Does Hillary Have a new Health Plan?

Last week was fairly busy in between visits to see mom. I went to the doctor who diagnosed me with bronchitis, gave me three prescriptions, and suggested my sister and I attend her lecture on Alzheimer's later in the week. I dropped off the prescriptions at the drugstore and stopped in to visit mom. Since she was napping, I returned to the drugstore to pick up my medicines. As the clerk shyly pushed the medicines across the counter she said, "You may not want one of these as it is really expensive." I thought, well, how bad can it be? After my insurance coverage the one drug was $99.11 for 10 pills! The other two were an additional $30. This doctor really wanted me to show up for her lecture, even if I couldn't afford the gasoline to get there. I returned to visit mom again and helped her to eat her lunch. Dragged myself to the hairdresser for a much needed fix up. Bronchitis or not, you have to look good to feel good.

And so the week continued with me dragging myself to play golf twice and going out to dinner. We had tickets to two different shows Thursday and Friday nights, one a dance and the other a comedy show. So, I dragged myself to those events. Friday was the doctor's lecture on Alzheimer's so my sister and I dutifully attended the somewhat tedious two and a half hour lecture. We didn't learn much if anything. Mom has had the disease for so long that we knew it all. We did discover a caregiver's group that meets every week and we may find that to be of help.

Yesterday I helped mom with her lunch and then decided she needed some fresh air. This was quite a sacrifice on my part because it was no simple task to get her ready. I removed the one sweater and put on a warmer one, bundled her up in her heavy winter coat, put the foot rests on the wheelchair, got her sunglasses and put a visor on her head. It was a sunny, beautiful day, a little on the cool side for Florida (around 70 degrees). About 50 yards down the street mom started whining. Every little bump in the sidewalk seemed to bother her. She was cold (I was in shorts and a shirt) so I pulled the hood of her coat up on her head. It was too breezy, too cold, too bumpy, and finally, too hot. I zipped and unzipped that coat about six times. Tried singing old-time songs which she joined in for a few bars but couldn't maintain. I determined she was tired and suggested she sleep in the chair on the way back to her place. I was hoping the gentle bumps would rock her to sleep much like an infant. She was more quiet but not asleep. I rang the door for admittance to the home. No one came. So, I pushed the wheelchair into the full sun, pulled mom's pantlegs up over her knees and gave her a good dose of vitamin D while we waited for the aid to answer the door. No one came for 20 minutes but mom had a great nap. Meanwhile, I sat on the bench and dozed on and off keeping one eye on her. She woke up saying, "It's too hot here." Some days you can't win.

As for my magic $10 pills, I have three to go. You can't really put a price on good health. Although next time I'm sick you can be sure I will check out the doctor's lecture schedule beforehand.