PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE - TOO FEW TO MENTION

 

Sent to Pantsuit Politics in response to their show about childcare and other progressive policies that are not getting any traction:

 

Not sure if this is the right place to send feedback or not, but I'm going to try. It sure beats talking back to my iphone! First, thank you to Beth for your lovely inclusive shout out to your many listeners - I would be one of those retirees who have children your age! I was always a working mom, and procuring childcare was always a pain in the you-know-what. I remember seeing the film "Nine to Five" in 1980, and feeling such hope when the mean boss had to agree to provide on-site childcare at the end of the film. Yay! Progress! Hope! And yet, my working career continued for another 30+ years with no real help in the form of childcare. And now, my children are feeling the same pressure and problems. So when you say that things are moving in the right direction and we need to be patient, I have some problems with that belief. Add that to the likelihood that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned during the lifetime of my grandkids and I can get downright depressed.

There have been 2 progressive policies that directly affected our lives during my career which the current generation takes for granted: the Family Leave Act and allowing our kids to stay on our insurance until age 26 (it used to be 18 or 21, depending on whether they went to college). Those two progressive policies made a difference in the lives of every American. Am I greedy to want more? And in my lifetime? Thanks for reading!

Inauguration Day 2021 - My hopes for the future

 Yesterday our 46^th president, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., finally became our next president. While I was excited and hopeful, the fact that many of my friends and family are feeling the exact opposite weighs on me. A friend posted a paragraph touting the wonderful things that had occurred in the past administration, mostly focusing on the economy and the stock market. However, nothing was mentioned about the many Americans who felt left out of this MAGA world, the outright lies that led to an insurrection on our Capitol, and 400,000 dead Americans. So here’s what I’m hopeful about happening in our country in the immediate future.

More civility.  The past administration normalized the insult. Members of the press, leaders of blue states (or red states that didn’t vote for him) and former employees all felt his public wrath. I am so encouraged that President Biden is making civility a vital tenet of his administration. As George W. Bush said on Inauguration day, things would be better if we all practiced the golden rule. Amen.

Telling the truth. We all watched the heartbreaking events of January 6 play out in front of our eyes. The people who attacked the police and defaced a national symbol of our democracy did so because they truly believed that the election was a fraud. The former president repeated lies and conspiracy theories so often that many people believed them and thought their actions were patriotic. “Alternate facts” are lies, and I am hopeful this administration will tell the truth.

Using the Federal Govt. to Attack Covid:  As a student of history, I have waited for the federal government to use their full power to save us all, as FDR did with the New Deal in the 1930’s and then later during World War II. Without leadership and vision from the White House in the 1950’s and 60’s, we would probably never have been able to send astronauts into space. Instead, in 2020 we got confusing messages or no information at all. Our president admitted later that he was terrified to let the country know how bad things were going to get, because it would make him look bad and “cause a panic.” Instead, he pushed the problem on to the states, and to add insult to injury, he awarded help to states that he thought were deserving (red), and insulted the leaders of states he didn’t care for (blue). Who ever heard of a president who would punish the citizens of an entire state because he didn’t care for the way they voted? Yes, he does get credit for the “Warp Speed” covid vaccine, but it is still puzzling that it was so difficult to find a covid test for many months. Also, making the simple act of wearing a mask to protect us all a political statement was not helpful.

As a Boomer, I remember what happened when the Soviet Union beat us in the space race. The “Sputnik” campaign focused all of our energy on scientific education, research, and innovation. I look forward to our Sputnik moment, when we all embrace the public will to beat this virus. We are all in this together!

Our New Normal in the Grip of Corona Virus

Day Seven of Social Distancing

- We are separated from our grandkids, which is very painful. We Facetimed with Charlie (age 4) and Luke (age 4 months) yesterday, but it's just not the same. I bought a book (Tales of Desperaux) and had it shipped to the girls (Lila 8 and Rose 7) - when they get it I plan to read a chapter a day aloud with them. We'll see how that goes! We wanted to watch Charlie so he wouldn't go to day care, but Matt and Ashley are just keeping him home instead. It's a blessing that they can work from home! Elyse and Jeffrey are doing the same, because their nanny has her own family and worries. It's a mess!
- Since I'm not going anywhere, I spend a considerable amount of time on the phone with friends.
- Where are the tests? Jessica became symptomatic a week ago, and could not get a test through her doctor or otherwise. Fortunately, she is better, but Casey and Dave have all self-quarantined along with her. It hasn't been a year yet since Dave was in lung cancer treatment, so he is compromised. President Trump and his "greatest of all time" team of experts have daily press conferences where they say millions of tests are on the way, but they have not made it to Gwinnett county. In the meantime, the entire NBA has been tested...apparently you can get tested if you are rich. Life in Trump's America! Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks were diagnosed in Australia, where he is working on a film...they got it in the USA but couldn't get a test until they got to Australia, where they are readily available. Also, Jordan, a chef for Hilton hotels, just got furloughed because there is zero business in the hospitality industry. Many states have closed all restaurants and bars, but not enough. The malls all just closed yesterday. America is soooo not great!!!!
- My understanding is that once you get the virus and get better, you cannot get it again. It kind of makes you wonder....maybe it almost be better to get it??? Just sayin...
- In the meantime, spring is here in the south, and it is beautiful outside. I've spent some time in gardening therapy, which helps a bit.
- Mom's entire assisted living home is on quarantine, and so far everyone there is healthy. All we can do is wait.
- We've had to cancel our Mediterranean cruise in May - this virus may last until July they say. One possible bright spot is there are only 10 cases in Mexico! Perhaps this virus doesn't like it hot! Or perhaps they don't have testing either. 
-At any rate, I feel fine and Bill does too. Every sniffle or sore throat is a worry though.
- WE ARE IN A ROBIN COOK OR STEPHEN KING NOVEL!

