Letter to the Editor

2016 Election -- Letter to the Editor

by

B.D. Adams 

   The news that Donald Trump was elected President caused me profound disappointment as a disabled person.

   In 1998, I suffered a stroke which seriously affected my right hemisphere. When I watched Mr. Trump on a news show as he mocked and mimicked a disabled reporter, I was appalled!

   His actions were rude and unfeeling. That conduct was totally inappropriate for someone running for the highest position in the United States. Although I have other issues with Mr. Trump, to see him flailing his arms to mock a disabled person was hurtful to me in an especially personal way.

   I can only hope that Mr. Trump’s promise to “make America Great again” would include his disabled citizens, such as myself and the many others.


**   I was very aware that Mr. Trump, supposedly, was NOT referring to a disabled, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter with the New York Times who had interviewed the candidate. If that was indeed the case, why did he behavior in that extremely rude manner anyway? Most educated people know that people with physical disabilities are not retarded. 
   Most everyone who knows my Blog, and me, know that I and others like me are just people with physical limitations. Granted, some disabilities are more extreme than others. However, the candidate running for the highest position in the United States should know better than to ridicule or mock any person because of their disabilities. 
   Because of Mr. Trump's callous treatment of an "unknown" disabled person, I sure hope he never mocks or is rude to Stephen Hawking, one of the most intelligent people in the world!
   If nothing else, next time you might see someone -- friend or someone you know -- behave in the same way as Mr. Trump or make an off-the-cuff comment, please consider this Blog Post. **

Happiness

Happiness is …..

By

B.D. Adams ©2015

M

y life has been a roller-coaster of emotions and situations. I have been elated with situations, which most people would be, and devastated by situations in the same manner.

    My grandchildren have been a definite source of happiness. Unfortunately, they and their father (my son) live in the Los Angeles area. He is a firefighter and has been so for several years. We visit via Skype, so I have the happiness to see my grandbabies grow-up in real time, sort of.

            Since my stroke in 1998, I have kept progressing, going forward. I have attended all the physical therapy, occupational therapy and psychological sessions I could stand. And, to date, I truly believe I have succeeded to grab the horns of disability as a true survivor!

            Unfortunately, as I have aged with my physical issues, it has become clearer to me that I need to accept the new changes with my body. Mostly my legs.

            Oh, boy … what else?

Daniel and I bought a scooter several years ago. A comfortably padded Pace Saver Plus III. A used one, but it has been a wonderful help as my legs have become less able to keep up with others. Assists mostly when we attend the large car shows that have acres of cars to see!

In the last year, or so, my legs have become … old. I had been able to walk our little dog, but then there has been more pain as I walk. And, I have hated that!

I began to take Sasha, our dog, for walks by using my scooter. She loves to ride on my scooter, but was a bit confused with this new “walking” method. However, it took no time for her to understand, as best as a dog can understand.

With the dog walking, the scooter was kept by the driveway. I would cautiously go down the few steps from our deck to the scooter.

Also, in that time, it has become harder just to walk in general. Like to walk from Daniel’s SUV into different stores like Walmart or Home Depot to access their scooters. So, with the help of a hitch-mounted scooter rack – on the SUV and the ’37 Plymouth Sedan – we take the scooter where we want. You learn how to adapt, improvise, overcome … like a Marine.

I never wanted to appear like a wimp! Independence has been paramount for me. I mean, what do we have if we don’t have our independence?

Well, as it goes, this last weekend, Daniel and a neighbor fellow built a ramp for my scooter to access our deck. It is a thing of beauty! They did a fabulous job.

Daniel rode the scooter up to the deck and let me take over. I rode it down and up a few times. This is my new usable toy, my independence.

Happiness is … whatever you want it to be.

To other disabled people, I would like to say:

“Keep progressing! Don’t give in to your disability – grab it by its horns and take it down. And, don’t hide from the outside! Who cares what others see. We have the pride that life does, indeed, go on. I can’t sing and dance, but I can write … and roll.

Photo by Dan Tourigny

Opinion -- The Days Boston Stood Still

The Days Boston Stood Still

B.D. Adams

© 2013

I am a sports enthusiast! I love to watch football, some basketball, car races and tennis. Before I had my stroke, I played tennis and I had been a runner. Not a marathoner, more like to a miler.

My former husband was a marathoner. I would ride my bicycle with him while he would train.

In fact, he qualified for the Boston Marathon one year! We were so excited!

