downstairs only entry or exit door was closed and we were climbing up those stairs. They might have thought about the possibilities and determined the experience might best not be shared among so many of us.
They're really quite wonderful guys so maybe they had compassionate feelings. Still, there's always the possibility they might have been intimidated by how I might react since they didn't know me nearly as well as they did my husband. Come to think of it, maybe, pure and simple, they didn't want to antagonize my husband. We never knew. I'm sure they spent some enjoyable hours plotting what they might do, trying to figure out if they could get away with it. To this day I'm not convinced they ever admitted all they had in mind. They had great fun sharing with us a few commonplace activities they had resisted initiating, including short-sheeting our bed and removing all the labels from the canned goods on my husband's kitchen shelves.
The memory threads from my husband's birth date lead to additional highly significant memories. These select annual dates in differing months are the ones in which our children were born. We shared events unique unto themselves surrounding our babies births that were separated by a few years in different states on opposite sides of the country. We were, indeed, such ecstatic parents -- this couple that had been so busy living life that for many years they had made no time for marriage and had never seriously contemplated bringing new lives into this world.
So, this date my mind is filled with episodic laughter, my thoughts are flooded with many memories and my heart is overflowing with love. I think of our children and now grandchild. As tears fill my eyes to the brim, I am so proud and grateful they and their families are in my life. Somewhere I think their father knows we're thinking of him with much love.
This date has threads to other times that join in my thoughts to this one. One such date that always enters my mind is when we wed, so I usually have similar memory triggers earlier in the year when that month arrives. I recall how we conspired to keep secret from family, friends, and co-workers the fact we were getting married that evening after we each finished work. Ostensibly, we were going on separate unrelated vacations that happened to coincide. I didn't know until later that he had confided to his best friend our plans, because the friend came from out of town and always stayed overnight on that weeknight at my husband's apartment.
This mutual friend of ours, my husband's long time best friend, commuted some distance every day from northern Ohio to central Ohio to perform with the musical quintet on the live television show where my husband and I met. This was the one night a week when the friend's schedule allowed him to stay overnight and not have to make that long drive from his home to the studio for an early morning air time. My husband told me later he couldn't just give our friend the key and not explain why he wouldn't be there. I thought, I probably could have. But I realized he had a lot of history with this friend since they had met in college about fifteen years earlier; were bound also by their professional connection in my husband's various jazz musical instrumental and vocal groups. My local relationships didn't have the same depth of time as his, having existed for only three or four years beginning when I moved to that city.
After we returned from our honeymoon trip we learned that friend had confided our wedding news to another of their close friends, a casual friend of mine. This illustrious group had all been bachelors together as I mentioned recently in this link to my "Route 66, Music, Memories" piece noting they had shared a cross country driving trip. Only on returning from our honeymoon did we learn how precariously close we had come to being subjected to the humor and whims of these friends vivid imaginations of how best to welcome us back to our apartment on our wedding night. I had already moved my belongings to my husband's bachelor abode so we both could immediately begin living there. Spending our wedding night in what was now our apartment was the plan, then we could leisurely leave whenever we pleased the next day for an extensive driving trip to include Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
I'm still not sure to this day how or why these buddies managed to restrain themselves from instigating some of their hastily planned mayhem during the time we were being wed. They even resisted initiating any pranks while we were gone on our trip. Maybe they were afraid they wouldn't have adequate time in our apartment before we returned following the ceremony, since they didn't know whether or not we had additional plans that night. We did, and went out to dinner after saying our vows. Also, they might not have wanted to risk us catching them in our apartment. Should we arrive unexpectedly a lot might have been happening between the bride and groom once the downstairs only entry or exit door was closed and we were climbing up those stairs. They might have thought about the possibilities and determined the experience might best not be shared among so many of us.
They're really quite wonderful guys so maybe they had compassionate feelings. Still, there's always the possibility they might have been intimidated by how I might react since they didn't know me nearly as well as they did my husband. Come to think of it, maybe, pure and simple, they didn't want to antagonize my husband. We never knew. I'm sure they spent some enjoyable hours plotting what they might do, trying to figure out if they could get away with it. To this day I'm not convinced they ever admitted all they had in mind. They had great fun sharing with us a few commonplace activities they had resisted initiating, including short-sheeting our bed and removing all the labels from the canned goods on my husband's kitchen shelves.
The memory threads from my husband's birth date lead to additional highly significant memories. These select annual dates in differing months are the ones in which our children were born. We shared events unique unto themselves surrounding our babies births that were separated by a few years in different states on opposite sides of the country. We were, indeed, such ecstatic parents -- this couple that had been so busy living life that for many years they had made no time for marriage and had never seriously contemplated bringing new lives into this world.
So, this date my mind is filled with episodic laughter, my thoughts are flooded with many memories and my heart is overflowing with love. I think of our children and now grandchild. As tears fill my eyes to the brim, I am so proud and grateful they and their families are in my life. Somewhere I think their father knows we're thinking of him with much love.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Preparation for Next 50 Years -- Again
Almost twenty-five years have passed since I sought a fifty-year medical check up to prepare for my next fifty years. I recall telling my doctor, in part seriously and partly in jest, I was planning to live to 100 years of age, so needed to ready myself. Of course, I explained, my intent was to optimize my physical health. I also emphasized quality of life was an important issue, so my mental and spiritual health were also vital components to aid in reaching my goal.
My then general practitioner medical doctor and I had established an ideal patient-doctor relationship by my standards. His approach epitomized to me the mutually interactive collaboration most effective for a doctor to provide optimal patient care, at least with me. When there were serious matters we could be serious, but we laughed a lot other times. His examination’s result confirmed that considering the wear and tear of the first fifty years of life to which my person had been subjected, I was in pretty good condition. My body was probably carrying about twenty pounds more weight than needed but I was confident I could drop that when I made the effort to do so. After all, at forty years I had started bike riding, successfully ridding myself of extra pounds I had kept those years following my childrens birth.
Earlier years when in graduate school I unintentionally caused myself a potentially serious spinal disc problem that with effort I had effectively overcome. During that time there were family stresses with the vagaries of young children becoming teenagers, a dedicated husband coping with professional issues along with the beginnings of his own medical problems, and my additional struggles intertwined with my dear mother’s care, especially after her stroke. In those ensuing years for myself I had regrettably been less attentive to or successful in avoiding the body effects from constant long term distresses that cause unhealthy chemical releases into the system.
Still, I had a naturally positive attitude. I knew relaxation and imaging techniques, but may not have utilized them as much as I needed. I neglected to maintain some sort of exercise regimen, was careless with my eating habits and may have reaped the consequences of too many years of minimal erratic sleep patterns that were continuing even then. Eventually parent caregiving following my mother’s death evolved into increasingly complex spousal coping complicated by my husband’s declining health.
I did take care of myself as much as possible but probably not in as beneficial a way as I might have. When some pressures released I tended to think I deserved to reward myself with periods of unstructured time for having survived years of what seemed like 24/7/365 scheduled routines. So exercise, eating, sleep habits remained unaltered. My doctor of many years died and though my new younger doctor was simultaneously admonishing and supportive as he could be, the relationship was not the same. There was too much history in dealing with me, the whole person, that the new physician would never know, nor given what health care had become would there be time to delve into such factors had I been so inclined, which I was not.
My husband’s unexpected sudden death seemed premature despite his increasing health problems. A few years spent adjusting to that major life change had to pass before I finally began to focus on core life planning for my future. The past year or two I gradually reached the conclusion I needed to get myself into the best condition possible. Coincidentally, at that time various medical issues periodically developed as deterrents. I persisted in viewing these problems as only temporary as I became determined I would eventually initiate my plan.
Just as I concluded I could safely start I experienced what at first seemed another medical delay, but one I was able to turn into a motivating factor. That impetus came from some of my body parts sending me strong, sometimes painful messages. Not only have I been neglectful but the question arose in my mind as to whether I might have waited too long to begin re-invigorating my system physically and just what would be my limits.
Well, I’m convinced now that it’s never too late to begin some sort of physical exercise program. Intellectually, I knew this and had someone asked me I would have told them so. Now I know it in quite a different way from the first hand experience of what I’m learning through a regimen of physical therapy I’m receiving. I have been able to integrate my own plan with those exercises that I’ve been able to implement over the past three months.
Meanwhile, I’ve been hearing media references to increasing belief that future life expectancy may well be extended beyond the current 70+ and 80+ years, especially since more people now are living into the 100’s. Speculation is that future generations may well experience 120 year plus life spans. Such news has given me cause to re-examine my whole life plan. I’ll be sharing here more on what I’m doing on this topic in the future.
So it is that I have concluded I may well have another fifty years ahead of me. I’m not going to fool around when it comes to rectifying some of my shortcomings caring for my mind, body and spirit this next fifty years. I’ve already started with major emphasis on the body, so maybe I’ll make it to 121 years because I’m getting a years head start.
My then general practitioner medical doctor and I had established an ideal patient-doctor relationship by my standards. His approach epitomized to me the mutually interactive collaboration most effective for a doctor to provide optimal patient care, at least with me. When there were serious matters we could be serious, but we laughed a lot other times. His examination’s result confirmed that considering the wear and tear of the first fifty years of life to which my person had been subjected, I was in pretty good condition. My body was probably carrying about twenty pounds more weight than needed but I was confident I could drop that when I made the effort to do so. After all, at forty years I had started bike riding, successfully ridding myself of extra pounds I had kept those years following my childrens birth.
Earlier years when in graduate school I unintentionally caused myself a potentially serious spinal disc problem that with effort I had effectively overcome. During that time there were family stresses with the vagaries of young children becoming teenagers, a dedicated husband coping with professional issues along with the beginnings of his own medical problems, and my additional struggles intertwined with my dear mother’s care, especially after her stroke. In those ensuing years for myself I had regrettably been less attentive to or successful in avoiding the body effects from constant long term distresses that cause unhealthy chemical releases into the system.
