EmeraldPrincessOnline
The heartbreaking, gut-wrenching saga of Terri Schindler-Schaivo languishing in terminal thirst and starvation at the insistence of her so-called husband and her betrayal year after year, layer after layer of the court system, has stymied my appetite for food. The angst is almost unbearable.
Closer to home than Terri's plight, tonight I learned that a family we are close friends with who are keeping their aged, debilitated, agitated mother at home, "caring" for her in her final days are committing a similarly unspeakable act. The seeming ideal of being surrounded by family caregivers and living out one's final days in one's own home, is an illusion at best. What appears on the surface to be a lovely picture really is a mirage. The woman's doctor has proclaimed that since she is refusing food and drink (as of two weeks ago) because her pain is so great, that her death will come in the next three days. I was feeling so sad for all of them as they prepare to lose their mother. But wait, there's more!
The blockbuster tidbit of news that leaked out this evening is that the doctor had ordered morphine to help control her pain in her final days, but the "family" has decided that "she doesn't need it" so they're withholding it from her, meanwhile, she's writhing in anguish. And they (the seven siblings) are all bawling around in crisis about their mother dying -- yet won't even give her the medication to ease her pain through this end-of-life phase. Boo-hoo-hoo.
What in the hell is wrong with these people?
I had already lost my appetite before hearing this, but when I learned of her pain and that the family says "she doesn't need'' the morphine, I feel not only anorexic, I am angered. I feel such an absolute rage that helpless people such as this woman in her final days are surrounded by their devoted caregivers who really don't give a rat's ass.
All they're clucking and cooing about is the lament that they didn't get her to sign over her estate while she was still competent and did not give any one of them power of attorney.
They discovered $5,000.00 tucked away in a book at her house today. Now they're going through all of her books in search of any additional cash she may have stashed over the years. She probably hid it with good reason from those vultures.
They don't have a legal leg to stand on.
They just have wait a few more days now, (morphine might have stretched the time even longer) clamoring to be at her right hand when she exhales that last agonal breath.
I just want to puke.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Linda's Reminder: Joy truly is in the journey
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Aunt Malena, in her 80s, frail, inhabiting a body wracked by the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis and metastatic cancer, continued to focus her time and remaining energy to work on preparations for the family reunion the following year. Sadly, she didn't live to see it come to fruition. I was awash in grief over the disappointment that she did not live long enough to see the reunion come together. When I wrote about that my friend, Linda, a wise and compassionate R.N., she wrote back a most insight-filled note of condolence. Linda expressed her belief that what is important is being involved in something, working toward a goal, whether or not it is reached in one's lifetime. That was a real lightbulb moment for me. It made so much sense and was so comforting. Recently, Linda sent me the following story about two brothers. The conclusion is similar. I'd like to share it. This story of the two brothers is certainly along that same line. Thanks for the reminder, Linda. The joy truly is in the journey.
Joy in the Journey:
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.
"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors. "We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.
After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"
Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for - to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!
But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way!"
Aunt Malena, in her 80s, frail, inhabiting a body wracked by the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis and metastatic cancer, continued to focus her time and remaining energy to work on preparations for the family reunion the following year. Sadly, she didn't live to see it come to fruition. I was awash in grief over the disappointment that she did not live long enough to see the reunion come together. When I wrote about that my friend, Linda, a wise and compassionate R.N., she wrote back a most insight-filled note of condolence. Linda expressed her belief that what is important is being involved in something, working toward a goal, whether or not it is reached in one's lifetime. That was a real lightbulb moment for me. It made so much sense and was so comforting. Recently, Linda sent me the following story about two brothers. The conclusion is similar. I'd like to share it. This story of the two brothers is certainly along that same line. Thanks for the reminder, Linda. The joy truly is in the journey.
Joy in the Journey:
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.
"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors. "We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.
After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"
Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for - to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!
But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way!"
Terri Schindler-Schiavo: Euthanize the weasel, but let Terri live
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Why should Terri Schindler-Schiavo have to essentially be put to death for the convenience of her husband? How is it that in our modern day American culture a person's right-to-life is somehow secondary to someone right-to-death? I am passionate about Terri's situation. No doubt the strain of all of these years of her being disabled has taken a toll on the entire family, however, her husband has shown that he is a weasel.