Any person who has participated in that marathon (or any marathon, for that matter) can understand what it means to just finish that kind of race!! Forget the idea about winning ... just to finish without throwing up at the finish in front of the cameras is no small feat!

On April 15, 2013, like many other folks, I watched the Boston Marathon from the beginning to the finish of the top runners! So happy, I was for the winners and the finishers I saw! Afterwards, my boyfriend and I opted to watch other television programs (a movie). Then, we decided we wanted an early supper of Chinese, so he went to pick up our meal. I continued to watch a TV program on cable. This was around four o’clock.

When he came back home, he left the food in his SUV as he hurried inside and frantically asked, “Have you seen the News?!”

I switched to CNN ... and then, saw the horrifying scenes of unthinkable mayhem!!

Why would someone set off bombs at a marathon finish? The Boston had always been an “ambassador event” ... so many nations were in this race. That was obvious by all the flags at the finish line!

Like most everyone, I stayed glued to the News stations. It was so unbelievable that two young men could turn a city like Boston into a zone of terror, made in fear!

When the “persons of interest” were made known, I was amazed that these young men ... brothers, Tamerlan (the older) and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ... were not seemingly part of terror factions; like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan or Ireland (of all places).

Their national home was Chechnya!! It’s a small country in the southwest section of Russia. This country has dealt with wars and discontent for centuries! Of late, however, they hadn’t seemed angry with the US. Unless you figure in the Islamic factor.

As more was made known of the brothers, the older one stated on a social media

venue that he “didn’t understand Americans,” he couldn’t “make friends” with them. My

words to him would have been, “Then, move ... go some place else, go back to Chechnya.” Perhaps others had made that suggestion, as well, which did not please him.

He had a wife and a three year old child. Why do this to a child? As it is known, he did not survive his attempt to out-run-the-law.

The younger brother was evidently an aspiring medical student. This would please most any mother ... for her son to be a doctor!

He did survive, but with his brother’s death, he should have given up! This is not going to be like Osama bin Laden’s event. This boy is in the United States with the full determination of our judicial system and all the fame seekers with their own itineraries!

I’m sure the younger brother was a likable fellow. Everyone who was interviewed said this. However, whether the older brother instigated this change in his younger brother’s personality or not, the fact remains he made his choices! They both did.

Personally, I am so glad and relieved that both bombers were found and put away without the added mayhem of more huge explosions, more blood and death! The killing of the MIT policeman was so unnecessary, just so senseless, as everything they had done!! They went to the lengths to make fairly sophisticated bombs ... was that all they thought they would need to do? Didn’t they think beyond the bombing? Did they think they would not be found out! Their lack of reasoning escapes any rational thought!

Were they going to pull a “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” shoot-out? Well, they failed at that. Were they more involved in terrorism than the FBI/CIA had informed?

My thoughts are with the injured people (dead and still healing) and their families. Also, my hopes are with the families of the bombers/killers. Hopefully, they will understand that Americans, born here or legally immigrated, will not tolerate killings, no matter how flowery their families and friends speak of the killers or how indignant they feel of how Dzhokhar was hunted! He is a killer!!

And now, let’s hope we are not inundated with copy-cat bombers at other sporting events!!

I am a Texan, an Ohioan, a New Yorker, a bit of a German, and a New Hampshire-ite (for 11 years)! And, as of April 15, 2013, I am a Bostonian!!!

Note: When this is published on my Blog, there might be new information. So, stay tuned to all News!!

Critters of the Forests

Critters of the Forest

By

B.D. Adams © 2012

         Forests are full of all kinds of “critters.” Big critters, odd shaped critters, those on the ground and those in the air, in water and on land, some with fur and some with no fur ... all kinds of critters.