Still, I had a naturally positive attitude. I knew relaxation and imaging techniques, but may not have utilized them as much as I needed. I neglected to maintain some sort of exercise regimen, was careless with my eating habits and may have reaped the consequences of too many years of minimal erratic sleep patterns that were continuing even then. Eventually parent caregiving following my mother’s death evolved into increasingly complex spousal coping complicated by my husband’s declining health.
I did take care of myself as much as possible but probably not in as beneficial a way as I might have. When some pressures released I tended to think I deserved to reward myself with periods of unstructured time for having survived years of what seemed like 24/7/365 scheduled routines. So exercise, eating, sleep habits remained unaltered. My doctor of many years died and though my new younger doctor was simultaneously admonishing and supportive as he could be, the relationship was not the same. There was too much history in dealing with me, the whole person, that the new physician would never know, nor given what health care had become would there be time to delve into such factors had I been so inclined, which I was not.
My husband’s unexpected sudden death seemed premature despite his increasing health problems. A few years spent adjusting to that major life change had to pass before I finally began to focus on core life planning for my future. The past year or two I gradually reached the conclusion I needed to get myself into the best condition possible. Coincidentally, at that time various medical issues periodically developed as deterrents. I persisted in viewing these problems as only temporary as I became determined I would eventually initiate my plan.
Just as I concluded I could safely start I experienced what at first seemed another medical delay, but one I was able to turn into a motivating factor. That impetus came from some of my body parts sending me strong, sometimes painful messages. Not only have I been neglectful but the question arose in my mind as to whether I might have waited too long to begin re-invigorating my system physically and just what would be my limits.
Well, I’m convinced now that it’s never too late to begin some sort of physical exercise program. Intellectually, I knew this and had someone asked me I would have told them so. Now I know it in quite a different way from the first hand experience of what I’m learning through a regimen of physical therapy I’m receiving. I have been able to integrate my own plan with those exercises that I’ve been able to implement over the past three months.
Meanwhile, I’ve been hearing media references to increasing belief that future life expectancy may well be extended beyond the current 70+ and 80+ years, especially since more people now are living into the 100’s. Speculation is that future generations may well experience 120 year plus life spans. Such news has given me cause to re-examine my whole life plan. I’ll be sharing here more on what I’m doing on this topic in the future.
So it is that I have concluded I may well have another fifty years ahead of me. I’m not going to fool around when it comes to rectifying some of my shortcomings caring for my mind, body and spirit this next fifty years. I’ve already started with major emphasis on the body, so maybe I’ll make it to 121 years because I’m getting a years head start.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Senate Votes "No" to Private Option Insurance
Please note this Senate action was a committee vote, so there still is more work to do to obtain alternatives to insurance companies offerings only.
The Single Payer insurance option failed to garner enough votes to pass in the Senate Tuesday, 9/28/09 Bloomberg News reports. Two Democrats with Max Baucus, the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, scuttled two amendments to establish an insurance "public option" plan as competition with the many private insurers we have now.
Further specific information is available by clicking on the link above to the Bloomberg site. Of special interest is an amendment impacting lawmakers, aides and all other federal employees regarding the source of their insurance, but that doesn't take effect until after 2013.
The Single Payer insurance option failed to garner enough votes to pass in the Senate Tuesday, 9/28/09 Bloomberg News reports. Two Democrats with Max Baucus, the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, scuttled two amendments to establish an insurance "public option" plan as competition with the many private insurers we have now.
Further specific information is available by clicking on the link above to the Bloomberg site. Of special interest is an amendment impacting lawmakers, aides and all other federal employees regarding the source of their insurance, but that doesn't take effect until after 2013.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Individual Action Needed in Health Care Debate
Individual actions can still make a difference in the health care debate.
This thought is the focus of my Letter to the Editor (click on the link) appearing in both the print and online editions in the current Saturday, September 26, 2009 local bi-weekly newspaper, The Claremont Courier.
There is another significant article in The Courier,in an opinion piece “My Side of the line” “Can a blog help sell newspapers?” by Peter Weinberger, Editor and Publisher for which I’ve provided a link above. His article could be the subject for a whole other blog post here, but for now I just want to say this.
I’m very proud of our local newspaper. Our city is fortunate that Mr. Weinberger left an east coast news position in recent years to assume the responsibility for our newspaper when his parent owners retired. I like his progressive attitude and foresight in embracing the Internet and paper print editions. As you’ll note in his article he relates a story that demonstrates how a blogger benefited magazine subscriptions for The Atlantic. All bloggers and newspaper aficionados want to read what he says and think about how we can be mutually supportive for everyone’s benefit including non-bloggers and those who don't use the Internet.
My Letter to the Editor expresses concern about the current health care debates in Congress. I reference Ronni Bennett’s recent post “The Baucus Health Care Reform Bill” urging readers to access that post and blog for future up to date information on the progressive evolution of any health care reform bill(s.) Importantly, readers are urged to actively pursue their Congresspersons to express their views so all may receive health care and strongly urge them to meaningful action.
I conclude my letter by directing comments specifically to my Republican Representative, David Dreier. He has failed to recognize or at least acknowledge that a large number of constituents he represents in our community want a health care plan for all our citizens. There are many other views he has about a health care plan that are not representative of what I and many citizens regard as necessary components of any plan adopted.
Following are some questions which I believe he and all who are truly weighing health care issues in their minds might want to think about. I’ve provided my responses.
What do we believe in with regard to our fellow persons?
Is basic health care a right or a privilege?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT
Should health care be available to all or just some individuals?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS.
Is health care for profit more cost effective than non-profit health care?
HEALTH CARE FOR PROFIT IS TYPICALLY LESS COST EFFECTIVE THAN NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARE.
How does the cost of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
PRETTY LOW, SINCE WE RANK 2nd IN DOLLARS SPENT ON HEALTH CARE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GPD WHICH IS EXCESSIVELY MORE THAN OTHER COUNTRIES PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE FOR ALL OF THEIR CITIZENS. Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
How does the quality of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
IF PREVENTABLE DEATHS ARE ANY INDICATION WE RANK PRETTY POORLY – 14th AMONG SELECTED COUNTRIES WITH FRANCE lst, JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA TIED FOR 2nd, SPAIN AND ITALY TIED FOR 3rd, CANADA 4th.
Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
Why can’t we have a single payer system and cut out so many middle people siphoning off the health care dollar between the patient and the caregiver?
BECAUSE SO MANY LIES AND SCARE TACTICS HAVE BEEN USED BY OPPONENTS ON BEHALF OF INSURANCE AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM AND FAIL TO LEARN THE FACTS.
Why should we settle for less than the single payer system we know to be best?
WE SHOULDN’T. EVERYONE NEEDS TO STRONGLY MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN TO THEIR CONGRESSPERSONS – REPEATEDLY.
Do we need the hodge podge of insurance companies providing our health care when their primary goal is to make money?
NO, COST SAVINGS ARE OFTEN ACHIEVED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AT PATIENT SERVICES EXPENSE, NOT CUTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PERKS, SALARIES, LOBBYIST FEES AND ACTIVITIES.
Do our current health insurance companies engage in denials of service?
YES, BUT WHY AREN’T MANY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIALS DESCRIBED APPROPRIATELY AS THEY ARE – RATIONING ….. FOR THE COMPANY PROFIT!
Does the government pay some insurance plans more Medicare dollars than they pay others for the same regular Medicare coverage?
YES, WITH THE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM WHICH MAKES EXCESSIVE OVER-PAYMENTS TO THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Click here for more about this health reform.
Is canceling that program a cost-cutting measure that should be enacted immediately? Y E S !!!
Why do health care change opponents seem to ignore the fact a vast majority of Medicare recipients and Veterans express satisfaction with their insurance coverage if these government run medical care programs are as inefficient as some politicians misrepresent?
AGAIN, BECAUSE THE OPPONENTS CHOOSE TO PREVARICATE AND IGNORE THE FACTS.
Are there abuses in these programs? YES. CONSTANT ONGOING PURSUIT OF THOSE WHO ABUSE THE SYSTEM IS NECESSARY AND SHOULD OCCUR IN EVERY PRIVATE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT OPERATION AND ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH A FINANCIAL COMPONENT.
Why can’t Medicare negotiate uniform drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies for all of the needed medicines instead of the currently excessively expensive system?
A STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT:
…DRUG COMPANY MONIES DONATED TO OUR CONGRESS PERSONS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
…JOBS PROVIDED BY SOME OF THESE SAME COMPANIES TO EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY LEAVE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
… MAY TEND TO INFLUENCE THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS THEY REPRESENT TO DO OTHERWISE.
…WE WOULD BE WISE TO RESEARCH THE DONATION LISTS OF OUR CONGRESSPERSONS FOR JUST SUCH INFORMATION.
Health care issues continue to be very pertinent as our Congress attempts to determine what options will be included in the final plan recommendation to the President. Many possibilities still are in flux.
Bi-partisanship between the major two political parties appears to be a fantasy. Some Representatives and Senators are entrenched with ideological positions that don’t reflect our world today. Others may have sincere motivations to justify their views.
Then there are those who have made it very clear their primary goal is to oppose meaningful change simply to thwart any possible progress that might reflect positively on their political opponents. This latter group are the ones whose names we should all note and remember come next election time. They have no value in our political system. In fact, they are a singularly destructive force detrimental to the good of the American people.
Progress and change are often not easy and can take many long years to achieve on some issues. Those of us who have lived through most of the twentieth century know that truth first hand. Those who are familiar with history through the ages know this truth all too well. We know within ourselves it is moral, ethical, and just that all human beings have health care. Now it is up to each of us to put forth whatever effort we can to make health care for all in this great nation of ours become a reality in 2009.
