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Meet Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

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Meet Dr. Abdul El-Sayed 

Meet Dr. Abdul El-Sayed 

By William Jones

 

From Public Health Official to Candidate  Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has carved out a career that has moved in and out of medicine, public health, and politics. Now at 41, the handsome and articulate Michigan doctor and former public health practitioner is center stage in a pivotal moment in U. S. politics. El-Sayed has defeated a popular moderate Democratic challenger in the primary, and will face former U.S. Representative, Mike Rogers, a Republican, in the November. general election. El-Sayed’s progressive message is being tested in one of the nation’s most closely watched swing states. Personally he is already facing bigoted slurs from the political right. Islamophobia, is alive and well, in the good ‘ol US of A. The vehement attacks by the GOP, have some Democrats worried that El-Sayed may cost them their dream of taking back both the House and the Senate in November.

Michigan Roots and a Public-Service Path  Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed was born October 31, 1984, in Rochester Hills, a suburb of Detroit, MI.  His parents were Egyptian immigrants. His mother, Fatten Elkomy, a nurse practitioner, his father, Mohamed, was a PhD candidate at Wayne State University. After his parents divorce, Abdul was raised by his father and his stepmother, Jackie, both engineers.  El-Sayed grew up going to public schools where he was socially active and played sports. According to his campaign bio his family was deeply connected to public service. After high school, Abdul, went on to study at the University of Michigan, graduating with high honors in biology and political science.

Family Life  Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is married to Dr. Sarah Jukaku, a psychiatrist. They met at the University of Michigan and married in 2006 and have shared the last 20 years together. The couple have two beautiful and talented daughters. He jokingly refers to himself as “girl dad.”

Impressive Credentials  After graduation from the University of Michigan he was accepted to Columbia University’s Medical School. In his second year at Columbia he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and attended Oxford where he received a Doctorate in Public Health. When his time at Oxford was finished he returned to Columbia and completed his medical training. As time passed, he grew more interested in how communities are affected by sickness and disease, rather than the individual response. This change in perspective led him into epidemiology, public health policy, and government.

Building a Career in Public Health    El-Sayed garnered nation wide recognition when he was named Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department at the youthful age of 30. His activities focused on improving health initiatives, the environment’s threat to health, and the intervention of health programs for children and families. While Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department he learned that the health of the community is much more than doctors and hospitals. He soon came to understand how conditions in the home, family income, clean water and air, are all factors that affect the overall health of the community. Dr. El-Sayed left the Detroit Health Department in February of 2017. During his tenure he was designated ‘Public Official of the Year’ by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and ‘Policy Innovator’ by the Carnegie Council.

Keeping Busy    After leaving the Detroit Health Department Dr. El-Sayed launched an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Michigan in 2018, finishing second in the Democratic primary, losing to powerhouse and future governor, Gretchen Whitmer. After his primary loss he refocused; writing several books on public health,  hosting the podcast America Dissected, and serving as the director of Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services from 2023 until 2025. The themes from his first campaign remained largely unchanged as he persisted in his call for a bigger government role in health care and economic security for all.

A Senate Campaign Built From the Ground Up  Dr. El-Sayed had decided to run for the U.S. Senate in April 2025 when Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced that he would not seek re-election and then immediately threw his support behind centrist Democrat, Haley Stevens, the U.S. Rep. from Michigan’s 11th District.  Dr. El-Sayed’s campaign had started out small but with Peter’s decision not to run for re-election, Dr. El-Sayed began an  aggressive campaign against the “establishment” and went on an all out statewide push for the nomination. El-Sayed visited 110 cities, held over 500 events, and developed a volunteer network of more than 12,000. He campaigned on a progressive platform of Medicare for All, economic affordability, campaign-finance reform; and notably, loud and clear opposition to the seemingly unlimited U.S. military aid to Israel. Dr. El-Sayed is identified with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens is identified as a moderate. Reuters described the battle as one for the party’s “ideological direction.”

The General Election Test   Winning the primary gave El-Sayed an opportunity, but it also means that he now faces a far greater challenge. There’s still plenty of political room left in Michigan, and Republican Mike Rogers has solid national support, and a huge bank balance as he readies for the general election. Now El-Sayed must win over voters who are unlikely to be in the progressive camp who might not see their everyday concerns addressed by his ideas. Cost of health care, wages, housing, and government trust are likely to continue to be key topics with voters. He will also continue to be a figure of interest in Israeli politics here in the United States as the Muslim voice against the genocide in Gaza.

