An Idea

I originally had a lot of notions for the title of this blog. Titles swirled about in my head - stuff like "Angry Doctor" or "Disgusted Pediatrician". But yesterday, prompted by fellow bloggers who (1) encouraged me to start my own blog, or (2) admonished me not to insert my "agenda" into other people's blogs, I went to blogging class. I offer my sincere thanks to (1) The Greensboro News & Record for steering me there (but you're not out of the woods yet, John Robinson), and (2) the wonderful folks at Greensboro 101 - Roch and Sue and Laura in particular. It was like walking in sunshine and fresh air.

I met a lot of interesting, very intelligent, PASSIONATE people - all of whom had strong ideas and opinions about what we should be talking about in our local (the Piedmont-Triad of North Carolina), national and global communities. My opinions happen to center around the immediate need for reform in healthcare . . . particularly of (1) how we "police" medicine itself (i.e. what's very wrong with medical peer review), and (2) how we hold hospitals & insurance companies & lawyers & lawmakers fiscally and ethically accountable - especially in the "not-for-profit sector". My opinions are based on my own nightmarish experience as a public servant (i.e. a physician in the National Health Service Corps) in my hometown of Asheboro, North Carolina. There's no place like this home, folks. I can guarantee you of that.

Then I had an idea. To quote another Doctor (Seuss), depending on your point of view, it is a "wonderful, awful idea".

Now, before I can really get started, I have a website that is in dire need of update and repair, and a laptop computer that fell off my bed and is trying to die. There's also the little matter of finding enough hours in the day to do this in the way it should be done. But as soon as these things are all sorted out, this "wonderful, awful idea" will take off. I just felt the need to post today, to mark an occasion . . . the day an idea was born.

So give me a little time to get organized . . . then HOLD ON.

This blog and my website will henceforth and forever be dedicated to the many friends who stood with and behind me . . . my boyfriend, an extraordinary, "ordinary", blue-collar/"unions rule" kind of guy . . . and my Parents . . . a teacher & saint named Irene . . . and a Railroad Hobo named Tom. Railroad Tom is no longer with us, having punched his ticket for the Paradise Express a little over a month ago. But I will always remember my Father as the man who walked beside me when I protested in front of Randolph Hospital (protests that the local daily newspapers - including the News & Record - did not cover), and the champion who stood up for his daughter at an Asheboro City Council meeting (when a reporter for the Courier Tribune put down her pen).

I also owe a debt of gratitude to Robert Roule over at the Randolph Guide - a man who (last year) was not afraid to open "a can of worms" - and in doing so, let a little light, and hope, into darkness.

It's a beautiful day, folks. Post number one is for you, Pops.