So hard NOT to despair for our country

As a country, the US van has driven to the brink and is dangling over the edge. We are more divided than ever, as evident by the Kavanagh hearings. When Dr. Ford's allegations came to light and she was scheduled to have her say to the Judicial committee, many of my friends had already concluded that she was a  "liberal operative" who would say anything to ruin this good man's reputation. Then the hearing began with what appeared to be a miracle. She was humble, kind, apparently nonpartisan and BELIEVABLE. In comparison, Mr. Kavanagh's testimony could not have been more of a contrast. (Just watch Matt Damon's portrayal on SNL, which is funny as hell and eerily accurate.) He came across as arrogant, aggressively scary, and worst of all, extremely partisan. Not an admirable quality for a judge to the HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND, who we all hope will be at least somewhat unbiased.  As my mother always said, "You only have one time to make a first impression." I had never seen either Dr. Ford or Judge Kavanagh speak before, and they made very strong and opposite impressions to me. In spite of her compelling testimony and the judge's angry rants, late in the day it appeared that the Republicans who held most of the cards were still going to vote for his nomination. Then, a second miracle - Jeff Flake agrees that the FBI needs to investigate further. The president and Senate leader allowed for a "limited" investigation. What does limited mean? They were given one week to investigate, and were instructed on what they could and could not investigate. In the meantime, our president, who had initially said he would allow the FBI to do their job, angrily denying that they were trying to direct this investigation, went out on the road complaining to his "base" (oh how I hate that word) about Dr. Ford's "unfair" accusations. So, let's just call a spade a spade - this FBI probe is just a bandaid on a compound fracture. It might look like some action is being taken, but let's not kid a kidder.This is a sham to appease the few people who have the power to deny this man's appointment. Another thing my mother used to say was "I was born at night, but not LAST NIGHT!" If Judge Kavanagh wins this appointment, the red white and blue van will crash to the rocks below. And the radio will broadcast as the van free falls, "The stock market rose again by 50 points."

Recap of the past 6 months

Since July 24, Bill and I have done our best to obtain the best care possible for Mom and Dad. There have been many more bumps in the road than we would have liked - here is a recap of our efforts in the last 5 1/2 months:

• Locating a residence that would provide appropriate care for them that was near to both us and Dave and Casey (Delmar Gardens)
• Convincing Dad to give a move to Georgia a try
• Coordinating the move on July 24 (thank you to everyone of you who helped this happen). Completing extensive paperwork that was comparable to a first mortgage closing.
• Working with the staff at Delmar Gardens to help them acclimate as much as possible
• Dealing with Dad's long hospitalization and confusing diagnosis (UTI? congenital heart failure?)
• Dealing with Mom who was separated from him for the first time in 63 years of marriage and was increasingly agitated and upset being alone
• Learning that Dad would not be able to go right back to Delmar Gardens until he went to rehabilitation, only to learn further that no rehab center would accept him due to the fact that he had been restrained in the hospital
• Scrambling and calling anyone I could think of who might suggest where he could live as the hospital was pressuring us to get him out, and saying we would be "private pay" if we didn't get him out of the hospital
• Learning of Hope Memory care through Senior Provisions, who said they would take him with little question and who accepted him THE VERY NEXT DAY  (more paperwork)
• Keeping Mom company at Delmar while she was separated from Dad, especially at bedtime when she was the most upset and unable to settle
• Moving Mom in to Hope in a week's time
• Learning that Mom climbed out of the window after one week and that Hope recommended she be admitted to Eastside Behavioral Hospital to be medicated for her safety and peace of mind - she was there for two weeks
• Signing up Dad for Embrace hospice for additional support for his congestive heart failure. Embrace provides additional services to compliment those provided by Hope, including providing equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, diapers, cleaning supplies, weekly chaplain visits, bathing and dressing services, and weekly visits and care from a registered nurse who specializes in palliative care. All of this is paid for by Medicare.
• Meeting with an attorney who specializes in qualifying veterans for VA "Aid & Attendance" benefits in order to help them receive these tax-free benefits. This required a great deal of paperwork, most of which is completed, but am still waiting for the physician form to be completed by Embrace Hospice.
• Returning Mom to Hope after 2 weeks and trying to get her medications regulated so she was more comfortable but not "doped up"
• Signing up Mom for hospice for additional support.
• Dealing with Mom's unexplicable decline in December due to an apparent medication mixup. She has improved a great deal
• Meeting with Hope and Embrace Hospice representatives to try to improve communication between them, each other, and with the family.
• Hiring Sam as a sitter to help out with Mom and Dad while we were out of town for 10 days.

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Questions for Attorney

Medicaid process - talk us through
Status on VA - will move to new facility affect this process?
Kelsey Larios - Hope contact for financial form
Discuss move and concerns

Another day, another fresh hell

So today was ALMOST a good day. My sweet sister-in-law took over today with the folks, taking mom to see dad in his new place. I guess they had a lovely afternoon, but as she was trying to leave Mom in her apartment at the memory care, mom got extremely upset and begged to go home with her. So my sil called me to ask if I thought that was a good idea. My husband, my HERO, got in the car and went over there to calm Mom down. This is just dreadful.