This post has nothing to do with my paintings and published books; it has to do with a subject that should interest all of us. This was published on Associated Content.com, and I’ve been asked to include it here.

WISDOM BEHIND THE WRINKLED BROW

Marie Pinschmidt

471 Brackenwood Lane, N.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. 33418

561-624-9003

Email [1] MariePin001@comcast.net

[2] http://www.paintings-prose-palmbeach.com

Essay                                                                                                                                     Word count 671

Wisdom Behind the Wrinkled Brow

Open letter to Nancy Pelosi, et al

By Marie Pinschmidt

I fear neither the dark nor the shade. Neither do I fear the blinding light of day that exposes everything in sharp detail. A life lived in fear is no life at all. However, the presently proposed national health bill causes me great concern. Tom Daschle stated, “Health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them.” Does he include himself in that statement or does it only apply to the rest of us aging citizens? I am definitely not making a political statement here ─ but a human observation.

Let me explain that I’m an 80 year old woman with two priorities throughout my life: A roof over my head and adequate health insurance. I am now on Social Security but pay extra for Medigap insurance and drug coverage through AARP ─ a plan that works. Without this coverage, and had the proposed new health bill been in place, I would not be here to write this letter. After being a caregiver for twenty-three years (saving the government thousands of dollars), in 2001 I had major surgery, an auto accident (not my fault), and a pacemaker installed to control atrial fibrillation. The surgery was for cancer but due to excellent preventive medicine, it was caught in time and there has been no return. This year, I had another cancer scare. The tests were performed immediately, I had minor surgery, no cancer was found, and I was spared months of waiting and wondering about my future or lack thereof.

The question is: Has my life, in spite of my age, been an asset or a liability to society? My husband died in 2000. Since then I have lived alone, maintain my own home, got my health back on track, and depend on my excellent physicians to sustain me as long as possible without having their hands tied in providing the care I need. In addition, since 2001, I have written a memoir, had two novels published and a third is with the publisher as I speak. I write essays and am active on the internet. I also teach others how to paint in oils, and play Mah Jongg once a week, often winning over players younger than myself.

Pinschmidt  -2-

And, by the way, my husband and I also adopted two homeless children and supported them through difficult years to maturity without asking for outside compensation. During those trying times, were we an asset to society or a governmental liability?

If this new bill passes, who will determine who wins and who loses in this game of life? How does one determine which illness should be treated and which is unworthy because of age or societal status? Our physicians are trained to save lives whenever possible – to them all ill patients share equal worthiness, and that’s the way it should be.

Whether or not you believe I, or others like me, have lived and continue to live a productive and worthwhile existence, I don’t want the government or anyone else to play God with my life. Don’t assume because my hair is gray and my brow has a few wrinkles that I’m not willing and able to make a contribution to my fellow man. My gray hair should not indicate my life to be unnecessary, a nuisance or inconvenience to others. I’ve paid my dues for SS benefits and am willing to do without an I Pod or Kindle in order to afford additional insurance. We cannot allow the government to put a dollar sign on a human life. The president and congress should concentrate on eliminating waste and fraud among themselves, fix only what is broken, and allow us citizens to hold the responsibility for our own fate.

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