Sitting here in Asheville, NC - Democratic Underground

AshevilleKate

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Sun Sep-11-11 10:40 PM
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Sitting here in Asheville, NC

I am sitting in my little mobile home in a senior citizen mobile home park and have just been told for the first time in eleven years that I am cancer free. I have thus far survived thyroid, ovarian and breast cancers. I have, however, to continue my life's journey with the small nuisances of medical problems that include: a brain tumor and a brain cyst, both believed to be non-malignant, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, compression fractures in many of my vertebrae from accidents, rebuilt ankle,knee and shoulder, oh and diabetes. I suffer from sort of malady that makes me break out in hives when my body changes temperature, whether it be too hot or too cold. They burn, itch, and crash me into fatigue. They go away after about an hour, unless I overheat and then the hives go to virulent stage that takes an all day recovery. I am, admittedly, by my fault and not society's, obese. I am working on that. So why is this something I choose to share?

Because many many years ago, when first diagnosed with only a couple of those cancers and no skin disease, I applied for a benefit I thought I was entitled to after working since I was 14...disability. I was denied...I was sent a letter that says "You has (sic) good cancer." I did not reapply right away. I did not know then that you could. So, after the illnesses worsened, I finally reapplied. I had now, drumroll please, been "sick too long." And so now, I need 20 credits or 5 more years of work to reapply....but hello, is anyone listening? I have been sick for 11 years! I have no current work history. I could not get a job if I could work, which I can't, but I can't get help because I HAVE BEEN SICK FOR TOO LONG!

(Lawyers today will help you for a percentage, but not if they know you have been sick too long and are therefore ineligible, so please do not offer me that advice.)

So, again, here I am in my little mobile home. My husband is a disabled veteran, Vietnam era,
and my adult disabled daughter, lives with us. We live only on his VA retirement check. Last time I looked, there was no cost of living allowance scheduled for the third year in a row, and tell that to my park manager who just raised my rent $15 a month. Or to the electric company whose rates have soared. Or groceries....gasoline...well, I know there a whole lot of you out there. I went to check my savings account for a balance...oh, wait, I haven't got one of those. My checking account is usually in the single digits by the 20th of the month. I can say, hallelujah, that my mobile home is paid for, if not the land under it.

One of my favorite comments is that I am still looking for the magic fairy. You know, the magic fairy that is the good fairy that belongs to the folks that ostensibly work for us in the magical fairyland known as Washington, D.C. and vote themselves pay raises because it is so hard to survive on a base salary of $200,000 a year. I mean, I can see why they need all those freebies. I can see why they have to charge their constituents ungodly amounts to speak to them at high school graduations. Their words, after all, are golden, and therefore, demand a golden tribute. But my magic fairy has long since either retired or moved on to greener pastures...or maybe, like me...SHE HAS ALSO BEEN SICK TOO LONG!

I wish all of you Americans, every size, shape, color and creed, every religion, sect, and belief, every political view, the most wonderful of days and terrific nights. A beautiful full moon is high in the sky tonight, my front door is open and the cool breeze is coming down off the Blue Ridge Mountains as it is just turning to leaf peeper season here. We should have a fantastic fall here. I have just celebrated my 28th wedding anniversary with my beloved husband. Together we have survived Katrina, being run over on sidewalks by crazy drivers, a disease or two along the way, yet I maintain my humor...dark though it sometimes is.

Stay strong guys and gals -- we can get through these quagmires and bumps in the road. I will end my long winded spiel by using one of my favorite "old" sayings...

Peace out!