Jeb Bush did a good thing when he stopped the efforts to remove her PEG tube.
Why the judges in Florida have sided with her husband and how they could want her blood on their hands, I do not understand.
Why, oh why, if her parents are willing to assume the financial responsibility for her ongoing care, why doesn't her husband just go to Nevada, get a quickie divorce, and get on with his life with the woman he has made multiple babies with, but leave Terry alone and allow her to live. Why couldn't her parents be granted guardianship of Terri? I don't see why she has to die for his convenience.
There are many photographs and day-to-day updates on the process through the courts of Terri's desperate case which can be found on the Web at http://www.terrisfight.org. One picture says it all for me: the look of love captured as Terri is smiling and straining to reach her mother.
Euthanize the weasel. Let Terri live.
Why should Terri Schindler-Schiavo have to essentially be put to death for the convenience of her husband? How is it that in our modern day American culture a person's right-to-life is somehow secondary to someone right-to-death? I am passionate about Terri's situation. No doubt the strain of all of these years of her being disabled has taken a toll on the entire family, however, her husband has shown that he is a weasel.
Jeb Bush did a good thing when he stopped the efforts to remove her PEG tube.
Why the judges in Florida have sided with her husband and how they could want her blood on their hands, I do not understand.
Why, oh why, if her parents are willing to assume the financial responsibility for her ongoing care, why doesn't her husband just go to Nevada, get a quickie divorce, and get on with his life with the woman he has made multiple babies with, but leave Terry alone and allow her to live. Why couldn't her parents be granted guardianship of Terri? I don't see why she has to die for his convenience.
There are many photographs and day-to-day updates on the process through the courts of Terri's desperate case which can be found on the Web at http://www.terrisfight.org. One picture says it all for me: the look of love captured as Terri is smiling and straining to reach her mother.
Euthanize the weasel. Let Terri live.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Trial Outcomes: Scott Peterson and Robert Blake
EmeraldPrincessOnline
What is the cosmic synergy that sealed the fate of Scott Peterson and Robert Blake on the same day? Or is it just that now that we have the new crime spree to ruminate over from Atlanta so it was time to make room for all of the TV coverage of Brian Nichols, and in order to make way, it was time to wrap-up the months and years of trial coverage for Peterson and Blake to clear the decks for an intense focus now on Brian Nichols. Hardly a blip on the radar about the eight dead in the church shootings near Milwaukee.
And by what irony is it that Scott Peterson (O! So guilty!!!) was convicted and is sentenced to death by lethal injection, yet Robert Blake (O! So guilty!!!) was acquitted by all 12 of 12 jurors on the murder counts, yet there was the one juror holdout who voted to find him guilty of "lying in wait". And how is it then that an innocent man, a man who (per their verdict) did not murder nor arrange for the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakely, just exactly how is it that there was one holdout on that count?
Once again the trial outcome in the case of Robert Blake screams to the whole rest of the world that people in America and the criminal justice system here is bipolar at best.
While watching the live coverage of the announcement of the verdicts in Robert Blake's trial, as he was overcome with emotion on hearing the "not guilty", he reached for some medication (perhaps nitroglycerin for a heart condition) then dropped to the floor. As he sat there reeling in the shock of the moment -- being guilty no one could have been more surprised by the verdict than Robert Blake himself -- as he gasped for air and drew in that big, deep-cleansing breath, I couldn't help but wonder what Bonnie Lee Bakely's last big, deep-cleansing breath was like -- in that moment of terror/horror as she was being murdered. Too bad the video cameras weren't rolling to record her final moments and her big deep breath as they were focused today on Robert Blake in the courtroom.
Just because someone is a one-time TV star, how is it in our culture that that gives them immunity from conviction for murdering their wives? But hey, if you're a manure a.k.a. fertilizer salesman, you're goin' down, pal. (Not that it is not deserved in Peterson's case. I just don't see that the two cases are all that dissimilar.)
For all the Scott Petersons and Robert Blakes of the world: good-bye, so long, it (hasn't) been good to know you.
What is the cosmic synergy that sealed the fate of Scott Peterson and Robert Blake on the same day? Or is it just that now that we have the new crime spree to ruminate over from Atlanta so it was time to make room for all of the TV coverage of Brian Nichols, and in order to make way, it was time to wrap-up the months and years of trial coverage for Peterson and Blake to clear the decks for an intense focus now on Brian Nichols. Hardly a blip on the radar about the eight dead in the church shootings near Milwaukee.