Building Bridges  El-Sayed immediately after his victory went to work to show party unity; assuring the public that after the  contentious primary campaign the Democrats were united against Trump and his billionaire allies; understanding that all of the voters who had supported Stevens now had to be shown his was a winning candidacy. The AP reported that El-Sayed spoke by phone with former President Barack Obama and hoped he would campaign with him. The defeated Stevens embraced El-Sayed in her concession speech and encouraged all Democrats, Independents, and disillusioned Republicans to support him. The action was a clear sign that the Democrats want to show a united front to the Republicans and their massive financial war chest. As for the Republicans they are already declaring the good doctor to be everything from a “communist” to a “9-11 advocate.”

A Career Reaching Its Biggest Test   As you can see it’s been no straight trajectory to the top of the political ranks for Dr. El-Sayed. His backers find a man who understands that policy decisions impact the lives of ordinary families and who won’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Some prognosticators think his progressive views in a multi-racial battleground state may not be what is needed. The next stage of the campaign will be influenced by these opposing perspectives. November will reveal the direction this country is headed. The Senate race is wide open. It is likely to be a barometer for what we can expect in 2028.

References: The internet

Photo from Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s Facebook website

Open Heart

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Open Heart

By D. S. Mitchell

Most regular readers of Calamity Politics know that I spent 40 years as an ICU nurse before I began writing sleazy novels and editing this website. The only reason I’m bringing up the subject of hospitals is that my son is undergoing open heart surgery at this very moment. Although I know doctor’s have been fine honing their skills in cardiothoracic surgery for close to 70 years I am still terrified for him. As we all know, when it’s you or one of your own, all stored knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of the situation fly out the window; at least in my case that’s what has happened. ‘OMG; he could die,’ my frenzied brain keeps repeating.

Me and his two adult children along with a circle of close friends are holding our collective breath waiting for news on his post surgical condition…finally after over 8 hours I get a text from my granddaughter who explains the surgeons told her the procedure(s) had all gone “great” and now it was 12 week of healing and rehab before he would be back to normal activities. Just like that. She told me he was on a vent and couldn’t talk; and added they would start weaning him off and by tomorrow he would be able to at least text me. I said a silent prayer of thanks and told her how much I appreciated the call.

Death has been hovering close recently making this recent emergency especially terrifying. My son’s beautiful and remarkable wife, Tracey, died of cancer in January; after 35 years of marriage. What a blow. We were all devastated and in fact, are still trying to find our emotional footing. The next shock came when one of our dearest friends, David L., was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died a month later. It’s been a tough year and it’s only half over; but my son’s prognosis sounds good and that is a big relief. I’m sick of bad news and I’m ready for some major healing.

 

Invisible

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Invisible

Invisible

By John Curran

 

Invisible? They used to make fun of me a lot, mis amigos. Since yesterday they don’t make fun of me at all. Yeah, they used to call me ‘no mucho macho, amigo’ ‘cause whenever something heavy was happening ‘n maybe it was happening around us, I would go into my survival mode. I would just close my eyes, be real still, and as quietly as I could I would slide myself over and out the nearest damn exit. No matter what they want to call me it has worked so far and it worked yesterday ‘n got me through the heaviest go down I’ve seen yet, in all my days, which continue on, no thanks to this place where I hope to just survive long enough to get the hell ‘outa here.

See, we was just going to work, ‘Bossman’ Jake had just picked us up. ‘Bossman’ Jake  who’s real name is Jose would always say that Jake is just what it takes to get him thru until one day he can be Jose again; back in that little fishing village where he was born down in Veracruz. To one day pack up this so called American dream, leave it for the next sucker, and take his wife ‘n 3 kids back on down to that little grass shack where he was born and where once he says, he was truly happy. So, Jake picks us all up, the four of us and we’re heading to the first job site. We got three of them today ‘n it looks like it’s gonna be hot. And if you know Houston, a hot day here you don’t take light, it’s brutal here, worse than Mexico ever was.

Money, that’s the only damn reason I’m here. Like I say to Jake, I hope to be right behind ya’, one day soon. Well… that day won’t never come for Jake ‘cause of right before we got to the first jobsite we come on some kind of roadblock manned by these pretty heavily gunned-up soldier type guys. Someone says, “it’s fucking ICE”.