This thought is the focus of my Letter to the Editor (click on the link) appearing in both the print and online editions in the current Saturday, September 26, 2009 local bi-weekly newspaper, The Claremont Courier.
There is another significant article in The Courier,in an opinion piece “My Side of the line” “Can a blog help sell newspapers?” by Peter Weinberger, Editor and Publisher for which I’ve provided a link above. His article could be the subject for a whole other blog post here, but for now I just want to say this.
I’m very proud of our local newspaper. Our city is fortunate that Mr. Weinberger left an east coast news position in recent years to assume the responsibility for our newspaper when his parent owners retired. I like his progressive attitude and foresight in embracing the Internet and paper print editions. As you’ll note in his article he relates a story that demonstrates how a blogger benefited magazine subscriptions for The Atlantic. All bloggers and newspaper aficionados want to read what he says and think about how we can be mutually supportive for everyone’s benefit including non-bloggers and those who don't use the Internet.
My Letter to the Editor expresses concern about the current health care debates in Congress. I reference Ronni Bennett’s recent post “The Baucus Health Care Reform Bill” urging readers to access that post and blog for future up to date information on the progressive evolution of any health care reform bill(s.) Importantly, readers are urged to actively pursue their Congresspersons to express their views so all may receive health care and strongly urge them to meaningful action.
I conclude my letter by directing comments specifically to my Republican Representative, David Dreier. He has failed to recognize or at least acknowledge that a large number of constituents he represents in our community want a health care plan for all our citizens. There are many other views he has about a health care plan that are not representative of what I and many citizens regard as necessary components of any plan adopted.
Following are some questions which I believe he and all who are truly weighing health care issues in their minds might want to think about. I’ve provided my responses.
What do we believe in with regard to our fellow persons?
Is basic health care a right or a privilege?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT
Should health care be available to all or just some individuals?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS.
Is health care for profit more cost effective than non-profit health care?
HEALTH CARE FOR PROFIT IS TYPICALLY LESS COST EFFECTIVE THAN NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARE.
How does the cost of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
PRETTY LOW, SINCE WE RANK 2nd IN DOLLARS SPENT ON HEALTH CARE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GPD WHICH IS EXCESSIVELY MORE THAN OTHER COUNTRIES PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE FOR ALL OF THEIR CITIZENS. Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
How does the quality of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
IF PREVENTABLE DEATHS ARE ANY INDICATION WE RANK PRETTY POORLY – 14th AMONG SELECTED COUNTRIES WITH FRANCE lst, JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA TIED FOR 2nd, SPAIN AND ITALY TIED FOR 3rd, CANADA 4th.
Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
Why can’t we have a single payer system and cut out so many middle people siphoning off the health care dollar between the patient and the caregiver?
BECAUSE SO MANY LIES AND SCARE TACTICS HAVE BEEN USED BY OPPONENTS ON BEHALF OF INSURANCE AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM AND FAIL TO LEARN THE FACTS.
Why should we settle for less than the single payer system we know to be best?
WE SHOULDN’T. EVERYONE NEEDS TO STRONGLY MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN TO THEIR CONGRESSPERSONS – REPEATEDLY.
Do we need the hodge podge of insurance companies providing our health care when their primary goal is to make money?
NO, COST SAVINGS ARE OFTEN ACHIEVED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AT PATIENT SERVICES EXPENSE, NOT CUTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PERKS, SALARIES, LOBBYIST FEES AND ACTIVITIES.
Do our current health insurance companies engage in denials of service?
YES, BUT WHY AREN’T MANY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIALS DESCRIBED APPROPRIATELY AS THEY ARE – RATIONING ….. FOR THE COMPANY PROFIT!
Does the government pay some insurance plans more Medicare dollars than they pay others for the same regular Medicare coverage?
YES, WITH THE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM WHICH MAKES EXCESSIVE OVER-PAYMENTS TO THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Click here for more about this health reform.
Is canceling that program a cost-cutting measure that should be enacted immediately? Y E S !!!
Why do health care change opponents seem to ignore the fact a vast majority of Medicare recipients and Veterans express satisfaction with their insurance coverage if these government run medical care programs are as inefficient as some politicians misrepresent?
AGAIN, BECAUSE THE OPPONENTS CHOOSE TO PREVARICATE AND IGNORE THE FACTS.
Are there abuses in these programs? YES. CONSTANT ONGOING PURSUIT OF THOSE WHO ABUSE THE SYSTEM IS NECESSARY AND SHOULD OCCUR IN EVERY PRIVATE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT OPERATION AND ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH A FINANCIAL COMPONENT.
Why can’t Medicare negotiate uniform drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies for all of the needed medicines instead of the currently excessively expensive system?
A STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT:
…DRUG COMPANY MONIES DONATED TO OUR CONGRESS PERSONS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
…JOBS PROVIDED BY SOME OF THESE SAME COMPANIES TO EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY LEAVE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
… MAY TEND TO INFLUENCE THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS THEY REPRESENT TO DO OTHERWISE.
…WE WOULD BE WISE TO RESEARCH THE DONATION LISTS OF OUR CONGRESSPERSONS FOR JUST SUCH INFORMATION.
Health care issues continue to be very pertinent as our Congress attempts to determine what options will be included in the final plan recommendation to the President. Many possibilities still are in flux.
Bi-partisanship between the major two political parties appears to be a fantasy. Some Representatives and Senators are entrenched with ideological positions that don’t reflect our world today. Others may have sincere motivations to justify their views.
Then there are those who have made it very clear their primary goal is to oppose meaningful change simply to thwart any possible progress that might reflect positively on their political opponents. This latter group are the ones whose names we should all note and remember come next election time. They have no value in our political system. In fact, they are a singularly destructive force detrimental to the good of the American people.
Progress and change are often not easy and can take many long years to achieve on some issues. Those of us who have lived through most of the twentieth century know that truth first hand. Those who are familiar with history through the ages know this truth all too well. We know within ourselves it is moral, ethical, and just that all human beings have health care. Now it is up to each of us to put forth whatever effort we can to make health care for all in this great nation of ours become a reality in 2009.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Route 66, Music, Memories
Historic U.S. Highway Route 66 in San Bernardino, California is having a 20th year anniversary "Rendezvous" celebration this weekend. Good food, contests, and entertainment are on the agenda. The event is limited to 1,900 vehicle entrants of "pre-1974 classics, customs, hot rods and any year Corvette." The participants have an assigned parking space during this 4-day event where aficionados can engage in technical car talk and fans can simply marvel at the colors, sheen and styles. Drivers are also invited to cruise the 35 blocks of downtown where up to an expected 500,000 spectators will be admiring their vehicles.
The promotion for this event caught my attention as I've noted what seems to be an increasing interest and nostalgia for "The Mother Road"(map link) which runs from "Chicago to L.A." as a famed song lyric goes. I travel portions of this road regularly since it runs through my home area of Southern California where a long segment is called Foothill Boulevard.
My husband in his single days back in the '50's drove that route with his bachelor buddies on a whirlwind summer round trip vacation from the Midwest to the West Coast. Their adventure stories were always filled with humor and accounts of the unexpected. They had very little money to start and none by the time they returned home. What's a trip for young single male college students without meeting some like-minded adventurous college girls with whom to play car tag across some of the miles, especially if there's time to work in a side trip to Las Vegas.
He was fascinated by the changing countryside from Ohio's green flat land with rolling hills with which he was familiar, to the long stretches of summer brown landscapes emerging west of the Mississippi. Then on to some western desert area with never-ending vast blue skies. The land of towering date palms began to emerge evolving into miles and miles of citrus tree orchards and finally sandy beaches reaching out into the Pacific Ocean. Long periods of steady trade-off relief driving kept them on the road a lot. Still, he could never quite understand how one buddy could be content to sleep so much between departure points and destinations with so much new and different to be experienced.
Two of these travelers were musicians but all were well-acquainted and appreciative of a tune written in 1947 by Bobby Troup and first recorded that year by Nat King Cole. Here's a later YouTube video performance of Nat and his quartet:
Years later The Manhattan Transfer popular vocal quartet's recording became one of their signature tunes as in this YouTube video:
When we met and wed years later, even before and after we moved West, we took extensive driving trips that included some side jaunts on still existing segments of the original Route 66. Freeways and new highways have long since bypassed some of the old road's communities. Many landmark motels and businesses have long since closed. Some establishments have survived. There is a resurgence of old and new businesses along existing Route 66 with new travelers joining those who come to reminisce. Signs are increasing in number announcing the location's recognition of this significant highway in the historical lore of our country from another time.
The promotion for this event caught my attention as I've noted what seems to be an increasing interest and nostalgia for "The Mother Road"(map link) which runs from "Chicago to L.A." as a famed song lyric goes. I travel portions of this road regularly since it runs through my home area of Southern California where a long segment is called Foothill Boulevard.
My husband in his single days back in the '50's drove that route with his bachelor buddies on a whirlwind summer round trip vacation from the Midwest to the West Coast. Their adventure stories were always filled with humor and accounts of the unexpected. They had very little money to start and none by the time they returned home. What's a trip for young single male college students without meeting some like-minded adventurous college girls with whom to play car tag across some of the miles, especially if there's time to work in a side trip to Las Vegas.
He was fascinated by the changing countryside from Ohio's green flat land with rolling hills with which he was familiar, to the long stretches of summer brown landscapes emerging west of the Mississippi. Then on to some western desert area with never-ending vast blue skies. The land of towering date palms began to emerge evolving into miles and miles of citrus tree orchards and finally sandy beaches reaching out into the Pacific Ocean. Long periods of steady trade-off relief driving kept them on the road a lot. Still, he could never quite understand how one buddy could be content to sleep so much between departure points and destinations with so much new and different to be experienced.
