So this is Christmas

Merry Christmas Every One.

Woke up this morning to a blustery day of rain and wild winds to usher in the Christmas tide.  We are sort of waiting for the power to fail.  It has caused a flicker or two this morning as the tree limbs dance with the wires connecting us to civilization.  So I thought I would take this cozy opportunity to stay in touch.  Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 60's.  What a difference a day makes.

Even more to the point, what a difference a month makes!  I have finally adjusted to the compression garments.  It feels as if a second skin which is indeed quite compressing.  One of burgundy and one of denim blue are now a container into which I attempt to keep myself poured.  They are so much easier to keep myself dressed and to keep my healing wounds to seem secure.

We are finally down to the final details of the benefit in early November.  It certainly took a while to sort out who won what and from whom from the silent auction and get it to them and or make arrangements for returns and all other details.  There are still a couple of difficult rendezvous to arrange to complete that business.  With the gracious contributions from all corners of our lives, we can express our humble thanks to our friends associates and participating businesses for the success of the event.  After all the accounting it is with a grateful heart that about 10,000 dollars were raised to help with the ominous medical expenses.  It has certainly taken the edge off the immediate financial crisis.  We know that there will be a final zero factor to those funds and there is a certain "writing on the wall" future before the end of this settlement with the hospital, insurance folks and finally the years end review.  I/ we are very appreciative of the response from our collective community that has done so much to help us through this past six (6) months.  This includes visitations and meal support and worthy information with a certain measure of counsel on the impending "rest of the story" to come.  We have a deeper sense of the grace of humanity, especially during this season of giving and forgiving and hope.  Those contributions may just keep the wolves at bay long enough to learn how to deal with them in an organized and appropriate manner either with negotiations or good advice.

We have also learned a bit about the hard cruel world of the current health care system.
There are a lot of stubborn nuts to crack on that subject that will affect us all at some point in all of our relatively immediate futures.  It is with some purpose that I am compelled to learn more so as to help others through this maze and absurd process that we are now groping our way through.  It is not just about the future we all may have with government assistance but has to do with how society treats the individuals that exist within it.  There are many layers.  There are many different prejudices that exist.
The most predominant one is the one of class (which in the USA is a financial or political striation). 
It is also one of civil service versus civil independence.  It is odd that the one that supports the other is being run a bit rough shod over the other, in my opinion. There is no excuse that the common cold and the severed leg should be treated with the same weight in an emergency room entry.  In fact I believe that these scenarios should never even cross paths.  I think hospitals need two different doors to enter.

The billings I see and receive are outrageous for the service.  The negotiations I witness in settlements are equally a conundrum and absurd.  This leaves the "client" (me and you, if you have insurance of any kind) holding the bag of the balance.  In this case the possibilities are, to liquidate all you possess to become dependent on bureaucracies (from which you probably will have to pay back all you receive, when you die from your estate) or become a bankruptcy statistic like so many others before us to date.  (Medical bankruptcy is the most common one in the USA to date.)  Then there goes the credit for several years.  This means it is difficult to get back to square one much less ever be viewed as a safe bet.  All because of an unbidden and unforseen circumstance or incident or accident.  There are lawsuits to pursue but they also cost money and likely just make some ambulance chasing lawyer pay their bills.  There are great kindred spirits that will help and do the pro bono assistance to tackle the avenues of giants that the unsuspecting lay person or "client" would otherwise walk or crawl among many hidden pit falls.  It is no wonder anyone with a conscience and a sense of fair play could easily fall prey to despondency or just give up.   This is a new kind of pain I am not so familiar with.

This is an amazing study.  I look forward to it with trepidation even though the challenge is evident.
Right now I am slowly getting my strength back in my legs.  I can sit longer and stand longer.  The lesions are agonizingly slow to disappear.  They are going away.  I am accepting my scars.  I have seen a certain parade of doctors which have prescribed a certain volume of pharmaceuticals, which I did dutifully take.  It is with great relief that those are coming to an end.  Indeed my willingness to pursue wellness practices has increased.  I also have a tendency to want to rebel against this infringement.  Slowly those good things are taking hold in my lifestyle.  I'll still do a few of my favorite things.  The spice of life is not always in the good things that one does.

I am determined to figure out some way to navigate this morass.  With the new year I trust to have more energy to pursue and establish a helpful and informative venture into this messy subject.  I hope and will seek clarity on the issues beneath the surface ones we know through media or conjecture.
I guess I want the same kind of health care our legislators are some how privileged to have.   Those folks should serve us, (the public) up the same kind of protections they enjoy (and we pay for).  We elected them to do such things. These type of dynastic maneuvers by our leaders harkens back to feudalism where the serfs were basically slaves to a master that could be benevolent or not.  We're past that and I further believe we should not return or continue on that current line of civil action.
Like my wounds this process is making some painful and itchy progress.  It is an apt metaphor.

This could be an opportunity for the people to once again make their wishes known before the media or greed factors begin to tell and persuade the public what convictions they believe support their profit motives.  This is true for other aspects of our involvement across the globe.  The humanitarian efforts there are good.  It is interesting that poverty, hunger and crisis on the home soil seems to take a back seat.  It's desperate everywhere.  If one country is not healthy or true to its citizens then how can it take compassion on another country's common problems seriously.  I guess it is easier to take care of others than address your own.  Of course there is a certain obligation for philanthropy after exploitation.

This is a tirade we all know.  It is on this Christmas Day that I mourn and celebrate all the martyrs born that lived and perished for their convictions and somehow aimed for a higher purpose.  The price of life and the pursuit of civil justice seems to be very final and quickly dramatic in the end.  There is an anger and a despair that is necessary before there is any power that is willing to consider forgiveness or peace.  Quite often any kind of objection is dealt a harsh blow rather than given the milk of kindness.
The number 12 looms large in this regard.  12 stations, 12 steps, 12 months, each represents a cycle complete.  This 2010 is nearly done.  I along with many others am a sucker for the hope a new year, new beginnings and a new purpose portends.  After all one just might get what you thought you wished for, be it a blessing or a curse or nothing of the kind.

I must be getting healthier because I can see that these frustrations are starting to come out with a small manner of regurgitated agitation.  Blah Blah Blog.  I wonder if there is a soapbox under the tree.

I do wish for peace on earth even though I know that it is only a part of human nature that really wants that.  I wish for life to be fair too, but it is rarely that. 
Mundanity is great but drama is more interesting. 

That is enough entry and opinion for now.  Keep an eye on the website www.burnedman.org for future events and development of the new non profit venture and advocacy updates.

Have a Happy New Year 2011
The Red Moon has passed.  (The eclipse of the solstice moon).  There should be a clean slate now
Best to all and to all a good night.  Until next time.

Glenn