As we come to a stop, Jake rolls down his window and the closest goon yells something, then one of the others behind him yells something else; and so that’s when Jake starts his car, slowly going forward until another one ‘a these guys yells something else  and so Jake turns to the left and that’s when they shot him.

The car continues to roll, finally coming to a stop at the side of the road.  That’s when I closed  my eyes and became very still and in all the ensuing screaming yelling and general commotion it was not hard for me; especially as I was seated  in the back by the door, facing away from all that,  I just slipped right on outa’ there sight unseen the way I have always done. So… call me anything you want but I am still here, unlike Jake who was a good man, a hardworking father and husband. A good man.

Maria is shattered, I ain’t gotta be told. She loved him more than the rest of us did, and that was a whole lot, right there.

Nasty Games

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Nasty Games

Nasty Games

Negative Adjectives for Donald J. Trump

D.S. Mitchell

Calamity Politics is happy to announce that I, Editor-in-Chief, the only Editor-in-Fact, I am going to devote the entire first political blog post of the day to a really nasty game. I want to ensure you that the ‘game’ will not distract me from my usual in-depth political coverage; that will come later. LOL. My regular readers know that the ‘in-depth’ description is probably a bit misleading.

I’m decently polite and tend to shyness. Rarely do I attack. But this morning as I was driving back home from my acupuncturist appointment I started thinking about Donald J. Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States, con-man, self-promoter, convicted felon, and started tossing adjectives around in my head as I made the 20 minute drive from Cannon Beach to my home in Surf Pines. Quite simply the guy is a mafioso kingpin. He and his family are pocketing billions of dollars from scams and even government contracts.

The game I’m suggesting is very simple. Your first task is to think of a word. It must be a negative adjective that describes Donald Trump, such as liar, or narcissist, or bully. Choose any word you like, then think of as many synonyms of that word as you can.

My core adjective for Donald Trump is SWINDLER. Here is my list of synonyms for the word:

1.) cheat
2.) fraud
3.) crook
4.) grafter
5.) shyster
6.) hustler
7.) con-man

8.) villain
9.) conniver
10.) rogue
11.) cheat
12.) charlatan
13.) cozener
14.) thief
15.) chiseler

16.) filcher
17.) robber
18.) gouger
19.) rascal
20.) criminal
21.) phony
22.) creep
23.) rat

24.) flim-flammer
25.) bilker
26.) hypocrite
27.) pretender
28.) slicker
29.) gyp
30.) hustler
31.) heel
32.) loser
33.) liar
34.) lowlife
35.) sneak

36.) SOB
37.) dishonest
38.) trickster
39.) imposter
40.) scoundrel
41.) grifter
42.) booster
43.) cheater
44.) pitchman
45.) dodger
46.) villain
47.) thug

48.) hoodlum
49.) manipulator
50.) opportunist

If I had used double word descriptions such as confidence man, bunco artist, slick operator I might have been able to manage 100 Trump negative adjectives. THIS IS NO JOKE FOLKS.  Trump is a criminal. He’s been ripping people off for a long time. He’s used to fuckin’ people over; he doesn’t know how to be anything but what he is, a thug and a grifter. I don’t mind attacking Trump, he attacks anyone and everyone. He’s a bully. I feel no guilt; I can approach him with the same attitude that he approaches all those who disagree with him. Slash and burn, take no prisoners. Call it as I see it, as low and dirty as that may be.

Stand for what’s right. Join the Resistance.

 

Trump’s Third Visit to Walter Reed This Year

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Trump’s Third Visit to Walter Reed This Year

Trump’s Third Visit to Walter Reed This Year

D. S. Mitchell

Experience

I was,  in my other life, a Registered Nurse. Over my 38 year career I spent 20 years in Crisis Psychiatry.  The symptoms of mental disorder I see in Trump are quite concerning. Quite flatly, Donald Trump is mentally ill. My observations are not political, but clinical. As a professional I see symptoms every day that Mr. Trump is deeply disturbed, both mentally and emotionally. I know, I am not alone in this belief.  There has long been a consensus among mental health professionals that President Trump is clearly mentally ill with severe symptoms of dementia. Trump’s not the only prez I’ve disliked for their policies.  But, never once, have I doubted a president’s mental capacity. No, not even old Joe Biden. Joe might have been slowing down, but he wasn’t erratic and downright crazy. And quite honestly, Trump has been caught more often than “Sleepy Joe”, taking a little nap, on the government dime.