Two of these travelers were musicians but all were well-acquainted and appreciative of a tune written in 1947 by Bobby Troup and first recorded that year by Nat King Cole. Here's a later YouTube video performance of Nat and his quartet:
Years later The Manhattan Transfer popular vocal quartet's recording became one of their signature tunes as in this YouTube video:
When we met and wed years later, even before and after we moved West, we took extensive driving trips that included some side jaunts on still existing segments of the original Route 66. Freeways and new highways have long since bypassed some of the old road's communities. Many landmark motels and businesses have long since closed. Some establishments have survived. There is a resurgence of old and new businesses along existing Route 66 with new travelers joining those who come to reminisce. Signs are increasing in number announcing the location's recognition of this significant highway in the historical lore of our country from another time.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Julie Wilson Supperclub Chanteuse
Supperclub Diva Julie Wilson was the first chanteuse I had the pleasure of enjoying in person. These were the days in the mid to late '50's when nite clubs with live entertainment consisting of bands and singers were prevalent. Everyone dressed up, guys in suits or tuxedos and women in what were considered classic sophisticated sexy cocktail dresses or longer floor length gowns with fancy high heel shoes. Women usually had a "little black dress" sometimes low cut in the front, sleeveless, body clinging, to wear in the evening for just such a glamorous occasion. A pearl necklace or maybe some rhinestone jewelery would suffice in place of diamonds for those of us with lesser means.
Here's a look at what one such dress of that era looked like, referred to here as a "Marilyn-dress." I don't recall any of us thinking of Marilyn Monroe in conjunction with wearing this dress as this name implies so think it's likely a recent name concoction. I didn't know anyone who aspired to be that Marilyn as most of us thought she wasn't too bright and a little shallow if all she had to offer was a sexy appearance. Some men may have thought differently. This dress would have fit me just fine except the waist and hip sizes are each two inches too large. Inevitably seems my girl pals were small and petite so while I knew I looked good, I actually thought I was too big. Well ..... I couldn't fit into that dress today and it wouldn't be too big anywhere.
In those late '50's I was living in a midwest Great Lakes state small town to which I had moved earlier from a southern state further west so I welcomed learning all I could about this new area. A new friend told me about a supperclub called Danny Deeds Maramor that her older boyfriend had often described to her. She said she thought it would be fun to go there. He was a traveling sales manager for whom she had once worked but was out of town again as he often seemed to be, returning only on occasional weekends. This was "the club" where name entertainers from New York to Chicago and Los Angeles were booked to perform, but was located in a metropolitan city a distant two hours away.
The times were such that respectable young single women in this part of our country did not usually go out to clubs, or other venues where both genders might be unless they had a male escort. The women who did go without a male were often assumed to be of questionable character, especially in our little town, even by people who knew the young women from very respectable daytime settings. We discovered my friend who had often been in some local settings with her boyfriend was even presumed to have some nefarious purpose in mind if she showed up when he was out of town to mix with friends they both had. We concluded we could overcome that view when I expressed a willingness to join her for occasional nights out anyway. I had long since concluded I knew what I was about and believed I could easily handle any undesirable situation that came my way and did, as needed.
Then there was the day I always remember when I was tapped on the shoulder one lunch time as I gazed at a department store window display. I turned to see what appeared to be a middle-aged woman I had never seen before and did not know. She smiled and kindly shared with me that "You are such a nice girl, but your friend is not good company and I wouldn't want to see you corrupted," or words to that effect. I was so startled but she was quickly gone, having scurried back to a man I assume must have been her husband. I was only bemused by this poor well-meaning creature once I recovered from her intrusion. I trust her conscience was relieved that she had done her utmost to protect me from exploitation.
Despite all this my friend and I decided we would make the two hour drive to "the big city." Though her boyfriend wouldn't be there, she thought we could stay in the respectable downtown hotel where he stayed when in town on business. She also knew of the nearby equally respectable club that had excellent food and live musical entertainment. At that time in that part of the country people generally considered having to drive an hour or more, or even less, hardly a drive to undertake just for entertainment. But we were young and adventurous so we drove to the city one Saturday, checked into our hotel, dressed ourselves in our evening attire after applying our obligatory makeup, carried our evening wrap and gloves (the well-dressed woman didn't go anywhere without gloves even in the daytime) and sauntered purposefully over to this supperclub for dinner and entertainment.
Years later when I worked at the Columbus, Ohio television station after moving to this city, the live program I helped produce booked entertainers from the Maramor club to entertain our audience and viewers while promoting their local appearance. My husband sometimes accompanied name entertainers there who needed what are known as pickup musicians to augment their own instrumentation, including Betty Hutton
of "Annie Get Your Gun" fame. Some of those entertainers, Gordon and Sheila MacRae I recall, used to come to a nearby hotel after their show ended to unwind and listen to the piano player who was accompanied on acoustic bass by my husband, a duo.
I recall returning to that club when my husband and I were dating for an evening of dinner and listening to Mel Torme's perfect pitch singing voice. Our table was ringside, a far cry from the table practically behind a post my girlfriend and I were given my first night ever in that club.
That night my girlfriend and I did not sense that we were welcomed by the club's owner, probably for two reasons. We didn't have a reservation and two young women unescorted by a male might well be there for questionable reasons. Two males unescorted by females would have been fine, because they clearly would come only for the food and entertainment to see this provocative sexy singer.
I don't remember the dinner, though I'm sure the food was quite good. The bill, and I assume we left a tip (though tipping protocol would have been new to us,) coupled with any cover charge probably was quite expensive for us considering our working girl salaries. I don't recall my friend's reaction to the evening as she didn't share my enthusiasms for many experiences, but I thoroughly enjoyed the night. I was ever so pleased we were actually going to be entertained by one of the most sought after supperclub divas who performed in the top New York City supperclubs and other similar classy venues and in London.
Julie Wilson, a Broadway star and cabaret singer was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1924 as described in the msn.com biography. In New York she performed at the Latin Quarter and Copacabana. Here's the young Julie who appeared in an American television production of Kiss Me, Kate in 1958 singing "Always True to You (Darlin' In My Fashion")
"She starred in the London musical Bet Your Life (February 18, 1952), which ran for 361 performances and produced a cast album on the English Columbia label, and she replaced Mary Martin in the starring role in the London production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. While remaining based in London, but commuting back to New York, she resumed her career as a nightclub singer, appearing in the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel" according to the MSN biography.
She sings from her 1957 album "My Old Flame:"
"You Don't Know What Love Is"
This is the Julie Wilson cabaret singer I recall seeing as she sings
"I Refuse to Rock and Roll" on her 1958 live album "At the St. Regis."
Here's Julie at the open mic at the Gardenia:
Julie performing at age 85 with her trademark boas sexy as ever singing
"I'm a Bad Woman" "but I'm good company" she says.
This is Julie "...performing at the Mabel Mercer Foundation's NYC Cabaret Convention ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "The Man I Love"), introduced by Donald Smith, with musical director Christopher Denny at the piano" the YouTube information provides.
Producer/Director: Richard Currier (excerpt from "Put Your Hands Together") with "Bravo" from writer columnist Liz Smith as noted on YouTube:
"JULIE HAS THE LAST LAUGH!!! At 85, the "kid from Omaha" Nebraska and actor (Holt McCallany)'s mom, still tosses her famed "Red Boa" around like "nobody's business". This clip, from her Cabaret Sh..."
I really love when these now older performers, men and women, but especially women revered as sex symbols demonstrate they're still vibrant and alive.
I don't know if Julie Wilson has had any more recent appearances, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's still swinging her trademark red boa somewhere.
Here's a look at what one such dress of that era looked like, referred to here as a "Marilyn-dress." I don't recall any of us thinking of Marilyn Monroe in conjunction with wearing this dress as this name implies so think it's likely a recent name concoction. I didn't know anyone who aspired to be that Marilyn as most of us thought she wasn't too bright and a little shallow if all she had to offer was a sexy appearance. Some men may have thought differently. This dress would have fit me just fine except the waist and hip sizes are each two inches too large. Inevitably seems my girl pals were small and petite so while I knew I looked good, I actually thought I was too big. Well ..... I couldn't fit into that dress today and it wouldn't be too big anywhere.
In those late '50's I was living in a midwest Great Lakes state small town to which I had moved earlier from a southern state further west so I welcomed learning all I could about this new area. A new friend told me about a supperclub called Danny Deeds Maramor that her older boyfriend had often described to her. She said she thought it would be fun to go there. He was a traveling sales manager for whom she had once worked but was out of town again as he often seemed to be, returning only on occasional weekends. This was "the club" where name entertainers from New York to Chicago and Los Angeles were booked to perform, but was located in a metropolitan city a distant two hours away.
The times were such that respectable young single women in this part of our country did not usually go out to clubs, or other venues where both genders might be unless they had a male escort. The women who did go without a male were often assumed to be of questionable character, especially in our little town, even by people who knew the young women from very respectable daytime settings. We discovered my friend who had often been in some local settings with her boyfriend was even presumed to have some nefarious purpose in mind if she showed up when he was out of town to mix with friends they both had. We concluded we could overcome that view when I expressed a willingness to join her for occasional nights out anyway. I had long since concluded I knew what I was about and believed I could easily handle any undesirable situation that came my way and did, as needed.
Then there was the day I always remember when I was tapped on the shoulder one lunch time as I gazed at a department store window display. I turned to see what appeared to be a middle-aged woman I had never seen before and did not know. She smiled and kindly shared with me that "You are such a nice girl, but your friend is not good company and I wouldn't want to see you corrupted," or words to that effect. I was so startled but she was quickly gone, having scurried back to a man I assume must have been her husband. I was only bemused by this poor well-meaning creature once I recovered from her intrusion. I trust her conscience was relieved that she had done her utmost to protect me from exploitation.