        In The Forest, everything a critter would want is available. There’s a nice pond to drink from and to swim in; with a small, cool waterfall to breathe better; a sunny patch to bathe in the beautiful sunlight for warmth and to dry off; plenty places to create dens to live in ... from the large critters to the smallest. All matters of nourishment are every-where, as well.
        Only a few meat-eating animals, Nastys, are welcomed! The only Nastys that are truly allowed into The Forest are the ones who do their hunting outside The Forest and stay to themselves. Those animals are only allowed to drink from the pond, and then go on about their business. A good separation.
        Most of The Forest critters have their leaders. Some leaders had been in charge for long periods ... most died of old age. Those critters left without a leader would be sad until they voted on a new leader. The Nastys were not allowed to vote ... they voted in their own elections far away in the Other Forest.
         As usual, some critters would try to waggle some kind of control over the Burro family, who had joined The Forest eons before. Because they are big and make a horrible noise when riled, they had become an important deterrent against the Nastys outside The Forest. For many, many years, the Burros served The Forest!
         Recently, however, the Geckos and Newts were in a stigma because both their leaders had died! The Geckos had already begun their nominations for their new leader.
         The Newts had decided to approach the Geckos with a novel idea.
         Leroy, the spokes-Newt, suggested to Glov, the spokes-Gecko, that the two species should join ... have more power. That would simplify their procedures ... make things go more ... fairly.
        “We can offer the Burros extra to battle more for us ... combine our forces and when those darned Ravens begin to attack us, we can fight them off. That’s how we lost our leader, you know,” Leroy said, as he remained half in and half out of the pond.
        Glov lay on a sunlit leaf and pondered this idea. “I like the idea of a stronger union ... but ...,” he hesitated.
       “But ... what?” Leroy asked impatiently.
       “But ... what more can we offer the Burros? We offer all we can, as it is. We clean their hooves and ears of parasites. My critters cannot drag the food they eat because we’re too small. I refuse to clean ... ahem ... under their tails,” Glov stated piously.
        Leroy pondered this question. He hadn’t considered this problem ... and he
wanted to be voted the “Leader of the Forest!” So, he pondered.
         While these little fur-less critters discussed these ideas, neighboring critters began to listen.
         “What’s going on with those two,” Ricky Squirrel asked.
         “Not sure,” replied Mac Chipmunk.
         “They want change,” Lady Frog suggested, as she hopped onto a lily pad.
         “Change!” Mac Chipmunk guffawed.
         “Yes,” Pat Packrat chattered, “They want to steal the Burros from the rest of us!”
         “No!” croaked Lady Frog.
         “What are you griping about? They’d be more on you side ... you amphibian!!!” Ricky Squirrel nastily said.
         “Glov is not an amphibian ... he’s a ... lizard!” shuddered Lady Frog.
         “And would you fight for us?” Pat Packrat demanded of Ricky.
         “If anyone needs a change, we need change. Our leader is always giving into those squirrels!” Mac Chipmunk whined. Then, he scampered to a group of chipmunks and they began to voice their grievances to each other.
         Ricky Squirrel, being irritated with the chipmunk’s accusations of their leader, hopped to a group of other squirrels! They were louder than the chipmunks!
         Then, the frogs croaked their protests that the salamanders were given more considerations over the other amphibians!!
         And, so it went. Even the species of birds made loud their protests!! So, it went for several hours ...
         Finally, all the critters got quiet and just looked at the old oak tree.
         Ted, the Owl ... the oldest and wisest critter (even though he was a meat-eater) perched on a low branch of the ancient oak tree.
        “What’s going on here?” the Owl queried.
        With his question, all the critters began their raucous, unpleasant yammering again!
        The wise old bird shook his big head and only said, “Tsk ... tsk.”
        The critters noticed the Owl’s quiet remark. Everyone got quiet, as well, to better hear the old bird.
       “Listen ... listen to what’s around you,” Ted said pointedly. “Can you hear all the Nastys, who want what you have?”
      The Forest critters began to listen more closely. They heard it ... they heard the sounds of anticipation. It was a growl, a low chuckle from all the Nastys in the Other Forest. They were just biding their time before attacking The Forest.
     “You can hear it ... yes,” Ted ruffled his feathers. “Do you really want “them” to take over because of your bickering? The Burros are here for all of you!”
     The chipmunks, squirrels, frogs, salamanders and different birds just hung their heads in shame. The old Owl was correct.
     All the critters went back to their daily routines. The fighting was over ... the elections would go on as before. Leroy Newt was immediately censored.

             The moral of this Fable is ... be careful what you wish for ... you could lose your ass!!

The Candidate, Herman Cain

Political & Moral Thoughts

by B.D. Adams

Yep ... the title makes for some interesting pillow-talk ... uh, issues. This particular election year fiasco ... uh, debates ... have opened some smelly cans of worms!

To begin with, Herman Cain thought ... actually thought ... he could run a candidacy for the presidency of these United States on the backs of ... sorry, on his experience making pizzas. Dear readers ... the guy isn’t even Italian ... what does he know about pizzas or Italians. He has demonstrated that he couldn’t pass Fifth Grade geography (remember, he didn’t know where Libya was *sigh*)

When all these white women started prancing out of his closets, we can only imagine how long it will take for Gloria to get one of those fancy divorce attorney’s to fix her husband. If she stays with that jerk, she is either the biggest fool or will be up for sainthood! Also, what the hey has he told his sons about how to handle women?! I can only imagine.

