Health Care Bill

Some of my Christian friends are glad that the health bill passed.  

Some of the glad friends are glad for altruistic reasons, or at least they think so -- they work with people who are very poor, and they empathize; perhaps they think, "but for the grace of God, that would be me."  

Some of the glad friends are glad for personal reasons -- they have lost their jobs, or lost their spouses, and find themselves without medical insurance.

Some of my Christian friends are mad that the health bill passed.

And some of my Christian friends are not vocal on the matter.  Most of the time, that includes me.  Since I am a member of a very conservative Christian congregation, my silence implies solidarity with the vocal ones who opposed the bill.  I realize this.  I see that they are SO angry, so I don't want to discuss the matter with them, because I suspect they will transfer their anger to me.

I have heard and understand their reasons.  I have sensed the extremity of their emotion on the matter.  I realize they think they have the mind of God.

I think they don't.

Someone is pulling their chain, I think.  Someone is pushing their buttons.  They are not opposed to citizens forming governments to oversee the roads we all use; and they do not judge public road-use as "entitlement mentality," nor do they see it as socialism, nor do they realize that once-upon-a-time roads were private property and private enterprise.

Some of my Christian friends think that the passage of this health care bill equates with Biblical Armageddon.

Car Karma

"Varoooom! Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"  That's the sound my '96 Saturn has made every morning M-F for the past 6 years, since we bought it in '04.

"Varoo ~ pfft, pfft, pfft, puh :-( "  That's the sound it made this morning.




Try again?  "varoo? ~ pfft, pfft, pfft, puh :-( "

And again? "~ pfft, pfft, pfft, puh :-( "

Okay.  No problem.  Number 4 Son, recently returned from an early-abort Navy stint (entry level medical discharge, not disabling) is sleeping in his room (he works 2nd shift through Manpower making parts for the Toyota recall -- grateful to have found work in Michigan in this economy).

Wake up son, describe Saturn's sound, and he dresses military-muster speed and is in the driveway with a socket set before I've even got my coat off.

Diagnosis?  Blown head gasket.  Son seizes a "teaching moment" and explains to mom in exquisite detail exactly how he is going to repair this; and he cannot contain his delight, his utter delight, that something on Mom's car needs his attention.

Okay, so I still have to get to work.  But no problem!  Husband also works 2nd shift and he says I can take his truck for my 9-to-noon job.  (2001 Chevy S10)

Grab his keys and head out to the street behind us, where that vehicle is parked.  Unlock the door and loose the latch ...

"Salaaap!  Sproinnnnng!  Chunk."  The door FLIES full open, and a rather large spring ejects itself onto the road.

I pick up the spring, and try to close the door.  Nope, won't budge.  Door stands open.

Can you even believe this?  What must be the odds?

(Photo is the Saturn, and also Number 4 Son, taken last summer, on a better day for Car Karma.)