Despite all this my friend and I decided we would make the two hour drive to "the big city." Though her boyfriend wouldn't be there, she thought we could stay in the respectable downtown hotel where he stayed when in town on business. She also knew of the nearby equally respectable club that had excellent food and live musical entertainment. At that time in that part of the country people generally considered having to drive an hour or more, or even less, hardly a drive to undertake just for entertainment. But we were young and adventurous so we drove to the city one Saturday, checked into our hotel, dressed ourselves in our evening attire after applying our obligatory makeup, carried our evening wrap and gloves (the well-dressed woman didn't go anywhere without gloves even in the daytime) and sauntered purposefully over to this supperclub for dinner and entertainment.
Years later when I worked at the Columbus, Ohio television station after moving to this city, the live program I helped produce booked entertainers from the Maramor club to entertain our audience and viewers while promoting their local appearance. My husband sometimes accompanied name entertainers there who needed what are known as pickup musicians to augment their own instrumentation, including Betty Hutton
of "Annie Get Your Gun" fame. Some of those entertainers, Gordon and Sheila MacRae I recall, used to come to a nearby hotel after their show ended to unwind and listen to the piano player who was accompanied on acoustic bass by my husband, a duo.
I recall returning to that club when my husband and I were dating for an evening of dinner and listening to Mel Torme's perfect pitch singing voice. Our table was ringside, a far cry from the table practically behind a post my girlfriend and I were given my first night ever in that club.
That night my girlfriend and I did not sense that we were welcomed by the club's owner, probably for two reasons. We didn't have a reservation and two young women unescorted by a male might well be there for questionable reasons. Two males unescorted by females would have been fine, because they clearly would come only for the food and entertainment to see this provocative sexy singer.
I don't remember the dinner, though I'm sure the food was quite good. The bill, and I assume we left a tip (though tipping protocol would have been new to us,) coupled with any cover charge probably was quite expensive for us considering our working girl salaries. I don't recall my friend's reaction to the evening as she didn't share my enthusiasms for many experiences, but I thoroughly enjoyed the night. I was ever so pleased we were actually going to be entertained by one of the most sought after supperclub divas who performed in the top New York City supperclubs and other similar classy venues and in London.
Julie Wilson, a Broadway star and cabaret singer was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1924 as described in the msn.com biography. In New York she performed at the Latin Quarter and Copacabana. Here's the young Julie who appeared in an American television production of Kiss Me, Kate in 1958 singing "Always True to You (Darlin' In My Fashion")
"She starred in the London musical Bet Your Life (February 18, 1952), which ran for 361 performances and produced a cast album on the English Columbia label, and she replaced Mary Martin in the starring role in the London production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. While remaining based in London, but commuting back to New York, she resumed her career as a nightclub singer, appearing in the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel" according to the MSN biography.
She sings from her 1957 album "My Old Flame:"
"You Don't Know What Love Is"
This is the Julie Wilson cabaret singer I recall seeing as she sings
"I Refuse to Rock and Roll" on her 1958 live album "At the St. Regis."
Here's Julie at the open mic at the Gardenia:
Julie performing at age 85 with her trademark boas sexy as ever singing
"I'm a Bad Woman" "but I'm good company" she says.
This is Julie "...performing at the Mabel Mercer Foundation's NYC Cabaret Convention ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "The Man I Love"), introduced by Donald Smith, with musical director Christopher Denny at the piano" the YouTube information provides.
Producer/Director: Richard Currier (excerpt from "Put Your Hands Together") with "Bravo" from writer columnist Liz Smith as noted on YouTube:
"JULIE HAS THE LAST LAUGH!!! At 85, the "kid from Omaha" Nebraska and actor (Holt McCallany)'s mom, still tosses her famed "Red Boa" around like "nobody's business". This clip, from her Cabaret Sh..."
I really love when these now older performers, men and women, but especially women revered as sex symbols demonstrate they're still vibrant and alive.
I don't know if Julie Wilson has had any more recent appearances, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's still swinging her trademark red boa somewhere.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
American Character
A sense of justice for the strong and security for the weak succinctly paraphrases how Mark Shields, Syndicated Columnist, described the health care plan philosophic focus of President Obama’s address to the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress 9/9/09. This concept is a fundamental aspect of the American character as noted by the President who cited for this view supportive historical references including an account of how Medicare was established.
The President noted that too much government is as dangerous as too little government. The implication is that this needed health care change falls within a safe range for government involvement and would not tip that precarious balance.
There have been many lies and distortions about what health care bill changes will and will not do in an effort to scuttle the program but President Obama effectively explained the truth in each instance. He appropriately chastised those who so deliberately put forth such falsehoods. The failure of those select guilty Congresspersons to react and to instead just sit on their hands speaks volumes about their morals and humanity as others around them applauded. Voters would be wise to identify them and seek to make certain they’re never reelected to office again. That might also be a good action for constituents of Joe Wilson of South Carolina who was so disrespectful shouting out during the President’s speech. He has reportedly since apologized.
President Obama stated to all present that “…we didn’t come to fear the future, we came to shape it.” This was a strong admonishment for our Congress to finally take some action on health care reform. Considering 56 years have passed since the first healthcare bill was introduced in 1943, the fact our current system is unsustainable, the time for change is now.
The rebuttal by Dr. Chas. Boustany, Republican of Louisiana, stated this health care plan would not lower costs and quality of care would decrease. He decried this plan would result in 53 new government bureaus and 500 billion in Medicare cuts. The implication was health care rationing would be implemented under this new plan.
Well, I’m a health care worker, too, and I see how the system works. Costs are not lowering now. They’re going up and up with quality of care decreasing. If in doubt do a search on how our health care system compares with those in other countries. If, as he mentioned, any new government bureaus are needed we might well expect them to function similarly to Medicare which has proven to be quite cost effective compared with health insurance companies. Of course, if even some of those alleged bureaus could be incorporated into the Medicare system it just might be even more cost effective.
Regarding the Dr.’s reference to Medicare cuts, they have continued to be made for quite a few years now and may continue from necessity if the health care status quo continues. I think the ideal plan is a single payer plan but many lies have been told about how that would be. Consequently mindless fear has run rampant resulting in that plan no longer being an option, apparently. I didn’t hear him mention the possibility of displacing the health insurance companies as a cost saving measure. When you think about all the insurance people there are between the patient and the health care provider who take portions of the health care dollar, it’s no wonder health care costs are so high. Think of all the health care workers freed up to practice medicine and alleviate shortages -- doctors and nurses, possibly other office type workers.
I do have a very real concern that more significant Medicare cuts will occur IF a public insurance option is not in any new health care plan. The expected result with a public insurance option is that health insurance companies will have to be competitive so will finally reduce their costs somewhat. Insurance companies do have a vested interest to their shareholders, Wall St. and executive salaries to have all citizens be required to purchase insurance. You can be certain they look forward to making money on this action. Yet, what do we hear about – need to reduce payments to doctors, possibly other care providers, lower reimbursements to hospitals.
Ever since I gagged on hearing health insurance officials declare early this year they would cuts costs I’ve wondered why they haven’t done this before and exactly what costs would be cut. I know they named some cost cutting areas but with no mention of patients directly reaping the consequences through cuts in care. I suggest they’ve been doing that for years and will likely continue with their practice of cutting patient care and possibly ramping it up. Can’t we consider that to be “rationing?” Just think we’ve had rationing all along but health insurer reformer opponents would have us believe we’ll only get it if we change our current system. Are we really so poorly informed we believe them?
If we truly want to reduce health care costs, then ideas such as others have suggested in recent years would need to be adopted. The government engaging in drug price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies for large bulk purchasing would be one such cost reduction idea. Another such cut should be eliminating the bonanza flat payment that insurers receive for those who sign over their Medicare coverage to the insurer. Financial data show that payment to provide excessive profits for insurers at taxpayers expense.
American character again comes to mind. I hope it’s not greed disguised as legitimate profiteering. Why do so many business people, companies and large corporations, including health care, justify immoral actions because “it’s just business?” Haven’t they learned anything from the recent financial debacle from which we have not yet completely extricated ourselves?
Have these business people, stock holders and congressional persons who claim to represent “the people – you and me” no compassion for the rest of us? What about the little verse most of us learned as children, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Do any of them take that seriously and practice the sentiment?
They don’t even want to give all our citizens what we’ve given them – excellent free health care coverage. Unlike many citizens, most congress people could likely pay out of pocket for their own health care. There's a cost savings for them to enact.
I think we’re long past due for obstinate ideological positions to be set aside and focus given to practical solutions to a long standing problem that is only going to become worse if no action is taken. Some bipartisan health care changes desperately need to be taken based on rational reasonable choices made with compassion. A public insurance option needs to be part of any plan offered since that seems to be the only choice left to us presently.
The President noted that too much government is as dangerous as too little government. The implication is that this needed health care change falls within a safe range for government involvement and would not tip that precarious balance.
There have been many lies and distortions about what health care bill changes will and will not do in an effort to scuttle the program but President Obama effectively explained the truth in each instance. He appropriately chastised those who so deliberately put forth such falsehoods. The failure of those select guilty Congresspersons to react and to instead just sit on their hands speaks volumes about their morals and humanity as others around them applauded. Voters would be wise to identify them and seek to make certain they’re never reelected to office again. That might also be a good action for constituents of Joe Wilson of South Carolina who was so disrespectful shouting out during the President’s speech. He has reportedly since apologized.
President Obama stated to all present that “…we didn’t come to fear the future, we came to shape it.” This was a strong admonishment for our Congress to finally take some action on health care reform. Considering 56 years have passed since the first healthcare bill was introduced in 1943, the fact our current system is unsustainable, the time for change is now.
The rebuttal by Dr. Chas. Boustany, Republican of Louisiana, stated this health care plan would not lower costs and quality of care would decrease. He decried this plan would result in 53 new government bureaus and 500 billion in Medicare cuts. The implication was health care rationing would be implemented under this new plan.
