Reply #11: Morning Marketeers...

[AnneD]

:donut: and lurkers. Up at 4:30 and still not the first rec. Some folks need to watch their caffeine intake.

Things have been a bit sad and painful around here as of late. A good friend died suddenly on Tuesday morning. I have no doubt she could have had a longer life if health care had have been available. In the process of meeting old friends-I found out one of our friends twin brother died of an infection that he could not afford to treat-see he was a diabetic and just brushed it off and tried to take care of it himself because he was out of work.

My friend lived an alternative lifestyle (code in Texas for gay and pagan to boot). She left behind many grieving friends in the court house and Sci Fi community, children, nieces, adopted and foster kids, a life and business partner of over 20 years, and a cadre of close friends wishing they had gotten her to give them more of her recipes. Our annual New Years pot luck will be a little bit duller and a lot less tasty. She was 56 and her mother is heart broke to bury her child before she herself passed. The preaching at the funeral was mainly for her mom-but mom couldn't even bring herself to come. Her friends gathered to support her partner and stayed til she left. Someone will be with her all this week and next to help her through. Her office staff will be helping her next-you see, her partner was her right hand.

So, I don't know what saddens me more-the fact that there was not adequate health care, lack of recognition of gay marriage, or complete religious freedom for one of the world's old religions. And all this being played against the relentless, useless chatter coming out of DC and NYC. I hope you have a productive day and do something that brings you and your loved ones some joy. When it comes down to it...that's all that matters anyway.

Happy hunting and watch out for the bears.