mom

this is my Mom. in this portrait, we had just finished eating at Spiral Diner (they are vegetarians). her and my father (who I plan on Blipping tomorrow) came down from Denver to visit Leah and I until Friday.

so, my mom has been in a lot of pain and anguish for the last few months. and this is why I chose this image for tonight's Blip, to remind myself of these things, mostly, but also to share something personal with you, my friends.

currently, she is seeking treatment to pinpoint exactly what is going on--nothing definite yet but all of the strong leads are diseases/illnesses that I have never really heard of (but am learning about quite quickly). i don't want to go into it all now because it is terribly exhausting to revisit, primarily, but also because we don't really have fully clear answers at this juncture (but, again, clear candidates are emerging).

suffice to say, a lot of the problems have stemmed from the health care system the United States currently has (or, more appropriately, doesn't have). our system is rooted in profit and money; doctors in this country, as a whole (i realize the profession my girlfriend is choosing), have seemingly long set aside compassion and slow deliberation for hasty widget-cranking and kickback. a sweeping generalization, perhaps, but now something we are witnessing first hand thus, sadly, rendering it quite palpable and tangible. ah, so this led us to a discussion of Michael Moore's Sicko (required viewing, for my European counterparts, on the sad state of my country's health care debacle) and, inevitably into US politics. i am just so glad that i am fortunate enough to share the same liberal views as both my folks; both of them are honest midwestern (both originally from Kansas) people with recognition for the significance of education (they have a combined five college degrees), hard work, and progressive, intelligent thought. they have such good souls and are the most generous and genuine people i know.

more on this tomorrow and a portrait of my father from, almost definitely, one of the art museums. cheers, all.