Well, I’m a health care worker, too, and I see how the system works. Costs are not lowering now. They’re going up and up with quality of care decreasing. If in doubt do a search on how our health care system compares with those in other countries. If, as he mentioned, any new government bureaus are needed we might well expect them to function similarly to Medicare which has proven to be quite cost effective compared with health insurance companies. Of course, if even some of those alleged bureaus could be incorporated into the Medicare system it just might be even more cost effective.
Regarding the Dr.’s reference to Medicare cuts, they have continued to be made for quite a few years now and may continue from necessity if the health care status quo continues. I think the ideal plan is a single payer plan but many lies have been told about how that would be. Consequently mindless fear has run rampant resulting in that plan no longer being an option, apparently. I didn’t hear him mention the possibility of displacing the health insurance companies as a cost saving measure. When you think about all the insurance people there are between the patient and the health care provider who take portions of the health care dollar, it’s no wonder health care costs are so high. Think of all the health care workers freed up to practice medicine and alleviate shortages -- doctors and nurses, possibly other office type workers.
I do have a very real concern that more significant Medicare cuts will occur IF a public insurance option is not in any new health care plan. The expected result with a public insurance option is that health insurance companies will have to be competitive so will finally reduce their costs somewhat. Insurance companies do have a vested interest to their shareholders, Wall St. and executive salaries to have all citizens be required to purchase insurance. You can be certain they look forward to making money on this action. Yet, what do we hear about – need to reduce payments to doctors, possibly other care providers, lower reimbursements to hospitals.
Ever since I gagged on hearing health insurance officials declare early this year they would cuts costs I’ve wondered why they haven’t done this before and exactly what costs would be cut. I know they named some cost cutting areas but with no mention of patients directly reaping the consequences through cuts in care. I suggest they’ve been doing that for years and will likely continue with their practice of cutting patient care and possibly ramping it up. Can’t we consider that to be “rationing?” Just think we’ve had rationing all along but health insurer reformer opponents would have us believe we’ll only get it if we change our current system. Are we really so poorly informed we believe them?
If we truly want to reduce health care costs, then ideas such as others have suggested in recent years would need to be adopted. The government engaging in drug price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies for large bulk purchasing would be one such cost reduction idea. Another such cut should be eliminating the bonanza flat payment that insurers receive for those who sign over their Medicare coverage to the insurer. Financial data show that payment to provide excessive profits for insurers at taxpayers expense.
American character again comes to mind. I hope it’s not greed disguised as legitimate profiteering. Why do so many business people, companies and large corporations, including health care, justify immoral actions because “it’s just business?” Haven’t they learned anything from the recent financial debacle from which we have not yet completely extricated ourselves?
Have these business people, stock holders and congressional persons who claim to represent “the people – you and me” no compassion for the rest of us? What about the little verse most of us learned as children, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Do any of them take that seriously and practice the sentiment?
They don’t even want to give all our citizens what we’ve given them – excellent free health care coverage. Unlike many citizens, most congress people could likely pay out of pocket for their own health care. There's a cost savings for them to enact.
I think we’re long past due for obstinate ideological positions to be set aside and focus given to practical solutions to a long standing problem that is only going to become worse if no action is taken. Some bipartisan health care changes desperately need to be taken based on rational reasonable choices made with compassion. A public insurance option needs to be part of any plan offered since that seems to be the only choice left to us presently.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Unorthodox Pets
Pets come in all forms, shapes and sizes -- animate and otherwise. Some selections may be considered unorthodox by other people, but that doesn't deter me from considering unusual possibilities.
Praying Mantids and Lady Bugs have long fascinated me as have Walking Sticks, too. I planned to write about my experience with the mantid and the lady bugs earlier this year. Events did not develop quite as I expected so I could share pictures of matured creatures. Here's what happened.
This past spring when I entered a local hardware/garden store where I was confronted with a display selling containers of young lady bugs and praying mantids eggs. These two insects are natural predators who devour certain unwanted destructive bugs preying on any vegetables, flowers and other garden plants. I decided to splurge, unable to resist purchasing one container each of these insects.
I intended to put the praying mantids egg-like container into a fishbowl per one recommended option so I could observe their gradual emergence once they developed to hatching stage. The more I thought about them, I even considered keeping a couple as pets since the instructions suggested that might be a possibility if I kept them fed -- ground meat was mentioned.
Unlike other pets I've had, they wouldn't have to be walked with the ever present plastic bag I'd have to tote so I could stoop over to pickup a stinky mess to carry along until disposing it later at home. Likewise there would be no need for rug clean-up after an inevitable sickness or potty accident. There would be no toiletry litter box inside the house threatening unwanted aromas if not replaced periodically. No messy hairballs, or urinary tract infections causing uncontrolled sense of urgency resulting in neutered male felines unintentionally spraying the guest room bed pillow. I certainly wouldn't be subjected either to those manipulative behaviors of eye gazes, cunning growls, or hypnotic purrs often emanating from some pets to which I often succumb much too easily. These prospective pets I was considering would be quiet, making not a sound.
There would be no fish bowl requiring water to be changed or containing new little ones to be protected from being eaten by their mother. I reasoned that I could always turn my pet praying mantids loose in a tree if unknown forces caused them to acquire unmanageably large proportions or they became vicious. They could fend for themselves and I wouldn't be reported to the Humane Society for cruelty, abuse or for abandoning my pet. I bet they wouldn't bother to come back home, either.
Time lapsed before I enacted my plan. Before I was ready I noted these young mantids were already escaping the brown paper-thin-like egg in which they had been placed to hatch. I could see quite a few of the tiny mantids were still inside the now broken egg-like structure so I hastily initiated the next step. I carried the brown egg container out to a flowering tree-like shrub in my back yard. I carefully placed the brown eggs in crooks of the branches as instructed, then emptied the remaining small mantids onto limbs where they presumably would find smaller insects to eat that compose their carnivorous diet.
The lady bugs, full grown when I purchased them, were placed in similarly recommended potential feeding sites on a few patio potted dwarf fruit trees. I managed to get a couple pictures at the time I released both of these insect varieties but my photo offerings are limited as everything was happening so rapidly.
Subsequently through the days, weeks and months my anticipated sightings of matured mantids have not materialized for photographing. I know there was increased bird activity in the backyard after I released my baby insects so those winged predators may have feasted on some of my new small creatures. I should have stayed out there with them for a while instead of coming inside for my camera. The lady bugs who avoided being eaten may have eventually flown away. I choose to believe some of each of these insects have survived though I've been unable to sight any.
I think I'll try again next year seeding these insects in my outdoor growth if they're available for purchase at my store. Furthermore, I may just prepare for habitation a large fish bowl left over from our households years earlier pet creature activities. I'm through mourning the loss of my compost, worm juice producing wiggly farm some years ago. I may decide to have pets again.
Praying Mantids and Lady Bugs have long fascinated me as have Walking Sticks, too. I planned to write about my experience with the mantid and the lady bugs earlier this year. Events did not develop quite as I expected so I could share pictures of matured creatures. Here's what happened.
This past spring when I entered a local hardware/garden store where I was confronted with a display selling containers of young lady bugs and praying mantids eggs. These two insects are natural predators who devour certain unwanted destructive bugs preying on any vegetables, flowers and other garden plants. I decided to splurge, unable to resist purchasing one container each of these insects.
I intended to put the praying mantids egg-like container into a fishbowl per one recommended option so I could observe their gradual emergence once they developed to hatching stage. The more I thought about them, I even considered keeping a couple as pets since the instructions suggested that might be a possibility if I kept them fed -- ground meat was mentioned.
Unlike other pets I've had, they wouldn't have to be walked with the ever present plastic bag I'd have to tote so I could stoop over to pickup a stinky mess to carry along until disposing it later at home. Likewise there would be no need for rug clean-up after an inevitable sickness or potty accident. There would be no toiletry litter box inside the house threatening unwanted aromas if not replaced periodically. No messy hairballs, or urinary tract infections causing uncontrolled sense of urgency resulting in neutered male felines unintentionally spraying the guest room bed pillow. I certainly wouldn't be subjected either to those manipulative behaviors of eye gazes, cunning growls, or hypnotic purrs often emanating from some pets to which I often succumb much too easily. These prospective pets I was considering would be quiet, making not a sound.
There would be no fish bowl requiring water to be changed or containing new little ones to be protected from being eaten by their mother. I reasoned that I could always turn my pet praying mantids loose in a tree if unknown forces caused them to acquire unmanageably large proportions or they became vicious. They could fend for themselves and I wouldn't be reported to the Humane Society for cruelty, abuse or for abandoning my pet. I bet they wouldn't bother to come back home, either.
Time lapsed before I enacted my plan. Before I was ready I noted these young mantids were already escaping the brown paper-thin-like egg in which they had been placed to hatch. I could see quite a few of the tiny mantids were still inside the now broken egg-like structure so I hastily initiated the next step. I carried the brown egg container out to a flowering tree-like shrub in my back yard. I carefully placed the brown eggs in crooks of the branches as instructed, then emptied the remaining small mantids onto limbs where they presumably would find smaller insects to eat that compose their carnivorous diet.
The lady bugs, full grown when I purchased them, were placed in similarly recommended potential feeding sites on a few patio potted dwarf fruit trees. I managed to get a couple pictures at the time I released both of these insect varieties but my photo offerings are limited as everything was happening so rapidly.
Subsequently through the days, weeks and months my anticipated sightings of matured mantids have not materialized for photographing. I know there was increased bird activity in the backyard after I released my baby insects so those winged predators may have feasted on some of my new small creatures. I should have stayed out there with them for a while instead of coming inside for my camera. The lady bugs who avoided being eaten may have eventually flown away. I choose to believe some of each of these insects have survived though I've been unable to sight any.
