For me, the scariest part of all of this is HEALTH INSURANCE! I retired 11 years ago from teaching and, although my pension is awful, my health insurance has been very good. In June, I turned 65, which as many are aware, brings up a whole new set of challenges with Medicare. I applied for it in April before I moved to Africa for a few months. I was told by them at the time that I didn't need Part B because I had other good coverage. HOWEVER, when I returned from Africa a few months later, I found that my pension had been decreased to "cover what Part B should have covered." Then I was told I could save money by applying for Part B but it wouldn't go into effect for 4 months. I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but it's frustrating, very scary, and I ended up paying for a few things out-of-pocket that I should not have. Just a "word of caution" to our readers: ASK---ASK---ASK and keep good notes. Document everything you are told -- names of people you talk to, dates, and even times.
I feel, as I'm sure many of our readers do, that osteoarthritis is only for the "strong-willed." If you wish to survive, you have to be ready to fight, to be actively involved in your medical treatments, to question when you need to, to follow doctor's orders, to do your therapy and to live a more-fulfilled life.
I looked out the window as I got out of bed this morning and it's snowing as usual. It's not icy, windy, or bitterly cold. We just have a world of softly falling snow, a snow-globe world.
As a nature photographer, osteoarthritis won't really destroy my world. I think I'll put on my YakTrax and go photograph bald eagles!
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order." -- John Burroughs
Ashante
pattye
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