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***I have been on Beta Blockers for years***

Some years ago a few doctors got together planning to propose legislation to mandate that everyone should be put on β-blockers. Fortunately some of them fell asleep.

My son is a cardiac RN; he says many doctors see β-blockers as a miracle drug. They are incapable of understanding why anyone should not want to be on those drugs.

In the late 90's I was on a β-blocker. I was less involved in my medical care, like most people. I got so weak that I decided that I was dying; I gave away my tools and told a neighbor that they could have my car post mortem. A friend drove me to his doctor who took me off of the βeta drug - but didn't explain anything.

I improved, of course; I started studying what happened and noted it. About a year later that doctor said he wanted to change my BP med. I responded that I hoped that it was not a β-blocker since that had nearly killed me. 'No' he said, 'this is something new that I want you to try.'

I was working part time in the motor pool at the local Navy base, driving, operating equipment. I was driving a bus with the Navy band about 60 miles on the turnpike to an engagement. I was struggling to keep the coach on the road, steering with one arm and resting the other for a minute then switching.

When I dropped the band off I went to the mall and looked at a Rx consumer guide; he had prescribed a β-blocker. He lied to me! He could have killed me and everyone on that bus!

Now medical people mistake me for a pharmacist; my present doctor likes to introduce me as a doctor. No, no! But I am now in charge of my own case, whatever the issue. Consulting with the surgeon prior to my recent lumbar spinal column fusion, we were examining the MRI; I identified the narrowing at L3 to L5, a stenosis due to a notable listhesis, plus a cyst caused by the tissue irritation. He laughed and said that I had medical training. I told him no but I like to take charge of my medical case, not to argue but to ask questions.

It has been an evolution. 😇

Several years ago I met a woman in my then hospital. She was recovering from major surgery. I kind of know what that is like. I recovered from major surgery myself several years ago. It was an easy process for me. I was never in pain but they made me stay there for a week or so. I just wanted to go back to work.

So this woman, she was a darling. She was definitely of Middle East extraction. I cannot say from where, but it was sort of Arabic, could be several different places. She was delightful. I knew her son a bit. He was a Physician and quite amicable. I met him during some of my training experiences, and he was very helpful. Well, she mentioned him to me, and she also told me that he had 6 brothers. All of the brothers were Physicians.

That is correct. This woman had 7 sons and all of them were Doctors. It seemed incredible to me. Still, this woman, and her son whom I knew had so much character, it was impossible to not believe them on anything. I later verified the facts. I recall her son explaining to me about what Ischemia was. I sort of knew, but I knew better after speaking with him.

I have met many Physicians from all over the World. The biggest problem with most of them was that I could not pronounce their names. I certainly could not remember them. I won't say that it never happens, but incompetence is not at all a problem with the vast majority of them. Most of these Doctors are very good at their jobs.

Of course I have my issues with Islamic extremism but this is not the sort of thing that ever really comes up in any Health Care setting that I have been part of. It is simply not at all a part of the daily experience. It is almost all good.

A couple of years ago I met a young woman who was obviously new to the particular ICU where we both found ourselves. She was attempting to determine which Patient rooms were ‘precautions’ room. Before Covid the designations, the signs, were for most of us simple to discern, but not necessarily so for sojourners to quickly pick up. The Nurse for the particular room/patient was not present,but I was, so this Physician inquired of me about the protocols. I showed her the ropes.

Well, I always try to be helpful to anyone and everyone who has inquiries. This is especially the case when the Inquirer is astonishingly beautiful. Oh yeah, she was drop dead gorgeous, and clearly of some heritage that of at least Mediterranean origin, most likely Arabian, though impossible to really say and I certainly would never ask.

I did ask her name anticipating that she would say something like ‘Doctor So and So’ but instead she gave me her first name, which I promptly forgot. I asked her if that name had a meaning and she actually explained it to me. It was exotic and personable, fascinating to hear. She told me the meaning of her name and I forget that as well. This Doctor could have asked me for my ATM PIN number at that point and I would likely have given it to her without hesitation.

I am reminded of that scene in Pulp Fiction when Esmeralda Villa Lobos asked Butch what his name means. Butch says that in America names don't mean shit, though ‘Butch’ is likely a derivative of the term ‘Butcher’ indicating manliness. Of course I digress.

So then Doctor Beautiful Arabian Princess and I get chatting. It was unusual but it was simultaneously awesome, as she seemed genuinely interested in aspects of my personality and other things. For sure this was not about hooking up or anything such as that. I was likely twice her age or close to it. It was simply 2 persons having an interesting conversation, except for the part where she she was so freaking hot.

I am long intrigued by subcultures in our World. I was raised in a very integrated neighborhood, but as I moved into my college years, the City of Boston was essentially dissolved in many parts due to the incredibly poor federal judiciary impositions of desegregation, particularly the forced bussing nonsense. Yeah, that Judge Arthur Garrity who resided in Wellesley, an absolutely lily white town very near Boston, but the term ‘lily white’ seems from here to not really provide enough detail to describe just how this ‘public servant’ went home to each evening after work and those abodes of the many thousands of people who's lives he was negatively impacting tremendously. Trust Me, Wellesley is not at like South Boston or other neighborhoods of the capital city of Massachusetts.

Garrity’s outrageously hypocritical rulings did serious damage to several areas of Boston, but the greatest impact that he had was instigating a ‘White Flight’ and unquestionably ruining the Boston Public Schools likely into perpetuity. Boston itself was stained with the blemish of Racism for decades. You should see the joint since. It is blighted in many areas though serious efforts have been made to gentrify many areas. The Feds are simply throwing money at problems which they created and indeed the School System there now completely sucks. Still, there are lots of School Bus Drivers now, fully employed. When I was young living in Boston, yellow school busses were a rare thing indeed. You either walked to school or you took a regular bus.

I think of that woman with the 7 Doctor Sons. I have no way of knowing where she hailed from, but I can imagine that it might have been some very arid place with not so very great school systems. She made a success of her family and that is so very admirable.

Here in Boston, and presumably many areas of America, entire areas are in serious decay. Children in public schools are learning about Drag Queens and transsexualism. Over in desert countries they are prepping children to become great surgeons and more.

The Surgeon who saved my life turned out to be from India. I learned that he is considered to be one of most very elite in our entire nation. I had no idea before the procedure. I have often wondered about where he was raised, what things were like for him growing up. I wonder if he had to study about gay rights in grade school.

We really do need to take back our schools and a lot more.