“Less Friendly”

Sometimes when I blog I wonder how many of my readers feel the same way about a subject. In fact, I sometimes wonder if mainstream America sees what I see. I was reading an article about the new Archbishop of Philadelphia, Rev. Charles Chaput, when his words resonated. He said, “The America emerging in the next several decades is likely to be much less friendly to Christian faith than anything in our country’s past. It’s not a question of when or if it might happen. It’s happening today.”

I don’t think we have to really be all that objective to see the systematic removal of God and Christianity from our daily lives. It’s even gotten to the point where Christmas has to be celebrated as something other than a Christian holiday, as we see in the banning of nativity scenes and other Christian symbols. Soon enough, if not already, Santa Claus will be the sole figure of Christmas. For those who want to tell me that even when we celebrate Santa Claus we are celebrating St. Nicholas…I have my standard response. Christmas isn’t about St. Nicholas either!!

President Obama declared that this is no longer a Christian nation. My friends, we will rue the day that is a true statement. As we enter this Christmas season, it’s time to strengthen our faith and stand for our beliefs. As America becomes “much less friendly to Christian faith,” it becomes much less friendly to God. It’s time to gird ourselves, be strong, and speak out when the opportunity arises; the battle is at hand.

VISITING

Our granddaughter, Lindsay, and her parents left to go home late Sunday afternoon. We had a great visit and it continues to be so fascinating to watch Lindsay’s personality and personality traits develop. She is thirteen months old and is at a stage where her individuality is beginning to really demonstrate itself. As the busy holiday season approaches, we’re glad that seeing her and the rest of the family will be at the center of it all.

We will be making our annual pilgrimage to Illinois at Thanksgiving where all of Eileen’s family will be gathered too. At this point, it looks like all of our kids will travel there too. Thanksgiving will be a little different this year though. Eileen’s mom has to have surgery on the hip she broke earlier in the year. It hasn’t healed correctly and has to be redone. That’s not good news for an 85 year old woman. She will have the surgery on the Monday before Thanksgiving and we will arrive late Tuesday night. Eileen will go to the hospital and stay with her mother until bringing her home on Thanksgiving. I’ll be heading to St. Louis to pick up our daughter who is flying in. Anyway, the Thanksgiving celebration will proceed as usual…with one important participant arriving a little late. Our thoughts and prayers are with her.

We will celebrate Christmas at our house with all of our kids making it home. At this stage of our children’s lives, we consider it a great blessing when all of our children are able to gather. I’m sure there will be years in which that is not possible at Christmas for us, just like there are so many who are unable to make it home because of where they live, their jobs, or because they are serving our nation in distant parts of the nation or world. In fact, we have a nephew who has just arrived in Afghanistan for a deployment that will last many months through and past Christmas. Whether our children and families can gather at Thanksgiving or Christmas, we try to fully appreciate each time we are all able to gather. In that respect, every gathering is as special to us as a holiday one. I hope it is for you too.

A CURE

A friend posted an article on Facebook about a cancer vaccine being developed in Israel. The article sounds promising and predicts a viable cancer vaccine in about six years. Of course there have been all sorts of positive prognostications over the years for many cures, especially cancer. However, thus far a cure or vaccine has been elusive. Nevertheless, there are a lot of dedicated people working to rid humanity of this terrible disease. As many people once hoped and prayed for a cure for polio, people now hope and pray for a cure for cancer.

I’m very thankful that my cancer is in remission for the time being. Yes, I’m quite aware that my particular variety of CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) is supposed to go active at some point. Nevertheless, I’m happy and thankful for my current status. In fact, other than being labeled with cancer, most of the time I don’t really feel like I have cancer. I don’t really deal with the effects of my cancer per se. I deal with the complications of the chemo drug I take designed to control my cancer. Although I don’t like the chemo side effects, it’s comforting to know that my cancer is in remission.

Remission, however, is not a realistic hope for many with cancer. Remission can only be brought about by a Divine action for some. We all know people who have suffered terribly with their cancer, chemo, and the dying process. Let’s all remember to pray for a cure for this dreadful disease, and the people who suffer from cancer. Let it be in our prayers that the researchers in Israel and throughout the world are successful in their endeavors against cancer.

PARADE

Parades are one of those things that I like to be at but I usually don’t like going to. The Pensacola Christmas Parade is the exception. I like everything about it: The large crowds, the excitement in the air, the floats, bands, the exhilaration of the children, and catching/dodging all the candy and beads thrown to the crowd. The Pensacola Christmas Parade is a very large parade and even if it is sometimes a little cold, there’s special warmth from the event.

