Thanks, SCOTUS!

I just have to share some feelings and thoughts on this day.  I drove to work on pins and needles waiting for the decision on Obamacare.  It means a lot to my family and to a lot of other families, too.  My son could never get insurance with his pre-existing condition.  No one will insure a cancer survivor.  One of the provisions that's so important to me is that people can't be denied because of pre-existing conditions.  I have little doubt that the insurance companies will do what they can to get around it, but it's a start.  All of it is a start.  I'm not a fan of the mandate, but until we get our single payer system, this is what we have.

By the time I got to work I was completely frazzled.  They were about to announce the decision and I was sure it would be bad news.  I was greeted with my usual enthusiastic co-worker.  I turned on Democracy Now to hear the updates.  Then it became clear I got what I wanted.  This almost never happens.  I was so happy.  I tried not to cry as the relief came over me.  Said co-worker started loudly spouting off some ignorant and incorrect nonsense about Obamacare and made it clear that this was the worst thing they ever did hear.  I was so enraged.  I said that because of it my son can get insurance.  I felt the blood rising to the top of my head and I choked back tears as I said it.

I am sick of feeling like a second-class citizen.  I'm sick of worrying about insurance.  I'm sick of the medical bills that never stop coming.  I'm angry that this is all ruining my credit.  I just want to take care of Simon and I feel like a failure.  I don't like the thoughts that pass through my head worrying more about paying his bills than his well-being.  I am fortunate that at this point he's doing so well I don't need to worry about his health nearly as much.  But there was a day when he was recovering from having his tumor removed where that wasn't the case.  I had to deal with the upheaval and fright of having a 12-month-old with cancer and on top of it I had to stress about how would we pay for it.

How can we call ourselves a civilized country?

I'm no fan of Obama and I think we still have a long way to go with health care, but this morning I was feeling like a victor and saw this and felt like he was telling me he's got my back.

The Horror!

This morning on tv they had a bit about Princess Kate Middleton and her wardrobe.  The great part was I was watching this while I rifled through my 5 shirts and 3 pairs of pants that are suitable for work. 

Did you know that Kate has been seen wearing the same article of clothing more than once???!?!!?!  Sometimes she'll wear the same dress to occasions only several months apart!  I know!  Sometimes she'll pair it with a kicky beret and other times a fascinator just so she doesn't look entirely ridiculous.  They did also temper the story with the footnote that she grew up a commoner in a middle class family so obviously she should be forgiven.

Nevermind the debatable idea that the Royal Wardrobe is not newsworthy, just who do they take their audience for?  Is re-wearing clothes really such a big deal?  Am I the freak for doing so?  Why am I asking rhetorical questions? 

Seriously, stuff like that really chaps my hide.  In a world where so many people are homeless, have trouble putting food on the table or shoes on their kids feet, how is one expected to give a flip what someone wears two or three times?  It is insane to think that anyone, even the future queen of England, should trollop off to the store and buy a new outfit for every day of one's life.  The story spoke to me in a semi-deep way about the disconnect between the upper-class and the real world and its inhabitants.  There is injustice all around us.  One need only open one's eyes to see.

Maybe I'm crazy but...

I've been up reading a few of my blog posts and dangit, I don't write enough.  It could be the 2AM euphoria of quiet time while the world sleeps, but I really should take the time to do more of this and less time looking at every half-witted semi-amusing thing someone puts up on the interwebs.  I need to think about life and my little place in it.  I need to make something of myself.  I need to get off the couch and burn a calorie. 

But now I need to go to bed.  It's late.  And I have work to do tomorrow.

Words of Wisdom

Listening to Ira Glass give a commencement address while curled up under a Yo Gabba Gabba blanket eating iced cream in the dark.  Life is good sometimes.