How lucky we are

[Magpie]

I know that people moan about the NHS and let's face it there are some awful problems in places. ( I live in the Southern Health FT area which has had a damning report yesterday).
Just returned after visit to Chicago with my daughter ( at a Convention). It was finding/ snowing/ icy hail/finding winds and the homelessness issue was dreadful, mostly older people just sitting on pavement edges plus a mother and child. Worse of all a man looking skeletal and the horrible grey/green pallor of approaching death with bit of cardboard with Terminally ill and homeless in front of him. We ate out every night and with other friends asked for doggy bags as portions SO huge then left with warm food to give just a few something to eat. One man froze to death one night. On a slightly different note I forgot my Irbesartan for B/P, always carry prescription so got hold of a doctor who prescribed 10 and I had to pay $35, he is texting his bill!!!! Certainly a country of two extremes, our hotel had big sign outside saying"no guns allowed". Although an enjoyable visit in a lot of ways it's nice to be home.

[wilfb]

Hi.

Yes, that is so, so, sad..... And yes, the inequalities of the world in which we live are often deeply shocking. But do any of us have an answer?  I for one just do not know...

Your story puts anything I have experienced into deep shade Rosemary. You did something.  We will never, I feel, be able to do enough. Our lives are, perhaps, too complicated today.

Will.

[backman]

It is not for nothing that Chicago is known as the windy city. Perhaps your story reminds us that Context is everything and that whilst we sometimes bemoan not winning a badge or not being paid our true worth,we are mostly truly lucky to be in the situation that we are.We just sometimes need to be reminded of that.Thanks Rosemary.

[caro7b]

Thank you Rosemary. Salutary thing for me to read at the moment. X