Grave Danger

If  President Trump is as sick as I believe he is, his continued occupation of the White House is a minute by minute threat to our survival as a country.  His mental illness is a grave danger to the country we love. Caligula, Hitler, Stalin, come to mind. I am sure you would be peeing your pants if one of these mentally ill men had access to our country’s nuclear weapons.  Hell, yeah, you would be terrified. But, it goes beyond the nuclear codes. This guy wants to fight with everyone. Now bored with the Iran War and all the complaining he has decided to return his focus on Cuba. Continue reading

47 Things More Pleasant Than Trump 47

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47 Things More Pleasant Than  Trump 47

47 Things More Pleasant Than Trump 47

Editor: I have been avoiding the TV news recently; because his name, the sound of  his voice, his tweets, his quotes are the rantings of a demented old geezer that ‘otta be in a forensic unit at the Florida State Hospital instead of pretending to run the 21st century government of the United States. Before Trump sank into the depths of a terrifying dementia he was a thieving grifter who had fooled a lot of people for a long time. He has no respect for the law because he has always broken it and gotten away scot free while making huge sums of money. Now he is scamming the United States government for a whole bunch of cash for those who will claim false prosecution. Only in America. Holy fuck, what a terrible epitaph for this once glorious country. So with all that said, here’s Cate again with a few things she would much rather hear about than Donald Trump.

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

47 is the worst excuse for a “president” ever…and I mean E-V-E-R. So with said, here are 47 Things I think are more pleasant than Donald John Trump

  1. A peanut butter and pickle casserole – I will never call “The Donald” president
  2. Stepping on a screw
  3. Gastric disturbance
  4. The fragrance of a garbage truck
  5. Cotton mouth – I will never call “The Donald” president.
  6. Extreme physical pain
  7. A root canal without Novacaine
  8. Cockroachs – I will never call “The Donald” president
  9. Stomach flu
  10. Food poisoning
  11. COVID – I will never call “The Donald” president
  12. Poison Oak and Poison Ivy
  13. Dog poop – I will never call “The Donald” president
  14. Toilet back-up
  15. A sewer back-up
  16. A rectal exam – I will never call “The Donald” president
  17. Sink holes
  18. Razor burn
  19. Rat infestation – I will never call “The Donald” president
  20. Nails on a chalkboard
  21. Cellulite
  22. Stubbing a toe on pointy heavy furniture – I will never call “The Donald” president
  23. Crepie skin
  24. Being mooned by a stranger, or anyone for that matter
  25. A flasher in the produce aisle of the grocery store – I will never call “The Donald” president
  26. A flat tire during a rain storm
  27. Losing water pressure while showering
  28. Black ice – I will never call “The Donald” president
  29. The stirrups, if you are female
  30. Turn your head and cough, if you are male
  31. A kick in the balls – I will never call “The Donald” president
  32. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  33. Cleaning up hairballs from the sofa
  34. Spending the night in a haunted house – I will never call “The Donald” president
  35. A clogged drain
  36. Arriving at the water park to discover someone threw up in the pool
  37. Finding a dog accident the hard way – I will never call “The Donald” president
  38. A can of warm soda or beer
  39. Running out of toilet paper
  40. A dead battery in subzero temperatures – I will never call “The Donald” president
  41. A gas gauge on E when you are running late
  42. A sprained ankle
  43. My in-laws – I will never call “The Donald” president
  44. A traffic citation
  45. Finding a fly in your soup
  46. The laugh of a hyena – I will never call “The Donald” president
  47. Creepy clown with orange hair – oh wait, that IS “The Donald”…

Moving On

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Moving On

Moving On

 

D. S. Mitchell

 

I went to 27 different grade schools, and it probably won’t surprise you; I’ve been married five times. The only reason I’m confiding these tidbits of ancient information is to cue you to the fact that I’m no stranger to packing up the car and moving on.

So, now you ask, “are you going somewhere?”

“Aahhh, yes, and as always, I have no idea where.”

I came to the charming Southern Oregon town of Grants Pass in 2022, lured by an older double wide mobile home on a beautiful lake front lot. I bought it and have been loving it ever since.

