HeiressofBickworth
HeiressofBickworth's JournalThis is where I need to give credit to good doctors and good insurance
The oncologist jumped right on it and radiation and chemo did their jobs. Am ever so grateful for Medicare and a supplement insurance plan. After seeing the bills and the very small percentage I have to pay, I'm reminded that there are so many people who haven't reached Medicare age and would be in a world of shit if they had to go through all this with inadequate or no insurance. I used to be a bankruptcy paralegal back in the day. About 85% of my clients were medical bankruptcies. I have always been in favor of Medicare for All but now I see the actual numbers on the invoices and know that I would be bankrupt and homeless without it. Or, I would be taking a dirt nap. So, vote, vote, vote -- watch for the ones who will support or expand Medicare. And that DOESN'T mean Repubs, obviously.
Since there have been so many inquiries about my absence...
oh, what? No inquiries? Anyone the least bit curious? How about a round of mehh.
Ok, since you have asked so nicely, I'll tell you.
I've been busy fighting cancer. Stage 4 lymphoma to be a little more specific. Started when I had pains down one leg. I don't fault the doctors -- they followed to most common and logical evidence and treated me for sciatica. Then I did the proverbial, I've fallen and I can't get up thing and wound up in the ER where they gave me pain medicine that shut my brain down to the extent that one doctor told my daughter that I was in the final stages of Alzheimers and she should just make me comfortable and let me go. Fortunately for me, she was a terrific advocate and calmer heads prevailed. In walked the savior! An oncologist who gave the diagnosis and the treatment plan which was to start the very next day. Leg problem was that a tumor ate away at my hip breaking the joint and that was why I couldn't walk. So, hospitalized for a month, six radiation treatments, chemo every 21 days, seven weeks in the third level of hell called a rehab facility (oh, the tales I could tell about that joint!) Anyway, I'm home, still can't walk very well and now they are talking about a hip replacement. Anyway, what kept me from communicating with all you nice folks was that I had such neuropathy in my hands (I was warned the chemo drugs would do that) that I couldn't feel the keyboard in order to send messages. That's better now although I'm having to correct typos in this post. Oh, the good news: cancer has been in remission since the second chemo treatment (there were a total of six).
So, anything been going on lately? Just kidding. Through everything, I managed to read DU several times a day on my phone. While I was in rehab it kept me from climbing the walls.
I take Amtrak several times a year.
Once every other month, i take Amtrak to visit a friend in a city 75 miles away. I used to drive, but traffic south of Seattle is getting so bad, it no longer is a pleasure. On Amtrak i can read. Crochet, nap, or just watch the scenery.
I also take the train from Seattle to Sacramento. Been doing it for over 30 years. There were a few years that i drove. I found that it took less time to take the train because when i drove, i needed to stop over night somewhere along the way.
Flying? No way. I have a long term fear of flying and and absolutely won't get anywhere near an airplane. Fares could be free and i still won't fly.
So, for this 73 year old lady, im grateful for Amtrak and will continue to take the traim.
As a side note, Amtrak is very useful for small towns that have no near-by airports or other access to public transportation.
I've spent about 45 years doing genealogy research
I've never done a DNA test but I've researched the records. I've found that I have deep roots in Scotland. In fact, my surname is a Scottish name and I even know the small village in the Northern Highlands my distant relatives came from.
According to the rules applied to Elizabeth Warren, I owe the government and people of Scotland an apology for mentioning my heritage. I can't think of a time I've been asked my heritage, but if asked, I would say on my paternal side, I am Scottish. Likewise, on my maternal side, I am Swedish.
Lots of people proclaim their heritage. Thanks to my daughter's father, she can claim descent from Canadian First Nations. Not in a general or family lore way; I found the documentation. Her ancestors were part of the French claim to Quebec. Yes, it was hundreds of years ago, but it is real.
Maybe because of my years of research i just don't see that Warren has betrayed anyone's tribe. We all have "others" in our heritage. There is no pure American. Even Native Americans originally came from somewhere else.
So can we give this issue a rest and concentrate on policies and candidates to defeat Trump.
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayCurrent location: Snohomish County, WA
Member since: Wed May 18, 2011, 02:12 AM
Number of posts: 2,682