And by what irony is it that Scott Peterson (O! So guilty!!!) was convicted and is sentenced to death by lethal injection, yet Robert Blake (O! So guilty!!!) was acquitted by all 12 of 12 jurors on the murder counts, yet there was the one juror holdout who voted to find him guilty of "lying in wait". And how is it then that an innocent man, a man who (per their verdict) did not murder nor arrange for the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakely, just exactly how is it that there was one holdout on that count?
Once again the trial outcome in the case of Robert Blake screams to the whole rest of the world that people in America and the criminal justice system here is bipolar at best.
While watching the live coverage of the announcement of the verdicts in Robert Blake's trial, as he was overcome with emotion on hearing the "not guilty", he reached for some medication (perhaps nitroglycerin for a heart condition) then dropped to the floor. As he sat there reeling in the shock of the moment -- being guilty no one could have been more surprised by the verdict than Robert Blake himself -- as he gasped for air and drew in that big, deep-cleansing breath, I couldn't help but wonder what Bonnie Lee Bakely's last big, deep-cleansing breath was like -- in that moment of terror/horror as she was being murdered. Too bad the video cameras weren't rolling to record her final moments and her big deep breath as they were focused today on Robert Blake in the courtroom.
Just because someone is a one-time TV star, how is it in our culture that that gives them immunity from conviction for murdering their wives? But hey, if you're a manure a.k.a. fertilizer salesman, you're goin' down, pal. (Not that it is not deserved in Peterson's case. I just don't see that the two cases are all that dissimilar.)
For all the Scott Petersons and Robert Blakes of the world: good-bye, so long, it (hasn't) been good to know you.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Climate Change Insanity - Flooding and Drought
The Emerald City, Seattle, and the surrounding area of western Washington, make up a substantial part of the Northwest and the dominant portion of the population. Growth has continued. Demand for electricity and water have increased.
Year after year there are tremendous floods on nearly every river in western Washington (more than a dozen rivers), and every year there is whining and hand-wringing of concern about water conservation and a drought and how there isn't going to be enough water to get us through the summer.
Only a few months ago there were simultaneous news stories on local television stations and in the newspapers covering the flooding and the drought. What's wrong with this picture?
The insanity of it is that even with global climate change, even with the lack of typical rainfall to fill the regions' reservoirs through the winter months to sustain us through the next summer, it never seems to occur to public officials to increase the storage capacity of the reservoirs.
We always get the rain. We always get adequate rain. But when it comes -- such as when there is flooding -- the water runs off into the rivers and out into Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. It's not that the water doesn't come. The water, i.e. rainfall, does come, but the municipalities simply are never prepared to receive it and store it when it does come.
This is not a new problem. It has been going on for as many years as I can remember.
Year after year there are tremendous floods on nearly every river in western Washington (more than a dozen rivers), and every year there is whining and hand-wringing of concern about water conservation and a drought and how there isn't going to be enough water to get us through the summer.
Only a few months ago there were simultaneous news stories on local television stations and in the newspapers covering the flooding and the drought. What's wrong with this picture?
The insanity of it is that even with global climate change, even with the lack of typical rainfall to fill the regions' reservoirs through the winter months to sustain us through the next summer, it never seems to occur to public officials to increase the storage capacity of the reservoirs.
We always get the rain. We always get adequate rain. But when it comes -- such as when there is flooding -- the water runs off into the rivers and out into Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. It's not that the water doesn't come. The water, i.e. rainfall, does come, but the municipalities simply are never prepared to receive it and store it when it does come.
This is not a new problem. It has been going on for as many years as I can remember.
- The rain comes.
- The floods come.
- The cries of "drought" come.
- The fear of "fire season".
- The anxiety over "water restriction".
The cycle perpetuates year after year. What folly! What madness! Public utility districts need to construct more facilities to trap and store the rainwater when it comes, because it does and it will surely come. Why that precious natural resource is allowed to simply run-off into flood plains and out to sea is beyond my comprehension.
Does no one else recognize the insanity of same-day news coverage of floods AND drought?!?
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