Does Healthcare Ever Cross Your Mind?

Ah…the healthcare “debate.” When I think of debates, I envision civil, enlightened discussions where many facets of an issue are smartly discussed. Maybe over a Sam Adams with a toast to our founding fathers. What’s going on right now is more of a Health Care Town Hall Cage Match between crazy people and gassy-looking legislators. But I digress from my real point…

I’m always a fan of taking a particular thought that just pops into my head and throwing it out there for discussion. I may be wrong and my logic might be flawed or inconsistent with my typical philosophy. Oh well.

Honestly, in this case, the subject just makes my head hurt so much that there’s only so much deep thought I can give it. Here’s the deal: We use public funds, both federal and state, to protect our borders (military) and protect our cities and property (police and fire departments), right? And we are generally mandated to carry insurance on our vehicles for the monetary protection of the banks (unless your car is paid off) and the general public we may run over, right?

But my daughter’s life – for the rest of her life – is far more endangered by a lack of access to affordable healthcare and medicine than she is endangered by the statistical likelihood of a house fire.

We use taxes for fire departments that provide physical protection for our population at large. Please tell me how healthcare is different? Frankly, I’d rather know with an absolute guarantee that she’ll have access to exactly the kind of diabetes care she receives today for the rest of her life and take my chances with St. Catherine, smoke detectors and a water hose.

Dog & Butterfly

If only! Worked in the garden for a big part of the day yesterday. Things actually grow here. Things that aren't lantana, purple sage, red yucca and rosemary. Things with big, pretty flowers that come back year after year. This is quite new to me. But the pests! I don't have to worry about rattlesnakes, which were prevalant at the old place, but here's a little laundry list of what I'm battling this year: rabbits, chipmunks, japanese beetles, odd mold, violets on steroids and mushrooms of every nasty texture and color.

Nature calls...

Apparently I have developed Seasonal Blogging Disorder. Start of baseball season and no more posts. Coincidence?

Between product launches and NESN, the garden and the grill, just when is a girl supposed to write? (I ask that rhetorical knowing my friends Jane (@kovacsjane for twitterers) and David (@dbschlosser) would have all kinds of excellent suggestions. Seriously, they’re phenomenally dedicated.)

Now, I don’t think I get SAD in the winter here in New England. And I know for a fact I would be sad to have to live in TX again, despite all my nice friends and family there… So it’s not that I’m a so-depressed-I’ve-got-to-share-my-angst-with-the-world-in-the-dead-of-winter writer. I think it’s more an issue of being easily distracted.

And my topics of choice – let’s see – the Sox are not really providing any juicy material. Record is good, some excellent games and individual performances here and there, but I’m not seeing the fire and brimstone raining down on opponents. Having Remy out of the booth is a diminishing factor in the televised games, for sure. The rest of my Sox thoughts can be very easily summed up: the Lugo days are likely behind us, Penny is not nearly as shiny as Theo must have thought, I’m warming up to Nick Green, and I’m kind of obsessed with the fact that Jacoby’s at bat song is Let it Rock.

We’re in a doldrums with the big D. I find a tremendous amount of guilt with the fact that I’m simply not wired and our schedule isn’t amenable to serving meals at precisely the same time every day (despite trying very hard to get close to a routine) and that’s something that seems like it would be a big positive for her A1C. She has started working out like an Olympic athlete and that is definitely helping the sugar levels and making her feel empowered. So that’s actually a step in the right direction.

But mainly the summertime here is just so unbelievable, the weekends truly feel like a vacation and after work you just want to go sit outside because you can, if for no other reason. It’s hard to stay at the computer any longer than necessary. I’m distracted now sitting by my open office window. My daylily garden needs a bit of clean up and it looks like there may be some nice new rose blooms ready to come inside and find a vase. And I think I’ll go check that out before rousing the kids to get ready for the beach.

Opportunity - use it or lose it

I'm taking advantage of North Carolina's victory to post one of my favorite pictures of all time.

Now let's Play Ball.

I should be more meek

I really prefer fun and light hearted. It’s so much easier for everybody. But something has come up today and I have to turn to my dark side, even though there are so many good people out there (with very eloquent writing skills) who want to help save us all, especially from our misguided moral positions. Must be that damned Friday the 13th.

So here is an open letter to the small handful of nice folks commenting on a few blogs today, decrying democratic strategist (you know, of course he’s a democrat!) Joe Trippi’s statement that he and the 23+ million Americans with diabetes are thrilled with the lifting of the stem cell research restrictions.

I know you’ll step away from the cure when it’s discovered. Of course, no one will take down names or refuse you or your children the opportunity for treatment, because that would be wrong. We’ll just rely on your ability to stick to your very clear and steadfast principles and do what’s right. Show the rest of us how it’s done.

I'm envious. Life must be so easy when you know you’re on the path to righteousness. Let me ask, though, so I’m clear on the amazing extent of your morally victorious position: how often do you visit murderers and rapists in prison to spread the Good Word and provide comfort? Or provide a meal for that dirty panhandler with the cardboard sign at the busiest intersection in town? Or go to the seedy side of downtown late at night and distribute warm coats to the prostitutes? I know you are all following these corporal works of mercy and setting the best possible example for the rest of us, many of us your fellow Parishoners, for whom things aren’t so crystal.

I sure hope I can be forgiven, because I want so very desperately to see a cure for my little girl. Wow – apparently enough to condone the “killing” of another “child” though gosh, it sure doesn’t feel that way in my heart of hearts. Please pray for me. I know 100% I’ll have to pray for forgiveness for today’s display of snarkiness and anger. But I will also pray that you never have to tell your child they must endure the life sentence of diabetes.

Mama's a Pack Rat

I have a new way to feed my compulsive stockpiling, which extends to winter gloves, toilet paper and Swiffer refills, Eggos, and throw rugs, among other items: the laying in of diabetes supplies. We are insanely lucky to have a great insurance company - one who sees the upside in allowing testing up to 10+ times a day and provides enough needle tips to allow multiple corrections beyond the prescribed 4 shots a day. It means we have the all the tools and that keeping blood sugars in just the right range is somewhat realistic.

But make no mistake - I religiously make a note on the calendar and call for refills the first possible day they'll be approved. Here and there, I've managed to build up a little arsenal of leftovers in my kitchen cabinet and fridge door. Sometimes just looking at the inventory makes me feel like I have the upper hand.

Good parenting

I frequently tell my kids, "Keep it up! And see where that gets you."

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."-- Calvin Coolidge