I think I'll try again next year seeding these insects in my outdoor growth if they're available for purchase at my store. Furthermore, I may just prepare for habitation a large fish bowl left over from our households years earlier pet creature activities. I'm through mourning the loss of my compost, worm juice producing wiggly farm some years ago. I may decide to have pets again.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sen. Edw. Kennedy Funeral
Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy's Funeral service Saturday, August 29, 2009 included this tribute from son, Ted Kennedy:
Senator Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery after the procession following the service.
Senator Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery after the procession following the service.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sen. Edw. Kennedy Memorial Service
Sen. Edward Kennedy's Memorial Service Friday, August 28th included a tribute by John Culver that drew much loving laughter from those present. This is Part 1 from YouTube:
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Edward "Ted" Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) died as a consequence of a brain tumor he has been battling for some time. Detailed facts of his life, particulars about his family and his professional value as a United States Senator are being reported by more eloquent writers than I. Historians will report on this man whose actions had a significant positive impact on others lives. The following ITN YouTube video provides funeral plans to date.
I am most impressed with actions resulting from his dedication to championing the rights of ordinary citizens and especially those of the least among us. Our country, our governmental and political processes will be sadly lacking without his contributions. He has been a unique conciliatory force able to meld opposite views and ideas about controversial issues into meaningful results affecting us all.
One of his most championed goals has been to bring health care to every American. I wish he had been able to shepherd a plan through our legislative process. He expended his final energies toward that end despite his declining health. A fitting tribute would be formulation and passage of such legislation. I hope our legislative leaders can find the courage to act in a bi-partisan effort enacting such a bill our President can sign.
The goal of health care for all is a moral imperative to which everyone who truly cares about human rights should aspire. We need health care reform now.
Thank you, Sen. Edward Kennedy. You will be missed.
I am most impressed with actions resulting from his dedication to championing the rights of ordinary citizens and especially those of the least among us. Our country, our governmental and political processes will be sadly lacking without his contributions. He has been a unique conciliatory force able to meld opposite views and ideas about controversial issues into meaningful results affecting us all.
One of his most championed goals has been to bring health care to every American. I wish he had been able to shepherd a plan through our legislative process. He expended his final energies toward that end despite his declining health. A fitting tribute would be formulation and passage of such legislation. I hope our legislative leaders can find the courage to act in a bi-partisan effort enacting such a bill our President can sign.
The goal of health care for all is a moral imperative to which everyone who truly cares about human rights should aspire. We need health care reform now.
Thank you, Sen. Edward Kennedy. You will be missed.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Birthday Greetings -- Millie
H A P P Y
B I R T H D A Y !
M I L L I E
89 year old Whitey Thomas, former member of the Glenn Miller Army Aircorps Band (trumpet and trombone) blows strong in this YouTube video.
Stop by "My Mom's Blog" and wish Millie a Happy Birthday:
http://mymomsblog.blogspot.com/
B I R T H D A Y !
M I L L I E
89 year old Whitey Thomas, former member of the Glenn Miller Army Aircorps Band (trumpet and trombone) blows strong in this YouTube video.
Stop by "My Mom's Blog" and wish Millie a Happy Birthday:
http://mymomsblog.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Computer Up Date
Earlier this year I wrote about some technological changes here. One commenter suggested I share a picture of my current set up. So here is my laptop and the PC I continue to use primarily for playing music since the audio speakers provide a much fuller richer sound than the laptop. Suppose there is a way to avoid the camera flash reflections, but I haven't yet perfected that skill.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Health Care Dollars Dilemma
What kind of health care system we may have.
Health care dollar costs rhetoric heats up presenting a dilemma for some. Increasingly articles on the topic are published such as this recent one “The Cost Conundrum” by Aatul Gawande in the June 1st New Yorker. Thanks to Bob Frank who infrequently writes at “Eclectic World” for bringing it to my attention. The article is lengthy but filled with specifics and an overall view of the attitudes and influences that are being brought to bear on health care quality and costs in America today. The author cautions what kind of health care system we may have. Your time will be well spent reading Mr. Gawande’s article as he describes what specific towns can “…teach us about health care.”
Mr. Gawande begins by investigating health services in a certain Texas community he describes as being “…one of the most expensive health-care markets in the country.” He provides the dollar figures Medicare spent there in 2006 as being “…fifteen thousand dollars per enrollee…almost twice the national average.” Another well known Texas city spends half as much. What could account for this difference? You might be surprised what he learned.
Mayo Clinic in Grand Junction, Colorado, operations are also presented where he reports medical problems went down and quality went up. He adds, “…costs ended up lower than just about anywhere else in the United States.” He names communities from Danville, Pennsylvania through Wisconsin, Salt Lake City to Northern California utilizing similar operational approaches as Mayo who demonstrate comparable results.
Arguments from both the expensive and the least expensive systems proponents are not immune to the negative features of each approach their opponents cite. Both supporting groups agree we all want quality care and at the lowest cost especially knowing that overall we have runaway health care costs whose payment we cannot sustain. But what kind of system do we want? How do we get that system and are there sacrifices?
Our present mishmash of public and private medical insurance systems while trying to deliver quality care to meet patients needs is also being expected to maximize the individual provider’s reimbursement rate, Mr. Gawande writes. I’ve certainly experienced and been aware of some of the pressures that can be brought to bear in that regard. There can be a bit of a conflict between providing quality health care and income generation for some. Restrictions are instituted, corners are cut. I want to stress that many in the medical and related professions have resisted all that as have I.
I remember only too well years ago when service cuts were being made. Medical practitioners were admonished to refocus from merely providing quality care to additionally focus on the financial aspects of their work to augment declining income. Insurers and practitioners honed those business skills. Some business people took over medical groups dictating their own orientation. Medical people did become business people, too, with varying priorities in the quality/financial arena.
Mr. Gawande’s article illustrates various aspects of combining desired quality health care with a business orientation. He contends a team approach for quality care and revenue generating such as the Mayo Clinic’s system is more likely to provide us a viable health care plan.
Health care’s providers as well as consumers – that’s us – must adjust our thinking to realities Gwande documents including the whole idea that “more is better.” Seems in medical care as well as other areas of life that concept is not necessarily true. Maybe, we should all keep in mind seeking all the medical tests or procedures known to be available for any given problem is not always the better part of wisdom.
Doctors order most tests because they need to know the results which will effect a patient’s treatment. That's certainly why I recommend some procedures and medical consults. Physicians are also often pressured by patients and/or family members to provide tests for personal reassurance. Also, like it or not, given this sue happy society in which we live, the wise medical practitioner may need the occasional documenting test to justify his or her actions when treating unclear ever-changing medical complications, especially when coping with contentious individuals.
Mr. Gawande examines a broader picture here relative to just what kind of health care system we want. He views the issues as far more critical than whether or not we have a single-payer system, a public-insurance option or the mix of private and public as we have now. To best understand the stakes he describes you must read his article. His account is very readable, revealing the thought processes at work with the health care doctors and administrators he describes as presenting representative attitudes prevailing throughout the medical world in our country.
Many of us have spoken out loudly and clearly that a single-payer system is desired. Some have cited systems such as exist in Canada and Great Britain as models. I can endorse those models only if the major weaknesses of those systems are corrected in any such system we might adopt here:
1. provision for timely delivery of services,
2. provision for only specified short term duration treatment waits for a special group of medical diagnoses not directly life-threatening.
I definitely want our nation to have a system in which everyone receives health care. I also think functional sensory or augmentative systems are essential basic needs for each individual. What that means is:
1. people need dental care, teeth (artificial or otherwise) so they can eat and talk intelligibly.
2. people need vision care, glasses so they can see.
3. people vitally need to be able to hear, aids if they choose, so they can understand.
Augmentative communication systems are vital for many that are not always readily available.
We need to closely track what our current leaders are doing relative to the insurance system adopted for us. We definitely must have some action. Frankly, I believe we all deserve an insurance system at least as good as what we provide our Congressional Representatives and Senators. They’re all better equipped financially to pay for their own insurance and medical bills if they had to than most of us. Given their failure for so many years to resolve our health care system problem we cannot avoid the truth before us that they just aren’t performing well in their jobs. Now is the time to hold their feet to the flame on the health care system issue.
We won’t be remiss if we communicate our views by whatever means is at our disposal to those we’ve placed in office to carry out our wishes.
Health care dollar costs rhetoric heats up presenting a dilemma for some. Increasingly articles on the topic are published such as this recent one “The Cost Conundrum” by Aatul Gawande in the June 1st New Yorker. Thanks to Bob Frank who infrequently writes at “Eclectic World” for bringing it to my attention. The article is lengthy but filled with specifics and an overall view of the attitudes and influences that are being brought to bear on health care quality and costs in America today. The author cautions what kind of health care system we may have. Your time will be well spent reading Mr. Gawande’s article as he describes what specific towns can “…teach us about health care.”
Mr. Gawande begins by investigating health services in a certain Texas community he describes as being “…one of the most expensive health-care markets in the country.” He provides the dollar figures Medicare spent there in 2006 as being “…fifteen thousand dollars per enrollee…almost twice the national average.” Another well known Texas city spends half as much. What could account for this difference? You might be surprised what he learned.
Mayo Clinic in Grand Junction, Colorado, operations are also presented where he reports medical problems went down and quality went up. He adds, “…costs ended up lower than just about anywhere else in the United States.” He names communities from Danville, Pennsylvania through Wisconsin, Salt Lake City to Northern California utilizing similar operational approaches as Mayo who demonstrate comparable results.
Arguments from both the expensive and the least expensive systems proponents are not immune to the negative features of each approach their opponents cite. Both supporting groups agree we all want quality care and at the lowest cost especially knowing that overall we have runaway health care costs whose payment we cannot sustain. But what kind of system do we want? How do we get that system and are there sacrifices?
Our present mishmash of public and private medical insurance systems while trying to deliver quality care to meet patients needs is also being expected to maximize the individual provider’s reimbursement rate, Mr. Gawande writes. I’ve certainly experienced and been aware of some of the pressures that can be brought to bear in that regard. There can be a bit of a conflict between providing quality health care and income generation for some. Restrictions are instituted, corners are cut. I want to stress that many in the medical and related professions have resisted all that as have I.
