pneumonia

Many stories about people being ill end with pneumonia, and many more would end with it if it weren't for antibiotics, of course. Inflamation of the lungs combined with bacteria, viruses, or other pathogenic organisms ... brings a record number of people down in the U.S. and worldwide. The 6th most common cause of death in our country, "4,5000,000 contract it each year," and it is considered "the most common cause of death due to infectious disease," according to "Taber's Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary" (quotes below will be from this volume as well).

When my Grandfather Roberts was in the hospital for his last stay it seemed obvious to me that he had something in the neighborhood of pneumonia, but "we" never talked about ailments in those days. Visiting his room at Queen of Angels Hospital (L.A.) I was shocked at what this here to fore very healthy man looked and sounded like. Completely congested with what sounded like phlem, he coughed and looked at me hopelessly, tried to smile. I was a coward, said goodbye and took off; for which today, I am deeply ashamed of myself.

Recently in my reading and listening I continue to discover stories about pneumonia. The well known Minnesota writer, Bill Holm, was stricken by septic pneumonia, which as I understand it, is a systemic pneumonia through the body. In a recent radio interview with Joyce Carol Oates about memoir of widowhood, she recounts the story of her husband coming from the hospital, after having been diagnosed and treated for pneumonia. She went to work and then later notified that he was back in the hospital. Before she could get back to the community and hospital, and managed to get into the locked building, her husband was dead, It is sobering to imagine the number of stories that could be told about this.

The descriptions of who get pneumonia and why are indeed sobering: the elderly, homeless people, people weakened by cancer, heart or lung disease, diabetes, cirrhosis, etc. Malnutrition, smoking, and other such causes parallel the risks of general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation "which increase the risk for developing pneumonia by inhibiting airway defenses and helping disease-causing germs reach the alveoli of the lungs." As an elder, I am particularly impressed that there is a risk to elderly patients for pneumonia because proper care isn't given them in terms of movement and necessary care (Nosocomial pneumonia), eg. the timely "removal of secretions and improve gas exchange, position changes, deep breathing and coughing exercises, incentive spirometry, active and passive limb exercises, and assistance with self-care." It is a very serious situation for thousands of elderly as funds are being cut for their care.

Occupational hazards

I grew up the son of an automotive mechanic, an occupation known for its hazards. It was a regular occurrence to see my Father's bleeding knuckles at the dinner table, a sliver of steel (grinding wheel) gave him a blind spot in his left eye (which allowed me to beat him at ping pong once in awhile), he had his hernia many years before mine was even a remote possibility. I will never forget when a bare wire on the garage floor electrified the entire area under the car he was working on, and he bounced up and down on the floor yelling for us to pull the plug, banging into the undercarriageas he yelled. His face was mashed in at the dinner table that evening. OSHA did not get started until December, 1970, Nixon signed the bill; I remember hearing a joke about it in the shop when I visited there in the early seventies.

Undoubtedly OSHA inspectors are experts, occupation by occupations, of the hazards. In fact, it seems to me that I saw an OSHA manual some time back listing those hazards, occupation by occupation. Also, I recently read an excellent book on loggers ("Brush Cats"?) considered to be the most hazardous of all our occupations; and the work that my wife I do is not far back down the list, farming. Driving the tractor recently a common hazard occurred when I reacted a little slowly to having hit a deep rut in the ice, which spun the steering wheel and I could have had a broken or severely bruised hand. Luckily my reaction was quick. Years ago for my wife and partner on a farm in Maryland, a very warm afternoon and a little sleepiness caused a broken hand for her in a similar circumstance.

Now the forces that be in government cost cutting and tax abatement are sword rattling about cutting oversight of all kinds, and with the powers that be in our dwindling manufacturing and work place leadership, plus the strong anti labor attitudes of the Republicans (& Democrats for that matter) it isn't hard to imagine that OSHA and like activity will be at stake. I wonder how many of the potential legislators have had experience in shops, especially in ones known for dangers? I look at people like our new Governor, Walker, and shake my head. He may have had some farm experience. If so I hope he hasn't forgotten it.