So, now you ask, “why would you leave; if you love it?”

Aahhh, because somewhere deep inside me there is a malfunctioning gene. A gene that will never let me be stay in one place; no matter how well things seems to be going. In fact, the better that things seem to be going all the better reason to move on. Sounds a bit crazy, doesn’t it? Well, I think you’d be absolutely correct. Unhinged, perhaps? Spoiled? Entitled? Probably all of those things and a few more unflattering descriptors, when the truth is known.

On the other hand, in two capitols thousands of miles apart, two sociopathic heads of state show their willingness to throw their soldiers and citizens into their psychopathic conflict. A war with no purpose, other than to keep Bibi out of jail and the Epstein files out of the headlines. A war that conservatively is costing the United State a fuckin’ billion dollars plus per day. That ought to make your hair stand on end as you wait in the unemployment office for an interview, or you struggle over how to pay for groceries, or fill the gas tank. A fuckin’ billion dollars a day; while rural hospitals are closing across this country. Again while Trump and Bibi burn up a billion dollars a day Health and Science Universities across the United States are experiencing dramatic federal funding cuts. Outrageous, scandalous an unbelievable middle finger to civilized nations.

For the last week I have watched near 24/7 coverage of Donald and Bibi’s War against Iran. It is here I want to say that despite all my malfunctioning genes and general bullshit over the years my craziness has never cost one person their life; certainly not 185 school girls, leveled  a city, destroyed oil fields and stored reserves,  or sank ships and their crews at sea. Why aren’t these two guys in jail or a padded cell? How does it happen that these two men, both criminals, run two of the most powerful countries in the world? Where are the restraints? What went wrong in the election? Right now we have two of the most dangerous men in history threatening the world military and economic stability.

Trump while raving illogical “short term pain and long term gain,” he and his brother in pain are  running wild with Tomahawk missiles and endless bombing raids against Iran. If congress can’t stop them, the American people and the Israeli public CAN halt this despicable activity, but that requires action. Action on the street. Protests. Screaming our damn heads off. Time to put the American people first, that means affordable housing, access to child care, universal health care, basic income, and superlative public education.

It’s time for the few remaining sleeping Americans to come out of the MAGA coma and see Trump for what he is. Show your disapproval for this president and his fuckin’ foreign wars. Register for the No Kings Protest, and turn out with whistle, drum and sign, March 28, 2026. A goal of 10 million Americans on the street will move even psychopaths to change course. Come on America, PROTEST!

 

OPINION: Trump Derangement Syndrome

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OPINION:

Trump Derangement Syndrome

OPINION:

Trump Derangement Syndrome

Editor: This article written by me is dated 5/14/2017.  Nearly 9 years ago…hard to believe I am still fighting this lawless SOB. Recently, while watching some nameless TV political show one of the Trump sycophants used the “Trump Derangement Syndrome” term.  I hadn’t heard the phrase in a while and thought it was worth my time to pull this article out of the archives and replay it. So, if you’ve forgotten what TDS is -just keep reading.

D. S. Mitchell

The first place I ever saw the term ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ was in a December 2016 LA Times Op Ed, written by Justin Raimondo, the editorial director of Antiwar.com. Justin Raimondo, a Republican, is a self described “conservative-paleo-libertarian” whatever that is supposed to mean. Wikipedia calls it a philosophy that is “in opposition to social progressivism”. I give you this little tidbit to allow you to fairly and appropriately weigh his comments.

In his Op Ed, Raimondo states the Trump Derangement Syndrome disorder develops in stages. I will briefly outline those stages of development as Raimondo describes them:

In the early stages of Raimondo’s described ‘disease,’ the victims “lose all sense of proportion.” In Trump’s case, “every tweet arouses a firestorm” of reaction.

At mid-level stages, Raimondo believes that the victims begin to lose control of their vocabulary. In fact, according to Raimondo’s description, “sufferers speak a distinctive language, consisting solely of hyperbole”. To quote, he says, “the liberals will over react to anything that Trump may do, evidence of the progression of the disease”.

He cites Trump’s decision to keep his own security staff, headed by Keith Schiller, a 16 year Trump employee, after he moves to the White House. Raimondo references the liberal uproar at hearing of that decision. Many calling the action, the security team a “brownshirt,” security force, an obvious reference, to Hitler’s personal security guard.

