Blog Post
By Ken Boone For someone who doesn't consider himself lucky and blessed with good timing, things seem to be falling into place quite nicely for me. I'm finding that I actually enjoy staying at home and social distancing. And to think, all the while, I've been an introvert. Celia, you were right again! Our president, in an obvious diversionary stunt, is now "attacking the postal service" in an attempt to scare voters away from mailing in their votes. That is pretty sad, not just that voting by mail is the same as absentee-in voting. It's sad because the "spin" is lame at best. Even sadder is that many reasonably intelligent people are falling for the spin. But I digress here... Yesterday, I checked my bank balance online and noticed the posting of my monthly Social Security benefit payment, like clockwork! The payment wasn't caught up in the delays that were experienced by veterans waiting for their medications or those waiting for a paper check because they don't trust online banking, It was there, like clockwork! I'm so glad that the money just shows up, as promised. That's because if I were to get both my pension and Social Security benefits in the form of mailed checks, and have to go to my neighborhood bank to cash them, I'd have to relive a certain indignity twice per month. That was having to show multiple forms of identification just to prove who I am. I can speculate why someone like me would be looked at with a suspicious eye, but that's unnecessary because we all know the reason(s) why. It was frustrating to say the least. But worst of all, it was something me and others just got used to. Me, along with many friends, experienced being followed around stores by low-rent mall cops. Some of us would get frustrated and leave. Others would confront the guards or seek out the manager to complain. While I agree with both tactics, I developed one that worked for me. I would just walk up to the guard and ask them where I could find the men's room or where they kept the silk ties. Either request let them know that their cover was blown! That was only half of the shopping experience. I also dreaded having to return an item for either refund, replacement, or store credit. I recall having to come armed with several pieces of ID along with an explanation as to why I wasn't satisfied with my purchase. Then the burden always fell on me to prove that I actually purchased the item from them. Again, as frustrating as that was, it was horrible that a person could actually get used to that treatment. Then I moved out of the melting pot, also known as New York City, and into the suburbs. Things got better for me as a customer. Because contrary to what our president says, the suburbs serve as home to a wide variety of races and cultures. My shopping experiences have improved greatly. I can even order delivery of food and not have the person on the other end of the phone tell me that they don't deliver to my area. However, there are some instances where people still try to judge this book by its cover. I know I've spoken about the downside of my last gig, but I can't seem to shake it loose. Although I've forgiven, I just can't forget. It hasn't risen to a full-blown resent, but time and distance haven't pushed it out of my memory yet. I think things started to unravel there when I made a typo on a social media post. It wasn't huge. It didn't make it's way to thousands of eyeballs. Not even dozens, for that matter. But it did draw the attention of a select group of organizational people who collectively had an over-inflated sense of importance for their organization. And these folks didn't take into account the fact that I was dealing with a yet to be diagnosed heart condition that was restricting blood flow to my brain. All that mattered was that I misspelled a word in a social media post! While I wasn't placed under surveillance by the mall cops, I came under the scrutiny of their version of the grammar police. All of a sudden, the 20 word blurbs I posted on their social media platforms were now needing their approval. They were now taking credit for the podcasts I'd been producing for the past two years. And I was supposed to be grateful that I was now under the tutelage of individuals who brought a "corporate perspective" to the work that in their opinion I lacked. You know my response - after putting up with it for longer than I should have - I took my own 40 years of "corporate perspective" and briskly walked my ass out the front door! I took the steps to file for retirement. When I called the benefits department of the large accounting firm I once called home, I was greeting with respect. They even congratulated me for making it to pension age! They fast tracked my paperwork so I could receive benefits quickly. To my surprise, the Social Security filing process went just as smoothly. Within two weeks of initial contact with them, I knew exactly how much I'd be receiving and and the date of the first payment. In both cases, all I had to provide them with was some personal data and my banking information. And like clockwork, the payments arrived on schedule! I must admit, retirement still takes some getting used to. I still wake up relatively early. I still get a little antsy when I have nothing to do. But like my late mother and my very much alive sister-in-law, I've found several things to keep me busy. And busy I am! One thing I don't have to do is worry about sustaining my wife and myself. All I have to do is log in to my bank's website website, and there it is. On time. It may not be enough for me to buy that Porsche Cayenne that we want, but there is enough there to continue living with some degree of comfort. And it will be there - like clockwork!
