Be Grateful - Things Can be Worse

Today I learned my mother has breast cancer.

Nobody in our family has ever had this disease before. That always gave me comfort. It hasn't happend to us, so our chances of getting this type of cancer were slim. Now we are opening a new chapter in our family history.

Oh, it could be worse. The other cancers that befell family members were fast acting death sentences. It's too soon to know if this is a contained or wide-spread cancer. But, it is a wake up call. Things can always be worse.

We are living through the worse financial crisis this country has seen in at least 70 years, if not the worse ever. That remains to be seen as time passes and the true magnitude of the situation unfolds. A lot of pain and misery is being felt by Americans -- those who have lost their jobs and livelihoods; those who have lost their homes; those who have lost their fortunes. But, everyday regardless of the year and financial situation, Americans lose their health.

I lost my father because he had no health insurance. He could not afford to pay the premiums, so he went without medical treatment that eventually cost him his life. My mother has health insurance and hopefully a good doctor. We are lucky. Many people are not able to get the care they need.

Last week I watched T. Boone Pickins on TV. He admitted he had made and lost three fortunes during his lifetime. He is a living example that wealth is regenerate able. But, once you lose your health, your chances of getting it back are not very good. T. Boone looked pretty darn good for an old guy. Hope Mom is lucky and this just turns out to be a minor bump in a yet longer road of life for her.