Biopsy Results

I had my annual colonoscopy done one inauguration day. Everyone will look back and ask, "where were you when President Obama was inaugurated?" Well....

Anyway, the test was good and there were no signs of anything troubling. As precaution, they biopsy tissue from the local area where the tumor was located. The biopsy results were negative! The only bad thing other than the timing of the test was the bowel prep with the J-pouch. No further details are really needed.

On a side note, Kimberly and I were talking about the news yesterday reporting on the psychological struggles and stress related negative outcomes for financially pressured families. She mentioned that all her clients have this problem and have had it long before the recent financial turmoil. She was able to capture a thought I have had recently about how people's empathy broadens when foreclosure, job loss, health related bankruptcies, etc. hit their neighborhood. When financial stress expands , our boundaries about who fits in those categories, as well as our cognitive inventory of reasons why someone is poor becomes more flexible; as compared to more financially stable times. Of course this is all anecdotal, but interesting personal reflection. Is this indicative of our attempts to socially label "deserving" and "undeserving" poor? Is not the recent "federal free-for-all" capitalization project with corporate/financial America the equivalent of what some conceptualize as "welfare?" When we all start to really understand that despite our best intentions, best education, and "exceptional work ethic" we are still vulnerable to poverty's reach (some more than others considering socioeconomic position); then the veil surrounding who you believe the poor to be begins to slip away. "The poor will always be with you." Maybe there is room for a personal message and not a broader societal structural theme. But hey, at least federal and state legislation and mandates force the millions of low-income Americans who need assistance to work. Wish we could say that for the financial institutions!

Ramble On! There I go again.

Peace!