Posted by
William D. Dannenmaier on Saturday, October 10, 2009 8:54:15 AM
Eric telephoned and noticed that I was in a bad mood. In response to his questions, I responded that I had unhappy news from my heart doctor: that I couldn’t do anything except sit around and wait to get worse. He cheerfully replied, “Look, Dad, you’ve never been known for your looks or your body anyway, so keep on writing. I enjoy what you write, especially your stories, and you would be surprised at how many people I’ve met who have asked about you. You’ve quite a reputation as a teacher.” Anyway, he ended up suggesting that I ask Dr. Blazer to contact his brother-in-law, Carlos Brockmann, who is a cardio-vascular surgeon in Bolivia and is just back from giving a series of lectures in Brussels. He said that Dr. Brockmann might have some different ideas. I decided to telephone Dr. Blazer immediately.
I couldn’t find Dr. Blazer’s telephone number under the interesting method of listing doctors used in our telephone book, couldn’t find his card anywhere and didn’t know who of the Blazers in the directory was correct. Finally, I telephoned HorizonHospital. A sweet sounding lady asked if she could help. I asked if she could connect me with Dr. Blazer or give me his telephone number. “Why do you want it?” “I want to talk to him.” “Who are you?” “I’m Bill Dannenmaier, one of his patients.” “Why don’t you telephone him?” “That is what I’m trying to do and I can’t find his number in the damned telephone book.” “Oh.” And she gave me the number. (His office was closed for the day.) When I put the telephone down, I sat and laughed. Burns and Allen couldn’t have written a funnier script.
It is easy to laugh at death for yourself, as two of us were doing at the Cardiac Club the other day, comparing the obnoxious alternatives between following doctor’s orders and dying, but it is another to see the people you love being whittled away. My wonderful sister, Ethel, is basically lost to us and is in hospice care. Now, my brother, Joe, telephoned that he is in danger of losing his sight. In danger? No, he has mostly lost it, but doctors are hoping that treatment will restore enough vision for him to operate again. Joe has always been with me in reality or support: at home, at Culver, while in the army and during my problems in my first marriage. He and I are the last of our generation and I have no wish to be alone. I can only ask my friends to include him in their prayers.
Changing the subject, I noted that for all of the years she has spent in church, my bride is truly ignorant concerning the start of the human race. It is true that God created Eden and Adam and Eve, but he had no intention of starting the human race. However, God saw how long and hard Adam and Eve worked because there was no night, only day, the sun shining continuously in that wonder land. In pity, God decided they needed some time to rest, so He created night and made half the year darker so Adam and Eve could have rest. Naturally, without the sun shining all day, it got cooler at night. This led to cuddling. Thus began the human race.
Some claim the above is not true, so I have an alternative explanation. God created Eden and then Man. Life was wonderful. Men fished, played cards, enjoyed golf and had a wonderful time lying to one another about their successes. God, noticing this, decided they needed some discipline, so he created Woe to Man, now known as Woman. Life changed.
Speaking of church, I attended one of my bride’s little Bible sessions one Saturday night. They had changed from their usual Sunday evening for this one event. I only went to be with them, to enjoy the Bible study, it had nothing to do with their decision to have a seafood feast featuring baked salmon, clam chowder and other goodies along with four lobsters. It turned out to be not quite what I expected. I was the only one present who knew how to get the meat out of the lobsters. I spent the time they enjoyed eating breaking open lobster shells and providing them with the goodies. (Anyone can do the tail and the claws, but the sweetest meat takes more effort.)
This morning Sheila complained (while I was struggling with cats and trying to sleep) that she had so much she should do at church. I replied that if all of us did all we should do, there would be no time for what we would (prefer) do.
I have been saying goodbye to friends at the hospital. I figure that when Obamacare passes and senior citizens are cut off Medicare that a dangerous combat veteran who is 79 years old and mostly Republican might top the list.
If they cut off medical treatment to the useless elderly, will they continue taking Medicare out of our Social Security until we pop off?