0 Comments
If you've been following this blog, as well as listening to my podcast, "From Grievance to Gratitude", you are well aware of the health challenges I've faced the past year. You also know that because of a loving wife, great cardiologist, caring family, and a group of Catholics in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, my health has been restored!
Well, let me qualify that a bit. As long as I take the medications prescribed by Dr. V, I'll be in great shape. I also have to play the role of a human pin cushion while they keep sending me back for lab work. Dr. V keeps apologizing for having to adjust my meds, but as long as they keep working with no side effects... tweak away, Doc! Arriving for my appointment early, as usual, I greeted just inside the front door by a very nice nurse. To here right is a huge sign. I was asked to read the questions on the sign. It was a pop quiz to determine whether I had COVID-19, whether I had symptoms of COVID-19, and/or whether I was in contact with anyone who had COVID-19. Wow, and that was just to gain access to the building! After providing satisfactory answers to that quiz, the nurse then took my temperature. I was then allowed to proceed to the waiting room of my cardiologist's practice. But before I got to the door, I had to pass what appeared to be a gauntlet of friendly people, mostly women. Entering the office waiting, it all made sense to me, because there were a number of gentlemen sitting it socially-distanced chairs, all wearing masks. Ah - these must be the husbands. These are the my "comrades-at-heart", all patients of Atrium's Sanger Heart and Vascular. Although everyone looked to be in great shape, we all are members of at least one of the high-risk groups of folks vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. It didn't surprise me that we automatically greeted each other with the thumbs up salute! We've all been through a lot, and this thing isn't going to take us out without a fight! When my nurse called me to the back to check my vitals, he had to do a double-take. You see, although I've to him and emailed him, I hadn't seen Dennis since I first became a patient back in October 2019, after I was discharged from the hospital. He was one of my angels! Then Dr. V made his entrance. It was like I could see him smiling under that mask of his. I know I was smiling too. We exchanged pleasantries before he reviewed my chart. He made sure to remind me that the meds I was taking were life-sustaining, and that I was not to unilaterally stop taking them no matter how good I feel. He asked me how the podcasting was coming along. I told him that I was trying to organically build my network and trying to do it without the aid of rule-imposing sponsors. I wanted to tell him that the shows were now taking on a tone of advocacy, but I restrained myself. His role was to keep my heart pumping. When then got to my favorite part of the visits - the medication adjustments. This is where he tweaks my cocktail, and this time was no different. I was instructed to cut the dosage of one medication in half. That was great news - but it gets better. I was instructed to stop taking two other meds altogether! Before I could break out into a celebratory dance, he told me that I was to start taking a new med. This one, although given to me in the lowest possible dosage, was to reduce my risk for a stroke. A stroke, I asked. He assured me that while my risk is low, I don't have the best track record when it comes to keeping tabs on my health. Or at least that wasn't the case in the past. So here I am, typing up this blog post. Next, I have to finish writing the script for the next episode of my podcast. In between, I have to consult with a couple of first time podcasters, who will be bringing their much-needed perspective to the world via the internet. all of the previously mentioned tasks have short deadlines, so I've got to get cracking. This seems like a lot of work for someone who is officially retired, but I refuse to sit back and collect dust. Besides, I don't consider my activities work at all. Armed with God's Will, an amazing wife, awesome family and friends, and talented (and caring) doctors, I'm in good hands. But just to be on the safe side, Dr. V prescribed a 20 mg dosage of some pilled whose name I can't recall much less pronounce. Let's just call it my "new" magic pill. Whatever it takes... |
About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
|