Milestones

I suspected that Mom, who left the world 3 years ago, would be causing trouble on her birthday, which was yesterday. I was hesitant to be on an airplane on that day. I even made sure to monitor my car and house keys and have a backup system, because making me lose keys is her usual routine. However, I didn’t think that she would trigger the disappearance of my credit card as soon as I arrived to visit Dad. One minute we used it for pizza, then I went to buy him some pickles, and whoosh, it was gone. Okay, I understand Mom was jealous that we were having a good time on her special day. She wanted her own slice of the action. Perhaps there is a shopping mall in the great beyond with a fantastic sale and she wanted to get herself a present. I fully expect her to return the card on Friday, just in time for Dad’s 94th birthday.

I stopped using logic long ago to understand my parents, both dead and alive. Dad fixed his broken footstool with a toothpick, and it works fine. He naps in mid-sentence but miraculously wakes up when there’s a meal nearby. He’s doing well despite his terrible nutritional habits. He says that he doesn’t want a party this year, although I don’t quite believe him. Instead I purchased tickets for a special boat cruise to see the Tall Ships Parade up close in San Diego Bay, and he’s delighted. When I asked if he wanted me to accompany him to Yoga class today, he said “hell no, I travel really fast with my walker and you can’t catch up.” Roll along, Dad.

I'm Kinda Busy, Part 2

Five years ago I created a farewell video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUHtj8AoZQE) when I was laid off. It was a montage of favorite hobbies to affectionately point out to colleagues that I wouldn't miss the corporate healthcare bubble, and to remind friends that play outranks work. Then after a few months of fun I wound up employed in yet another bureaucratic cluster. It didn't stick. After 3 years I walked away (more like ran) from that job to change direction toward issues that I cared about and people that mattered. All through this phase, actually since 2010, I've been blogging about aging quirky (my other blog, "My Career Colonoscopy,” was put on hold along with my career).

Well now it's 6 months into my new profession as an independent patient advocate and I like it. I've had 8 clients so far, and some of them even paid me. A few were pro bono on purpose, and the one that matters most was unintentional. Dad is still client number one, which he regularly reminds me.

In this new chapter, I don’t have to do much marketing and public exposure falls into my lap. The need is growing and the stories are intense. A local news crew came to my house to film me in action; it may or may not get on the air, I’m fine either way. The highlight of the experience was the camera guy complimenting me that I had clearly been trained on media interviews. Indeed I was – in 1997, courtesy of the insurance company I used to work for and am now poking a stick at to make sure they do their job. That’s perfect. As I wrote in my first blog post 6 years ago, I thank my parents for their genetic transmission of a fine sense of irony and appreciation of the absurd.

Shameless plug: look at www.kazadvocate.com and let me know any suggestions for improvement, because I realize that promotion has its place.