I remember only too well years ago when service cuts were being made. Medical practitioners were admonished to refocus from merely providing quality care to additionally focus on the financial aspects of their work to augment declining income. Insurers and practitioners honed those business skills. Some business people took over medical groups dictating their own orientation. Medical people did become business people, too, with varying priorities in the quality/financial arena.
Mr. Gawande’s article illustrates various aspects of combining desired quality health care with a business orientation. He contends a team approach for quality care and revenue generating such as the Mayo Clinic’s system is more likely to provide us a viable health care plan.
Health care’s providers as well as consumers – that’s us – must adjust our thinking to realities Gwande documents including the whole idea that “more is better.” Seems in medical care as well as other areas of life that concept is not necessarily true. Maybe, we should all keep in mind seeking all the medical tests or procedures known to be available for any given problem is not always the better part of wisdom.
Doctors order most tests because they need to know the results which will effect a patient’s treatment. That's certainly why I recommend some procedures and medical consults. Physicians are also often pressured by patients and/or family members to provide tests for personal reassurance. Also, like it or not, given this sue happy society in which we live, the wise medical practitioner may need the occasional documenting test to justify his or her actions when treating unclear ever-changing medical complications, especially when coping with contentious individuals.
Mr. Gawande examines a broader picture here relative to just what kind of health care system we want. He views the issues as far more critical than whether or not we have a single-payer system, a public-insurance option or the mix of private and public as we have now. To best understand the stakes he describes you must read his article. His account is very readable, revealing the thought processes at work with the health care doctors and administrators he describes as presenting representative attitudes prevailing throughout the medical world in our country.
Many of us have spoken out loudly and clearly that a single-payer system is desired. Some have cited systems such as exist in Canada and Great Britain as models. I can endorse those models only if the major weaknesses of those systems are corrected in any such system we might adopt here:
1. provision for timely delivery of services,
2. provision for only specified short term duration treatment waits for a special group of medical diagnoses not directly life-threatening.
I definitely want our nation to have a system in which everyone receives health care. I also think functional sensory or augmentative systems are essential basic needs for each individual. What that means is:
1. people need dental care, teeth (artificial or otherwise) so they can eat and talk intelligibly.
2. people need vision care, glasses so they can see.
3. people vitally need to be able to hear, aids if they choose, so they can understand.
Augmentative communication systems are vital for many that are not always readily available.
We need to closely track what our current leaders are doing relative to the insurance system adopted for us. We definitely must have some action. Frankly, I believe we all deserve an insurance system at least as good as what we provide our Congressional Representatives and Senators. They’re all better equipped financially to pay for their own insurance and medical bills if they had to than most of us. Given their failure for so many years to resolve our health care system problem we cannot avoid the truth before us that they just aren’t performing well in their jobs. Now is the time to hold their feet to the flame on the health care system issue.
We won’t be remiss if we communicate our views by whatever means is at our disposal to those we’ve placed in office to carry out our wishes.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Auto Mourning -- Chrysler
I’m in mourning for America’s auto industries major manufacturers, Chrysler, General Motors and Ford. Major changes and bankruptcy are impacting Chrysler and GM. Ownership of Chrysler is now shared with an Italian company, Fiat. GM’s status is more uncertain as is their bankruptcy filing since they do not yet have a suitor to share ownership.
I feel some anger toward these auto industry companies because I believe their executives and boards of directors invited their own downfall by failure to plan car designs and environmental operational changes for the future. I also believe auto consumers must share a portion of the responsibility for their demise since they persisted in recent years buying large monstrosity gas guzzling vehicles reinforcing the auto manufacturers desire to please them.
Vehicles my family has owned in long years past have not always been the most gas efficient, but we did come to recognize the nation and world's conservation environmental needs long before these auto companies apparently were willing to do. We certainly didn’t welcome the most egregious offending vehicles of the past ten years or so. Had we been young with younger children/youth and their athletic, and dancing teams to transport hither and yon, perhaps we might have succumbed to the lure of some of those large bus and truck-like transportation units. I do realize some of them are more efficient then certain regular autos we see driving about, but each of us will have to assess our own transportation system versus polluting concerns. We clearly must adapt now to changes, either willingly or otherwise, given our country’s economic state and the environmental issues facing our nation and planet.
I recall some of the very first automobiles I owned, the thrill and sense of pride I felt purchasing my very first car. Most importantly to me was the feeling of independence that owning a car gave me. I could go anywhere, anytime, on my own.
The day came when I could finally afford my first car -- used, of course. My choice was made following the trusted recommendations of a family member mechanic who had performed repairs on all the major auto company brands. He concluded Chrysler products would hold up best and be the easiest for a mechanic to repair, so I gave serious consideration to his advice. Today's auto repairs are quite different and I've since owned other auto brands.
That first car was special as the first of many experiences in our life tend to be. Somehow, in a manner I’ve long since forgotten, I became aware of a 4 door blue Chrysler sedan, a 1950 New Yorker, I think. In retrospect, I long ago realized that was hardly the kind of car a single girl in her mid-twenties needed. But I was assured by my mechanic the car was in good operating condition and was a good value for the price. Also influencing my purchasing decision was that the car was my favorite blue color. Another attraction was the Chrysler had an early version of the automatic transmission. All I had to do was let up on the gas pedal and adjust the stick shift on the steering wheel each time I wanted to shift gears -- a coordination that wasn’t difficult to learn.
This semi-automatic gear shift was quite an improvement over older model cars with a straight stick gear shift on the floor. That old way of shifting gears required the driver to use one foot pressing to the floor a clutch pedal in coordination with a gear shift by hand, then slowly releasing that foot pedal clutch while pressing the gas pedal with the other foot for just the right acceleration. Poor coordination resulted in jerky forward or backward car movement or maybe even stalling the motor. Many a driver became frustrated or enraged other drivers with erratic car motion trying to develop their driving abilities.
Beginning drivers and good versus poor drivers using these older standard car transmissions were judged klutzes or pros by their ability to perform this coordinating driving skill smoothly. Most drivers, including me, had their share of jerking, stalling driving moments. Getting stuck in slow traffic, or worst of all having to stop going up a hill offered it’s own challenges to keep the car motor going, then resume momentum when traffic started again. I became quite good at driving smoothly with standard transmission cars, but relished my Chrysler's semi-automatic automotive advance.
Here’s an interesting look at Chrysler cars from 1950-1959 provided by John MacDonald.
I hope our nation’s automotive industry becomes independently strong in the future providing the type of transportation needed in our nation and the world.
I feel some anger toward these auto industry companies because I believe their executives and boards of directors invited their own downfall by failure to plan car designs and environmental operational changes for the future. I also believe auto consumers must share a portion of the responsibility for their demise since they persisted in recent years buying large monstrosity gas guzzling vehicles reinforcing the auto manufacturers desire to please them.
Vehicles my family has owned in long years past have not always been the most gas efficient, but we did come to recognize the nation and world's conservation environmental needs long before these auto companies apparently were willing to do. We certainly didn’t welcome the most egregious offending vehicles of the past ten years or so. Had we been young with younger children/youth and their athletic, and dancing teams to transport hither and yon, perhaps we might have succumbed to the lure of some of those large bus and truck-like transportation units. I do realize some of them are more efficient then certain regular autos we see driving about, but each of us will have to assess our own transportation system versus polluting concerns. We clearly must adapt now to changes, either willingly or otherwise, given our country’s economic state and the environmental issues facing our nation and planet.
I recall some of the very first automobiles I owned, the thrill and sense of pride I felt purchasing my very first car. Most importantly to me was the feeling of independence that owning a car gave me. I could go anywhere, anytime, on my own.
The day came when I could finally afford my first car -- used, of course. My choice was made following the trusted recommendations of a family member mechanic who had performed repairs on all the major auto company brands. He concluded Chrysler products would hold up best and be the easiest for a mechanic to repair, so I gave serious consideration to his advice. Today's auto repairs are quite different and I've since owned other auto brands.
That first car was special as the first of many experiences in our life tend to be. Somehow, in a manner I’ve long since forgotten, I became aware of a 4 door blue Chrysler sedan, a 1950 New Yorker, I think. In retrospect, I long ago realized that was hardly the kind of car a single girl in her mid-twenties needed. But I was assured by my mechanic the car was in good operating condition and was a good value for the price. Also influencing my purchasing decision was that the car was my favorite blue color. Another attraction was the Chrysler had an early version of the automatic transmission. All I had to do was let up on the gas pedal and adjust the stick shift on the steering wheel each time I wanted to shift gears -- a coordination that wasn’t difficult to learn.
This semi-automatic gear shift was quite an improvement over older model cars with a straight stick gear shift on the floor. That old way of shifting gears required the driver to use one foot pressing to the floor a clutch pedal in coordination with a gear shift by hand, then slowly releasing that foot pedal clutch while pressing the gas pedal with the other foot for just the right acceleration. Poor coordination resulted in jerky forward or backward car movement or maybe even stalling the motor. Many a driver became frustrated or enraged other drivers with erratic car motion trying to develop their driving abilities.
Beginning drivers and good versus poor drivers using these older standard car transmissions were judged klutzes or pros by their ability to perform this coordinating driving skill smoothly. Most drivers, including me, had their share of jerking, stalling driving moments. Getting stuck in slow traffic, or worst of all having to stop going up a hill offered it’s own challenges to keep the car motor going, then resume momentum when traffic started again. I became quite good at driving smoothly with standard transmission cars, but relished my Chrysler's semi-automatic automotive advance.
Here’s an interesting look at Chrysler cars from 1950-1959 provided by John MacDonald.
I hope our nation’s automotive industry becomes independently strong in the future providing the type of transportation needed in our nation and the world.
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