Sunday, April 29, 2012

moving on

As I write this, it is a Sunday. In two-days time, my beloved parents will move out of what was supposed to be their retirement home, and move IN to a retirement village, where their meals will be provided for them, and transportation provided, as needed.

This is all mostly good. Mom and dad will still  be living together, but the move was mostly prompted by my dad's declining health, and my mom's increasing lack of ability to take care of him. He has dementia, diabetes, glaucoma, and a history of heart disease. My mother has been the one to remind him to take his medicine, and take his verbal abuse, when symptoms make him frustrated. The house they live in now works fine for folks with physical disabilities, but not so much for people with  these kinds of issues.

I credit my dad for wanting me to be smart, go to college and work. He also passed on to me his love for music.  However, he cannot always remember that I have cancer, or how I am being treated, and that makes me sad. They will be closer to me, and my mother still plans on driving me places that Bruce can't.

I'm 45, but I still need both my parents, and love them.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Big Government

I've wanted to post this question on my Facebook account, but it's too political.  The question is: How is government run health care big government, and mandatory ultrasounds NOT big government. The stereotype is that the Democrats  want to rob Peter (you) to pay Paul (the less fortunate) and that's bad because the government shouldn't be our nanny. If you need help, it's your own fault, so just get a job.  It's that easy.

On the other hand, the lawmakers who make these kinds of arguments seem to be the first to want government in our bedrooms and lately, women's bodies. State legislatures around the country are trying to pass laws that would require ultrasounds and waiting periods before getting abortions. In Arizona, a law recently passed goes so far as to redefine when pregnancy begins. Personally, I am not for abortion, but I don't think women who have abortions do so easily, or without emotional or physical distress Call me crazy, but I don't think it's the government's business to make laws regarding our junk. I want to be in charge of my own body, whom I love, and whom I do or do not worship.

And I am not a republican, because I think the party wants to control the most personal parts of my life. If the Democratic Party is for Big Government, the Republican Party is too.