Such “illogical leaps” of thinking are a “pathway to the next stage of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Raimondo claims, “a state of constant hysteria”.

Raimondo theorizes that as TDS progresses, the victim loses ability “to distinguish fantasy from reality,” opinions “unmoored from facts”.

Finally, in the advanced stages of the disease the victim “will lose touch with reality,” where life “resembles a dark fairy tale in which the villain (Trump) is an amalgam of all the worst tyrants in history”, while Trump’s critics become the heroes, “akin to the Resistance fighters of World War II.”

In the final stages of the Trump Derangement Syndrome epidemic “violence against a democratically elected leader,” will result, “unless a cure for TDS is found, this is where we are headed”.

The only reason I have brought this up today is I have, since reading this article six months ago, heard the term kicked around recently by Hannity (FoxNews), Adam Gopnik (New Yorker), Fareed Zakaria (Washington Post & CNN) and David Goldman (Spengle/PJ Media).

The theory is that the hatred of President Trump becomes so intense that it impairs an individual’s judgement, where nothing Trump says or does can illicit anything but a negative response.

My theory in contrast, is that the usually semi-somnolent  American public, has been so shocked, and their personal beliefs so unpleasantly jolted by Trump’s narcissistic and virulent attacks on our institutions, by his comments, his tweets and actions, he has awakened a sleeping giant.

Pundits can point to the Internet, social media, the 24 hour news cycle, political bloggers, the “psychological torment” of the Trump presidential win, as the cause of Trump Derangement Syndrome, but I believe the reason for the stiff push back reaction is that Trump’s thinking and morality is in direct opposition to mainstream America. We on the liberal left detest this man because he is, detestable.

I don’t need to be told by right wing crack pots, in this case Justin Raimondo and Sean Hannity, that I am afflicted with a psychological disease. Screw them. What does bother me, is that some of the main stream media are actually picking up on this bullshit, and passing it on to their audience.

This TDS was dreamed up by the right, to make fun of those of us who loudly disagree with Trump. I don’t like the idea that I’m being mocked by these right wingers, accused of having a mental disorder because I am resisting the policies of this out of control kleptocrat, currently occupying the White House.

I refuse to be made out as a psychopath because of Trump’s extreme unpopularity. The reason for Trump’s unpopularity is based on Trump’s behavior and his policies, not on some “sickness” of mine, or 60% of the American public. If I am wrong because I have a mental disorder, then approximately 60% of the country has been afflicted.

Jonathan Tobin in a February 2017 article for The National Review (conservative blog) stated, “the extremism and paranoia of the anti-Trump camp is matching, or exceeding the bad judgement being exhibited by the White House.”

I am neither paranoid, nor extreme.

As each day passes and the White House fills the airways with lies, and Trump pounds out Executive Order after Executive Order, assaulting the environment, and the foundation of our government, I become more and more convinced that it will be people like myself, ordinary citizens, that will eventually stop this madman.

So, if you are enraged by the policies of Trump; speak up, push back, and refuse to accept their lies as truth. There is no such thing as Trump Derangement Syndrome, it is just a device to mock and joke about one of the most dangerous individuals I have ever seen assume office in this country.

I believe it will be the voices of citizens crying out for law and justice that save this democracy. If you are against Trump, you are on the right side. Don’t let some conservative jackass sway your conviction. Trump is on the wrong side of history, and it is our duty to stop him. That’s called democracy.

Join the Resistance

Today’s Reality

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Today’s Reality 

Today’s Reality

Note: This is my first article to appear on the Calamity News and Politics website. In fact, its my first article to appear anywhere. Thanks, Calamity.

 

By Poleeta Wallace

 

Assistive Devices

I’m going to be 74 years old next month. My biggest problem is mobility. After an injury last year I need a walker, actually the device my doc provided me is called a Rollator. You’ve probably seen them. They have a seat for the user. Under the seat there is always a storage compartment, great for a book, paperwork, or a purse. The rollator is definitely a better appliance than the original aluminum walker. The aluminum walkers are commonly given out post lower extremity injury or surgery. They are nothing more than basic support, the introductory model you might say. The  two back legs frequently have been outfitted with tennis balls so they slide easier across uncarpeted surfaces.