Generosity

One of the true blessings of life is to be generous, and to receive gifts of generous persons. Especially when this is a fluid process, where there are no secondary thoughts involved, no doubts about intentions or motives. My feeling is that it would be almost saintlike to be in a sphere where secondary feelings are not possible, and perhaps that is a strike against my character, my self doubt as a person to admit such a thing.

I have been the recipient of generosity all my life, and the memories I have of people, situations and conditions of generosity are almost unbelievable in amount and depth. The other side of the coin is to have witnessed largess, a word largely forgotten in a society which I believe would rather not recognize it. Largess is the "liberality in giving," "money or gifts bestowed," "bounty, dole or tip," "generosity of attitude," and in the archaic definition: "munificence," "a disposition to bestow lavish benefits, a generous nature." & "The lavish bestowal of gifts, entertainment, hospitality, or other benefits." These definition words are from the "New College Edition of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language."

Charity is undoubtedly tinged by largess at times, as is giving when the giving is out of proportion to one's needs and resources.
Much of today's giving seems troubled to me, and I am disturbed for those who must receive as part of a troubled life. The documentation on "Sixty Minutes" this last week about homeless children touched on this, how the receiving of food, housing, gifts/toys and clothing was an affront to their characters, how they were belittled by the largess aspect of the giving and receiving. What will be the result of having 20 plus percent of the Nation's children homeless and hungry for our society? What will be the percentage at the end of the year? How can this be in a nation such as ours?

Interesting times

There is an ancient Chinese saying wishing the person addressed a life in "interesting times." My understanding is that the intention of this was tongue in cheek in a sense. Perhaps it would be better to live your life in meditation, in study, in a tranquil, country atmosphere People who read this BLOG know that I am somewhat obsessed with the problems of my so-called civilization, and that I was raised to think of the confrontation with these problems as part and parcel of my obligation as a person, as a citizen.

Thus the times become a part of one's cross to bear, the stone which is constantly rolled up the hill in sisyphean style, or how about Don Quixote tilting at the ever lovin' windmills (?). And why bother when one can focus on one's breath, "chop wood, carry water." I've personally looked at both sides of these divides, been on both of them, but will probably spend my days trying for the "middle way" and failing to absent myself from the "interesting."

The Middle Way seems like an unachievable ideal, one which might have been found and lived in in another time. Growing up in the depression and war, going to war and living through successive wars and turmoil it doesn't seem to be in the cards. To move off to a version of "the ivory tower" (something that even seemed like a possibility at an earlier age), or a monastery (which never has been possible) is as if personal movies could be lived, even with cynicism. There is too much consciousness to be in isolation of any kind, and it would seem that consciousness would be the avenue out of the dilemmas involved.

Serious times

It was truly great to hear Michael Moore's speech in Madison, praising Wisconsin citizens for standing up to Governor (& for labor) and what is left of his legislature (over Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now" via WOJB radio). The Governor reminds me of certain people in my teenage years known as "jerkoffs," serious about his moves, seemingly, and those of his backers (the Koch brothers), instead of his true constituents; but he is too involved with his ego self and ideology and not with peoples needs

Unreality as the basis for ideology is endemic to political and religious life of these times. The fact is that people who confuse true believer stances with reasoned life make confrontations such as those going in Madison and Ohio more and more proibable. The huge differences between the so-called "haves and have nots" (for example who is to be held responsible for the huge deficits) makes all of this much more and more precipitious, and why Michael Moore dwelt upon those who have created the deficits in the first place.

One of the primary hallmarks of our time is the absence of media coverage of the events which the major media outlets simply do choose to cover. Or when they do to minimize their importance. Thus without independent media, National Public Radio and the like, we would not understand how someone like Governor Walker and his supporters (tea party & the Koch brothers, for example) can be understood and combatted in these times.