Yesterday was another special parade. Our youngest daughter was in the Veteran’s Day parade as a member of her high school band. This parade draws only a few hundred but it’s gratifying to see the representatives of those who have served as well as those in the ROTC programs who are likely to serve. I get a real sense of appreciation as I watch a breed of people willing to sacrifice so much for the freedoms we love and often take for granted.

I almost didn’t make it to yesterday’s parade. The overnight temperature was in the 30’s and it was still cold when I dropped our daughter off for the parade at 8am. After dropping her off, I drove about a mile-and-a-half to the finish area where I parked the car. I was dressed as warmly as possible with scarf and all. I walked away from the parade direction to a nearby Waffle House for a cup of coffee. The sun was shining, the air was brisk but I was fine. After getting my coffee, I walked the entire parade route backwards to the starting area. I have done that year after year as three of our children have been in the band. By the time I got to the staging area, I had my outer jacket off. Soon the parade started. I waited until the combined high school bands came past and I spotted our daughter. I then kept pace with the band until it reached the parade’s conclusion.

Our granddaughter Lindsay (and parents) got into town Thursday night and we were up really late with them. Then Eileen and I got up at 6am to get things ready for the day. After the parade and lunch, I decided to take a nap. It’s my first nap since getting off all the sedatives. I slept fairly well except for the leg cramps and the increasing arm pain. If that Gabapentin is helping, I would not like to know what it would be like without it!! My arm was hurting quite a bit before the parade; I did fine at the parade; but it sure has been acting up ever since. Even if the parade did aggravate my arm somewhat, it was worth it; this is my daughter’s last year in band.

SERVICES

I took one of our cars into the dealer to fix a problem that they supposedly fixed last week. In the dealership waiting room, I sat next to a man in a military flight suit. The name tag on his flight jacket indicated that he was a captain in the Air Force; he said that he was serving in Pensacola as a flight instructor. He was a B-52 pilot who spent the first several years of his military life as an enlisted Marine Corps helicopter mechanic.

We talked about many military issues and some current government policies. He was very interesting to chat with as he seemed to have given these issues considerable consideration. After a while, his ride came and he had to leave. I stood up to stretch and then checked my watch. It had been an hour-and-a-half. Looking around the vast service lot, I noticed what appeared to be my car just sitting unattended off to the side parked by a bunch of other cars. I presumed they hadn’t even started on it. That didn’t make me happy because I had an appointment. I decided to talk to my service manager. This is a big dealership and they have many service managers. I saw that my service manager was busy with a customer. As I waited, I considered what I should say. I thought about the cruddy communications and service that I’ve gotten in medical offices lately. I recalled the medical office problems that my mother-in-law is enduring. I called to mind a friend who recently told me that she had a medical procedure done two weeks ago but hasn’t gotten a call regarding the results although she has gotten the bill. She went on to say that she got a stove from Lowe’s; it had a problem and Lowe’s called her three times to keep her informed of its status. It seemed that Lowe’s ran a better operation than her doctor’s office!! Anyway, as I thought about what to say, I thought of a quip made by a friend: “Throw a fit.” I finally decided to say, “I had an appointment; I hope that’s not my car out there.” Well, as my service manager finished up with a customer I approached his station. He approached me and spoke first. “Your car is finished; they’ll drive it up in just a moment. We replaced a vacuum hose. There is no charge.”

I’m glad that he spoke first and I’m glad that I didn’t display a lack of character. However, as I drove away, I still thought of my mother-in-law and my friend’s medical experiences against the backdrop of my own. I know that automated answering machines, convoluted policies, and indirect medical access allow medical clinics to hire less staff. However, medical care should necessitate ample human interaction. There are few things more aggravating when one is sick or elderly than to have to duck and weave through the bureaucracy of a medical clinic or hospital. It just shouldn’t be that way and the defining reason that people get into health care ought to raise a conscious objection to the way their medical facilities operate. Health care administrators should be reminded not to overly compromise the personal aspect of patient care when trying to provide medical care at as low of an overhead cost as possible. I realize that personnel are the most expensive parts of a business, but personal service and interaction are necessary aspects of conscientious patient care. In fact, I’d recommend that healthcare administrators think in terms of providing patient care rather than in terms of delivering medical care. It’s a nuance perhaps, but it’s a profound paradigm shift in the approach to patient care. My daughter is a healthcare administrator; I think she’d agree.

