Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in

Enough of Skip Gates
Can We Talk About Health Care Now?

Sick and tired of our health care system? Me too. Around this time last month I sat in an ER waiting room for about four hours to be checked out after a car accident. Across from me a man's back was covered in blood. Then the police came and took him away. Weird. A young woman also across from me hugged a bag of ice, complaining of dehydration and wanting to throw up. Kids were crying and I wanted to cry too. Get me out of here. Once I was called I waited another 30 minutes in the hospital room before a doctor saw me. The doctor finally came in apologizing but they were sooooo busy today. Busy? That area of the ER was so quiet it made the library sound like a rock concert. Maybe he was busy with dead patients. Why did I wait so long if there were hardly any patients back here? All of that waiting only to released after 45 minutes. Mind you, I had to REMIND the doctor to give me a prescription for Motrin before being discharged. When I get to the hospital's pharmacy more "good" news. The dude behind the counter tells me they're out of Motrin. Out of Motrin? What the He--? How in the world is a 24 hour pharmacy at a large hospital in Los Angeles out of Motrin? Glad to see my monthly insurance payments are being put to good use.

What I experienced was the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Americans are suffering with crappy, bootleg health care. So why are we still talking about Pres. Obama's comments about Henry Louis Gates' arrest? The president saying he didn't know the facts of the case and then calling the actions of the Cambridge officer who arrested Gates "stupid" wasn't a good idea. Explaining the history of racial profiling to America--excellent and much needed. If you read Pres. Obama's second book he talks about his experience of driving while black. One time I felt I was pulled over because of my race. So I can understand the President's frustration. But hey, all heads will be cooled once the cop, Gates and Pres. Obama get together for a Beer Night at the White House. There's nothing like tossing back a few cold ones to get some racial healing. I guess.

Wait, I'm getting off topic here. Pres. Obama spent nearly an hour going over his health care bill and America is stuck on the one comment he made about Gates. Pres Obama says he has one of the best health care plans in the world. I'm sure Harvard is hooking up Gates with a fine plan too. But many of us aren't so fortunate. So America let's move on from Gates/Obama Drama. Think about the parents who are going bankrupt paying for their kids' cancer treatments. Or the man who can't get medical coverage because he has high cholesterol. Put some thought into my aching back and why my doctor told me to call her in TWO WEEKS if the physical therapy dept. doesn't contact me to schedule an appointment. Our health care "system" is jacked. I don't think a bottle of Heineken of will ease the pain.

Comments

  1. It's all by design Cocoafly. Whenever Obama says something that the GOP can use to divert from the real issues, they will do it. They don't want Americans to think about health care because they want it to be Obama's waterloo. I hope he's able to get something done about healthcare because the current system is tossing people out on their rear ends. The premiums are just to high for most people to pay.

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  2. Something needs to be done b/c I waited an hour the other to get a tetanus shot.

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