Most of you know that I have Crohn’s disease. Currently, I am doing fine; but there are times when I don’t have nearly enough spoons.
For anybody who has or knows somebody with health issues, this description my help explain what it’s like.
my thanks to Benze of http://benzeknees.wordpress.com for leading me to this post.
It was while commenting on Doobster’s post, Art Imitating Life or Life Imitating Art, that I realized that the unthinkable had happened. It’s true.
Doobster made me look back, and I thought of the men in my past.
George.
And George.
And Ronnie.
Now I find myself looking back fondly. Longing for Dick.*
I’m gonna be sick. Google, why’d you do this to me?
I wish I were kidding.
Often, I’ve realized that if the GOP hadn’t gone completely over the edge into fanaticism, that I’d be a Republican.
Google Me This
Because, you see, I remember when Republicans were not crazy. When they were a valuable part of the strong government that built our country into the envy of the world.
When they were not out only to protect their rich buddies. When they knew how to govern.
When they could compromise. More importantly, when compromise was the goal, because they knew that THAT is how government works. And good government works for everybody.
I remember the wonderful things that were done in the 1970s — Environmental laws, highways funded, bridges built. Government FUCKING WORKED.
But starting with Reagan, the image makers changed the face of government – remember:
Reagan put folks into Cabinet positions who didn’t believe in government. The Energy and Education Departments were led by folks whose job was to destroy the agencies. The Environmental Protection Administration was led by Anne Gorsuch who didn’t promulgate the regulations that she had to — by law — promulgate. People were put into levels of responsibility to thwart the laws they were supposed to administer.
So yes, I am sitting here looking back through history and realizing that the GOP has, in leaps and bounds, ensured that government doesn’t work. [I’ve said for years, why do people want to elect folks to government who don’t’ believe in government? What is the fucking point of that?]
It was compounded by George H.W. and then by George W. who put more and more jokers in positions of power.
And what a surprise, the government doesn’t work any more.
So now I find myself looking back fondly to Richard Nixon. My, ummm, hero.
Google, natch.
Is there no limit to what these Republican will do to me?
* Yeah, I know I skipped Jerry. But he served on a naval ship with my Dad in WWII during a typhoon and Gerald Ford saved the ship. So I cut Jerry some serious slack. Sue me.
Sunday nights used to be family time. Everybody would gather around the TV.
There’s no problem with the picture … it’s a Google Image!
Glen pretty much introduced me to country music. Not the hard core drinking-man/woman-losing-dog-died kind. He gave me some of the most beautiful melodies: “Gentle On My Mind” and “By the Time I Get To Phoenix.” Songs that I still love.
Back then, I didn’t think much about the future. Or about growing old. My parents were old back then in the 1960s and early 70s — I knew they’d been born that way. But the performers on TV would never get old. I knew that then. The Smothers Brothers old? Glen Campbell? Pishawwwww!
Time caught up with all of us. My parents, of course, weren’t really old back then. But they grew into that role, they passed on. One by one the staples of not just my family but our world have faded.
Glen Campbell is fading. As I write this, he is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s Disease; a heartless disease that takes one’s mind long before it takes the body.
The song makes my heart sing, even while it breaks it. Kind of like life.
You may not miss me, Glen, but I’ll miss you. We all will.
* * *
I first heard this song on one of my favorite blogs, The Last of the Millenniums. Thanks, pal.
Of course you all know that I am a fake medical professional. So you should never ask me for medical advice.
But I am a real live professional patient. So I can speak from experience when I talk about medical stuff, too.
It’s all so confusing.
You know what else is confusing? Taking your medicines so you get the most bang for your buck. Or for your insurance company’s buck. Or so you just feel better.
But taking medicines, especially if, like me, you take a zillion different ones, can really be mind numbing.
But there’s help!
I was recently contacted by Judy from NCPIE, The National Council on Patient Information and Education. She asked me to write a post letting you guys know that October is “Talk About Your Medicines Month.” My sister Judy got me into the habit of doing whatever Judy said, and even though this was a different Judy, I’m doing just that. Because it’s important, and it’s a good way to make sure you’re using medicines, both prescriptions and over the counter (OTC)stuff the way you should.
But WHO should I talk to, Elyse?
Personally, I talk to my pharmacist. He’s easier to get on the phone than my doctor is.
Besides, he always knows the answer to my questions. Seriously! Before I became a fake medical expert, I thought that all pharmacists have to do is count pills and put stickers on bottles. I bet you thought so too.
Nope. That’s not true at all –although they are damn good counters, I must say. Pharmacists nearly always have PhDs! They understand the chemistry, the interactions between drugs and between drugs and foods! They know what side effects to look for. They know all kinds of things about how a body processes drugs, and what the drugs do to a body. YOUR BODY! Who wouldda thunk it.
Seriously, you can talk to them about all kinds of things:
You can also ask them real questions.
And you know what? They’ll know the answer.
Because pharmacists are even smarter than I am.
They’re good at ‘splainin’
Google Image, natch.
* Eat your heart out Frank (of AFrankAngle)
One of the drawbacks of living in the DC area is elephants. As you probably know, the elephant is the symbol of the GOP.
Frankly, that makes me really blue. OK, bluer. I am a Democrat and I love Elephants.
Republicans are nothing like elephants. Elephants work together for the good of the herd. They are sweet unless you piss them off. They are gentle. They help each other. They understand climate change.
I could give you a million other reasons why the elephant should not be the symbol of today’s GOP, but let me just show you this video to prove my point:
You’ll notice not one adult elephant, NOT ONE telling that little baby elephant to pull itself up by its bootstraps.
I rest my case.
* * *
Frank, of AFrankAngle is celebrating his 1500th post with a party this weekend. Go on over and join him if you can. And if you don’t know Frank’s blog, check it out.
AND IF you’d like to make my puppy Duncan a pinup star, please vote/donate to the Arlington (VA) Animal Welfare League. Here’s my post with info: https://fiftyfourandahalf.com/2014/10/01/vote-early-for-duncan/ I was going to do a widget on my sidebar, but UMMMMMM, I can’t remember how. OK, so I am not technically minded. Or minded technically. Or able to do widgets. Sigh.
Filed under Bloggin' Buddies, Campaigning, Criminal Activity, Dogs, Duncan, GOP, History, Huh?, Humor, Hypocrisy, Pets, Stupidity, Voting, Wild Beasts
I got TWO!
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The Highest Honor
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