MEDICINES

I seem to be doing better in one great respect. The changing of my medicine has removed three sedatives. Well, they aren’t true sedatives but the drugs’ interaction with each other created three distinct sedative drug outcomes. Now that I’m rid of that, my ability to stay awake and alert has dramatically increased. It’s like a new lease on life. As you can imagine with anyone on three sedatives and being anemic, I was having quite a battle staying awake and engaging life. Looking back, wow, was I out of it!!

I understand that doctors of medicine are experts at medicine. If you have a complaint, they have a medicine. It’s why I’m somewhat hesitant to say too much. As I reflect on how I feel right now compared to how I have felt for the past several years, I really regret being on all that pain medication. I have a high pain tolerance and I was only getting marginal relief from the medications anyway. I can see now just how much of my life and energy the medicines tried to rob me of. Being on three sedatives, I fought through a lot to be active and engaged with my family and friends. I mean sometimes it was a real fight. It’s nice being fully awake and aware. I didn’t realize what that medicine slowly did to me. The real kicker, again, is that is gave me marginal pain relief. I’d rather have a bit more pain and feel alive than have a little less pain and be a zombie!! I’ve almost done more dishes, shopping, and cooking in the past two weeks than in the past two years. Even that is hard on my arm but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, even if my lemon pie didn’t turn out so well!!

I’ve been on Gabapentin for a week now and can’t tell one bit of difference in help for my arm pain. In fact, I can tell my arm is much more sensitive than it was when I was on the other medicines. I don’t like the increased sensitivity aspect of my arm, especially with winter coming on, but I don’t want to go back to being a zombie. I’d rather fight the pain like I’ve been doing for twenty years than be disengaged from life. I still don’t think I’m over my withdrawal symptoms as I still get cold chills, temporary dense fog feeling, lightheadedness, weakness, and unsteadiness. It all began when I stopped taking those addictive drugs but it’s not as bad or as often as it was. Some of the symptoms may be from Gabapentin because I tend to get more of the symptoms in the evening. Sometimes, I need full concentration to type or perform simple tasks; I get to feeling so washed out but not tired. That’s after having taken the third dose of the day of Gabapentin. Anyway, if I’m still dealing with these symptoms next Tuesday when I have my doctor’s appointment, I doubt that I’m going to say a word; I don’t want another medication added too!!

BLOOD TEST

If you were wondering, the lemon pie didn’t turn out too well. Everyone thought it tasted okay but no-one was willing to say they’d have more of it!! So, I guess I’ll stick to cooking on the grill and leave the finer culinary arts to others.

I was scheduled to get my blood tested at my family doctor today (Tuesday). For the twenty years that I’ve been going there, blood tests were by appointment. Now there are no appointments. I showed up for my fasting blood test a little before eight in the morning. After signing in, I asked how many people were ahead of me. She said several. For fifty minutes I sat there waiting my turn to get my blood tested. It was ridiculous. For all these years I’ve never waited nearly that long under their appointment system. One guy, who came after me, only waited about fifteen minutes before “throwing down” and saying that he was going to leave. They took him right away. When I finally got called back, I informed them that I had been waiting fifty minutes. She apologized. I asked why they don’t do it by appointment anymore. She said that the medical clinic operates under a new computer software program and the program doesn’t allow them to make appointments. I then said, “So the only way to not have to wait nearly an hour is to throw a fit like the one fellow did, since you took him ahead of the rest of us.” She again said that she was sorry.

Well, I didn’t want to push it much farther than that because I don’t like to upset someone who is about to stick me with a needle!! Besides, the new system was not their fault; someone in management needs to become a patient in their own clinic. Having operated a clinic before, it amazes me that these clinics I encounter have so many practices that are so unfriendly and unhelpful to patients. The bureaucracy of these clinics is way too encumbering for quality patient care.

There’s another aspect to this. I have a lowered immunity; my resistance is quite a bit lower than normal. Dr. Tan (my oncologist) reminds me to be careful about my exposure to germs. The last place I want to be sitting for nearly an hour is a doctor’s office full of sick people. I cringed at every cough and sniffle. I was uncomfortable the whole time I was sitting there and I bet my blood pressure was spiking too!! Although I feel fine right now, I commonly contract something from even short visits to doctor’s offices. The whole fifty minutes waiting time is just an unnecessary process and exposure, especially when they had a better system. To think that this all because of the computer program they purchased. Nevertheless, I did notice that people come early for their blood tests since they are fasting. Next time I will go later in the morning, hopefully after the big rush. I don’t mind waiting to eat breakfast but I do mind sitting in a doctor’s office for that long.