My Younger Guy

My husband, Dan, a younger guy of 66 years of age, requires a wheelchair if there is any chance he may be required to traverse more than about 10 feet. Thank God, Dan is still able to use a rollator inside our house. If  you haven’t seen one of those electric wheelchairs, let me tell you they are ‘effing HUGE. At least his is, but he’s also a big guy. We would need to have a carpenter enlarge at least one outside doorway if he has to bring that damn thing inside the house. Then what; widen the hallways even more and the doorways. Honestly, I’m feeling the pressure, because the chance of Dan becoming permanently wheelchair bound is a fast approaching reality and the lurking prognosis of dementia has raised its ugly head.

Oh, NO, Me Too

I rarely need a wheelchair, except for functions or appointments that are long both in length of time and distance required to participate in the activity. Because of my irregular wheelchair use I have a manual wheelchair,  “the Big Mo” my friend calls it. Definitely, its a pain-in-the-ass loading Big Mo into the back of the car and then unloading the bitch. Last year, right after my back injury I had to use “Big Mo”  24/7 for nearly six weeks. There are still scrapes on the walls of the hallway where the wheelchair wheels  scratched off the paint. The manual chairs are a real challenge and are difficult to maneuver-thus the deep scars on the plaster walls.

Many Years Ago

Dan and I built our 1,930 square foot, 3 bedroom, two and a 1/2 bath, single level, ranch style, “forever” house on 12 incredible acres with its own beautifully flowing creek and a lovely pond, just north of Vancouver, WA in 1993. That was nearly thirty five years ago. We’ve done numerous updates over the years. A beautiful new guest bath in 2008. A mammoth new deck with fishing pier in 2010, a new kitchen in 2012 the year before I retired, then last year with our disabilities we went all out on a glammed up newly enlarged walk in shower for the master bath. New paint and flooring about every 10 years. Our plan, before reality intervened, was to live in this house until we died. Since my recent disability I am questioning that forever thinking.

Wonder Woman

In 1990 Dan was in management at UPS and I was an RN working at Kaiser Hospital in North Portland. I was in my mid-forties and felt as strong and fit as Wonder Woman. Dan, in his mid-thirties was strong and vigorous. At the time, we owned a fabulous 1920’s craftsman in Portland’s tree lined Ladd’s Addition neighborhood. After a lot of discussion we decided to look for a 5-10 acre piece of property and build a more modern house with a serious eye on retirement and our golden years. A friend of Dan’s who was an architect spent many hours talking with us over Chardonnay about what we wanted, and thought we’d need as we aged. As a nurse I saw the realities of aging up close and realized I needed to spend a bit of time in the Physical Therapy Department and talk to staff about what adaptations we should be making during construction instead of trying to Gerry rig changes later.

Eating Right and Exercising

With only one child it was easy to ski in the winter, hike, bike, and swim the rest of the year. We watched our weight and ate for good health.  We wanted to ‘live long and prosper’ and we were willing to put a lot of effort into staying healthy. Dan’s from strong German stock, straight from the old country with family members living well into their nineties. I was more of a mutt, having English, Irish and Dutch forefathers but at that time my Aunt Lizzie was an amazing 106 years old and I had numerous older relatives several in their late 80’s and early 90’s. These people weren’t in nursing homes or assisted living; they were on their own and enjoying it.  The point being, with a little work and preparation we hoped for the same.

2026 Reality

Planning is a good thing, I highly recommend it. However it is not always a predictor of what will really happen in your life. My point in concluding this piece is that no matter how hard you try to plan for your golden years it’s a crap shoot. You can plan for wider hallways, eliminate stairs, create extra storage for durable medical devices, you can save every extra nickle and dime for that extended retirement, but sometimes the reality of growing disabilities and how those disabilities shrink our world complicate everything. Loss of mobility and mental capacities is more than planning for wide open rooms and walk-in showers. In my case at least, all that planning has turned out to have been more a hope and a prayer than reality.

 

 

 

1984 Has Arrived

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1984 Has Arrived

1984 Has Arrived

 

D. S. Mitchell

1984, by George Orwell was one of the most chilling books I have ever read. The book is famous for its iconic quotes about totalitarian control, truth manipulation, Doublespeak, and the power of language. An incredibly important paragraph in that memorable book was said by O’Brien who indoctrinates Winston our protagonist:

“Now I will tell you the answer to my question. It is this. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from the oligarchies of the past in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives. They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just around the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me.”
― George Orwell,