And, as usual, Herman keeps denying “all these unfounded accusations” by all these “disturbed women!” Come on, Herman ... you only chose the disturbed women to play with?!

I don’t know. I mean I’ve been around the block a few times ... I’ve been sexually active and not too bad looking in my younger days, but Hermie, baby ... you must be hung like a horse to pursue the women the way you have! Because pal, you ain’t that good looking!

Are the other candidates without sin? Who knows! However, the others have managed to look more ... credible. People are actually looking at Newt now! *cringe* The others seem to be waiting until they are elected ... if they get that far ... to show they are womanizers, sexual harassers and want a particular race, creed or sex to float their boat.

Mr. Cain ... in the future, be a bit more discreet if you want to run for a big political position (forget about Michelle ... she’s taller than you). The public does read and believes what they read or hear. Also, get some continuing education about current events, geography and work on your memory. An interviewing CNN reporter is not a good place to not know the reporter’s name.

A Political Thought

     This time of year, there's a bunch of political campaigns targeted to get the "average" person to vote for them and/or their platforms!!  Especially in New Hampshire.
     I hate when "regular" people ask me, "What candidate are you going to vote for??!!"  I always offer politely ... with a small smile ... "Oh, I'll decide soon!"  Then, I patiently listen to their verbal jousts about their favorite candidate over someone they hate!  What a crock!!
     Folks, who know me (really know me), know that I am physically disabled.  My ideal candidate doesn't exist ... as far as I know.  He or she would be someone like Franklin D. Roosevelt ... the president in the wheelchair (that you rarely saw)!!  There were so many programs he initiated in his presidency that truly benefited the disabled citizen along with the "average" citizen.  That is who would get my vote!
     The "Health Reform" brought by Mr. Obama is a crock!!  Just another form of lip-service to people who are truly in need.  Granted, there are too many folks who ABUSE the system, but the fault falls on to the politicians!!  I still rack my brain to understand why I get Medicaid (easily) only when I'm working, but have to have the outrageous spend-down of over $400 per month before I can qualify for NH State's Medicaid.  This is no joke ... I have to pay $400 out of my pocket EVERY month to qualify for the State's Medicaid.  I guess I should be glad that I'm working, now, and shouldn't complain ... my medical bills are not that large.  However, there are times like with Physical Therapy that I need financial aide along with Medicare (no spend-down for that, thank goodness) ... I cannot afford the spend-down and the financial aide kicks in, but no guarantee of for how long.  I am permanently disabled ... that is my firm reality!
     The politicians found that they could easily line their pockets with Medicare/Medicaid as they sputter about "helping the disabled citizens!"  They don't want to say to much in that area because they might get the label of "conservative."
     My thoughts are just that ... my thoughts.  I just wish someone might read my babblings and think, "Gee ... this woman has a brain ... and it's not in a frying pan!"

Any politicians reading out there??!!

In My Humble Opinion .....

This is my first Opinion for my blog. It is a bit personal for me, which is how all opinions should be!


So much hoopla has been pounded over the news media about Obama's idea of Health Care Reform. My question is ... what is really part of a "reform" and what part is just "lip-service" to the general public?

It seems to me that folks, who have good health insurance (especially retired folks), have been hollering about their insurance being cut or taken away! I would love to know where, on this green earth, they got those ideas! Then, for the folks with no insurance (or crappy little insurance), they really think they will be left out in the cold, as well! Which would probably make the well insured folks happy. You know ... the "Let them eat cake!" scenario.

Personally, I'm on Medicare. One group of folks feels I get too much money from my Disability Benefits, and the other folks think I should be glad with what I do get ... so, shut my trap. I am glad with what little I get, but if it's truly looked into, I fall into the category of "What Else Can I Be Legally Charged For That I Cannot Afford." There's got to be more I can do to better my health care problem (without cutting food from my monthly expenses), but I haven't been able to happen across anything else, just yet. See ... I'm pragmatic.

Mostly, I'm still just glad that I am alive! However, living and just "existing" are two very different scenarios. I have never meant to get rich or live luxuriously on Disability. Unfortunately, though, the government's idea of someone making it through any disability is just to keep you from dying ... forget any "quality of life." As I have just said ... glad to be alive!

Therefore, in my humble opinion ... less posturing is needed and some realistic reforms should be implanted to accommodate all citizens ... wealthy or no ... ALL citizens need reasonable health care programs!!