My Reasons.

People are strange, and funny looking too!

Yesterday my Relay for Life team mates and I stood in the road in Lenlock taking up money for The American Cancer Society. Its called a road block, it should have another name having something to do with dodging cars, watching red lights and getting your neck burned. I really cant think of a catchy title to go with that, but I digress. While we were standing in the road, I got to watch many cars go by with a world of different people inside. The cars are interesting too, I should of tried to keep up with all the different kinds, colors and conditions of these vehicles and the people in them for that matter! Everything from Cherry red Corvettes to a perfectly restored very old Mustang. Nasty, beat up trucks, dirty old junkers, something dragging a bumper and behind all of these a perfectly detailed brand new Dodge Charger. Mail trucks, army vehicles, garbage roll off trucks, an Ambulance (not called to this scene!), countless motorcycles and a car that was made up of so many different parts, it didnt know what it was.

The people were just as diverse. Young, very young, old, very old, middle, indeterminable, very dirty, clean, preppy, black, white, yellow, brown, one that looked kinda blue and one so white I suspect she was a vampire caught out to late and heading for her casket. People were headed in all different directions, some going to a bike race at Ladiga trail, to Wal Mart, Jacks, Sonic, to the dump (it was free dump day), Ft. McClellan for the Longleaf festival. Some folks were really dressed up, I could imagine they were headed to a wedding or a funeral. I saw a few that looked like they were headed to the beach, we don't live near a beach....

Anyway, people of all walks of life drove by me yesterday, some very friendly some wouldn't even look my direction. Like if they didn't look at me, I was invisible. I marched my invisible self right by their window, stared at them on the way by going to the next vehicle. I wasn't going to bite, or make them feel bad for not giving, its your choice and I understand if you don't want to give, cant, already have or don't care. This doesn't bother me, if you ask what I'm doing and why, I'll tell you, other wise I will leave you alone. That is not my point though. Lots of people gave, everything from penny's in their ash tray to $10 bills from their wallets, and believe me EVERY SINGLE PENNY IS IMPORTANT!!! Some folks apologized to me, saying all I have is a quarter or a few cents, and for some, I believe that is truly ALL they had. One old, old man gave me $6, I saw his wallet, thats all that was in there, it was empty after he handed me those two bills. I asked him if he meant to give me the five. He said, "yes dear, my wife died of cancer" and he drove off, leaving me near tears. And thats why I stand in the road and beg for money for the American Cancer Society!

I don't remember what he was driving, what he had on or what he looked like. He was old, he had lost his wife to cancer, he shared this with me and said thank you, he gave me all he had and that is the best reason I could ever find to volunteer for Relay for Life, to give all I can to find a cure so no one else has to ever say, "My wife died of cancer"

Why do I have insurance....

So, Friday I had a doctors appointment, "the" once a year female appointment. So off I go to the docs office, not terribly excited, but ready to get on with it. Its something we all have to do, so grin and bear it. Well I arrive before my designated time, I'm an early bird, cant help it, sign in, find a seat, get out the book. You always have to wait, no matter when you arrive, when your appointment is, how early, how late, you are going to wait. So while I wait, I read or watch people. Watching people is usually much more fun. This day, however, it just pissed me off, and lead to this blog. I'm waiting for the first call, the co-pay call, while I'm sitting there two more ladies come in with a small girl, about 3, still with a passy and diaper... anyway, they sit near me and start talking about her "check". She got her first welfare check and was pissed at the amount. I'm now staring, thank goodness they called me for the co-pay. While I'm standing at the counter, waiting, again, a young girl is being counseled by the other nurse/receptionist about applying for teenage pregnancy welfare. AAARGG! She didnt look 14, she was a very cute, very young girl with long curly redish brown hair, in a ponytail. She was a baby, having a baby.

I PAY(!!!) my $20 co-pay and trudge back to my seat. Theres more conversations going on, and some very entertaining, quite funny even, but that one is for another day. I go back to hear more about this assistance these women (using that term loosely, they were too, very young).
I'm getting a little angry hearing all of this, I am not against Welfare or helping people who need it, who are having a hard time, or have fallen on hard times. Im all for this, I am not, however, for going to work 40, 50, 60 hours a week to pay for someones else to have 3 or 4 kids and sit on their asses. It gets worse....

I finally get called to the lab, good, things are happening. You know its time for the pee in the cup, finger stick, blood pressure thing. I walk in, assume the position and the nurse says... "we cant see you today" WHAT, "It hasn't been a year", she explains. Another WHAT from me. I don't remember exactly when I was there last, apparently I had been there 364 days before, not a full 365 not a year, therefore my PAYED FOR BY ME Insurance wouldn't cover it. (I told you it got worse). I must have had a go to hell look on my face, because she started to quickly explain the insurance rules and regs. I told her thanks and it was ok, not her fault, all the proper things to say. She re-scheduled me and sent me on my way.

As I walked out of the lab, by the other women THAT I AM PAYING FOR, I wanted to advise them to have their tubes tied or buy condoms.