To Thine YOUR, Own Self Be True...

Somewhere, sometime during this walk called life, every person must decide what they believe. You must set a chart, a flight plan, or a life course on which you travel during your life. Then, you must follow it. After all, it was designed by you. Does this mean that this course can never change? No, it doesn't. But, the core values of your plan must remain strong in order to keep you steady on this raging sea called life. We all want to sail a calm, smooth sea without, thunderstorms to throw us off course. Unfortunately, this is not the way of any sea, or of any life.

We constantly find ourselves out of our boat, swimming hard, just trying to keep our head above water. Our core values become our life preserver's. They offer us steadiness until we can find our way back into our boat.

Everyone has a different chart or life plan. My life plan is different than yours. I may want to follow a path in which you do not. That's OK. We are all different people with different belief systems. What is necessary, is that a person must decide what is important to him. Then, it is necessary to be strong enough to stand up and say, "I believe this. I will fight for this." Your life plan may not be popular with others. But, your life plan belongs uniquely to you. It is yours. You own it. It is special, as it was created by you.

If you believe in Jesus, stand up for Him. If you believe in virginity before marriage, speak up for it. If you believe in a political statement or movement, become active in it. If you believe in justice, march for it. If you believe in your marriage, fight for it.

Why should you become an activist for your life plan? Because, it belongs to you. Not me, but to you. If you do not stand up for what you believe, who else will?

Often, debate is confused with argument. An argument is to squabble or quarrel. A debate is to discuss or to question. Debate is to be encouraged. Arguments are to be discouraged. Arguments lead to anger. Debates lead to new ideas. In life, debates encourage common ground. Arguments encourage separate territory.

To determine a life plan is not to discourage change. We change as we grow, gain wisdom, and knowledge. We all have gut feelings. To me, a gut feeling is our spirit speaking to us. It is wise to take heed to gut feelings. Never ignore them. Not only can these feelings help chart a firm course, I believe they can literally save your life.

I believe in Health Care Reform. I believe in the plan, which was encouraged by Senator Kennedy. A plan where all Americans have health care, dental care, and vision care. I don't believe that health care belongs to a some who happen to have employment where it is offered or money enough to afford it. I don't believe in a watered down plan that states that "I" am more important than "you." Or, that my needs are more important than yours. In God's eyes, we are all important. Everyone is important to God, even those who do not believe in Him. I believe in God. Therefore, I believe that all people are important, even those who disagree with me. I believe all people should be treated equally. On this issue, I will stand for all. Health Care Reform is not free. I am willing to pay for it, and sacrifice for it. I believe that your health is as important as mine. I believe that your pain, may be different than mine, but hurts just as badly. I believe that your child's illness is as important as my child's illness. If you were born with a preexisting medical condition or during your life you have developed one, I believe that it is just as important as mine. I am willing to fight for you. Are you willing to fight for me?

Click Here To Fight For Health Care For All. To stand up for every person who is not perfect, is to stand up for yourself. Life changes. Life can change in a matter of seconds. One moment you are free from illness. The next moment, you may suddenly have a life altering injury or illness. Never, ever believe that you or your family is immune to tragedy, illness, or death. To do so, is to set yourself up for failure.

A HEALTHY SOCIETY IS A VIBRANT, COLORFUL SOCIETY. I happen to believe in rainbows.

And,The Dream Lives on... In Me.

I remember it was in the Winter of 1978. I don't remember the date. We had just moved to Whidbey Island, WA after the death of Mark. I remember watching TV with Wendy. It was during the evening news, when Edward M. Kennedy, at that time my least favorite Kennedy, delivered a speech. I took one thing away from Senator Kennedy's speech, "Health care is a right, not a privilege." I remember it was the first time I ever heard about "preexisting medical conditions" and exactly what those three words meant. I remember, I was appalled. I was appalled because I realized that indeed, I had a preexisting medical condition called Von Willebrand's Disease. I joined the fight that night. I started out by putting a sticker on my car. Since then I have been active in attending political rallies, becoming a grassroots political activist, written countless letters and emails, joined my health care union, and have activated numerous petitions.

Edward Kennedy was not a perfect man. I'm not a perfect person. Senator Kennedy made numerous terrible mistakes in his personal life. I have too. I watched as he struggled to overcome many personal failings. Just as I have tried to overcome mine. He believed in prayer and redemption, just like me. Edward M. Kennedy was a proud Social Democrat, not a Progressive or a Blue Dog. He believed in Social Justice, Equal Rights for all Americans, which included Women, the rights of the disabled, and the need for Medical Leave without fear of loosing your job in order to care for sick family members. These are just a few of the many social changes that Senator Kennedy championed. Changes that I hold true.

My Father was forced to retire from his job. Not because his MS made him incapable, but because his wheel chair had no access to his desk. My Dad died within 5 years. He simply lost purpose for his life. All because he had no way of gaining access to a desk which was located on the second floor of a building without an elevator.

I was hired as a RN at $2.00 less an hour because of my gender. I was hired at $5.00 an hour. My male school mate who graduated last in our class was hired at $7.00. I graduated second in my College of Nursing.

Without The Family and Medical Leave Act, I would never have been able to take time off from my job to care for my Mother after her brush with death.

Without The Americans With Disabilities Act, Adalyne and all Type One Diabetics who require intensive management during school hours, would NOT be going to school. I know, I was a School Nurse. I sat in countless 504 meetings and watched as the School System tried every maneuver imaginable to keep Diabetic children who required intensive management during school hours, out of school. I fought the school system in their behalf and struggled to keep my job because of it. That's when I joined my AFL-CIO Health Care Union. With their help, I not only kept my job, but was re-classified as a School Nurse II. Why? Because I was required to function at a higher level than other school nurses. This was years before Addy was even conceived.


Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version)

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'


CLICK HERE TO REQUEST YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PASS HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!