THE BACK OF THE BUS

My late father took a commuter bus with his school buddy back to Erie, PA. Dad told me that he saw seats available at the back and took one. His best friend, however, chose to stand toward the front. When the bus stopped and they disembarked, my father's friend refused to speak to my Dad and never did so again. Yes, Dad had sat next to a black man. That was seventy years ago.  In terms of civil rights, it didn't make any difference, in terms of learning tolerance and acceptance my father taught me a valuable lesson.

Years later, Rosa Parks, did change the course of civil rights when she sat toward the front of the bus and was then arrested. Such a simple action, yet what a profound impact. Students read about Miss Parks in the history books, but do they learn?

In my case, when in junior high school, a new kid got on our school bus. Being shy, I didn't instantly begin speaking with him. However when I heard some of the boys call him, "Cheese," I couldn't help myself. I had guessed because he had a wide smile that he received the nickname, not understanding the inference. One day, I thought I'd join him at the back and ask his real name. He quietly mumbled "Charles." He insisted he didn't mind the nickname. We talked more and became regular seat mates when we could. More students sat in the back over time. The beginning of the next school year, however, he didn't ride the bus. I assumed his family moved, though being naive at the time, I didn't suspect why (race riots just up the road in Newburgh, New York may have swayed his family to relocate). It also didn't occur to me that sitting with the only black student in our school, or town at that time, was controversial. Did my choice sway others to sit with him? I don't know. Did he choose to sit forward during that school year? No.

When I switched schools and became a day student at a local boarding school, the student body was multi-cultural. We had teenagers from Iran, Japan Thailand as well as others from poor neighborhoods in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Major religions, all classes, and backgrounds were represented. I became instantly curious to meet everyone, though, once again, I didn't immediately act on that impulse. My shyness helped as classmates who felt ill-at-ease in their new environment noticed me and we became friendly.

Eventually I moved to the big city, New York, and noticed again how the invisible line of demarcation existed on buses in Manhattan. By then, I understood that fear and distrust kept whites and blacks sitting separately. Nonetheless, if the bus was crowded, I'd go to the back of the bus. On the other hand, if practically empty I sat forward. I rationalized anyone would do that, although African-Americans continued to choose the back seats. That saddened me as I wondered why these men and women wouldn't sit further front? Until I realized why they wouldn't.

IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

WHEN TRUE LOVE COMES. . .

. . .you throw away checklists;

. . .you open your heart;
. . .your world expands beyond its boundaries;
. . .your expectations become compromises;
. . .a kiss means more than flowery words;
. . .a punctured heart is mended;
. . .we help one another;
. . .we listen to each other;
. . .it is unselfish;
. . .it is remarkable;
. . .walls become penetrable;
. . .walls disappear;
. . .touch yields passion;
. . .touch does not produce pain;
. . .hurt pricks, it doesn't shatter;
. . .hurt disturbs, it doesn't batter;
. . .hands clap, eyes see, & ears perceive;
. . .a quiet moment brings inner peace;
. . .lovers share bonded spirits;
. . .lovers make the world a better place.

"YOU'RE THAT SENSITIVE?" HEALTH, POLLUTION & CLIMATE CHANGE

Atlantic White Cedar Swamp

Where's the swamp?

Went to see a specialist the other day. He asked the usual questions, without delving deeper. Instead, I did. I said, "I believe my body is sensitive to climate change." Without looking at me, the doctor replied, "You're that sensitive,? His tone was blithely dismissive as if he were speaking with someone who had said she'd been abducted by aliens. I'll admit I've had my fill of his sarcasm. Yet my intention in this blog isn't to deride medical professionals. No, I'm going to go out on a very long limb and make a personal observation about sensitive people and the physical effects of pollution, precipitated by climate change.

Reader I'd like you to consider these questions: how many people out in the blog-a-sphere have adult-onset allergies? What about chronic illnesses within the last ten years? Potential environmentally-induced cancer(s)? Ponder this: could Mother Nature be sending a message?

I believe so. Man's insistence on fossil fuel dependency has wrecked havoc with our health, including Cape Cod year-rounders'. No one will dispute the coal-fueled, Brayton Point Power Station has sent toxic, polluted air this direction. October 8, 2013 via the Huffington Post : "A Massachusetts power plant recently cited by federal regulators as one of the state's heaviest polluters is planning to shut down." The projected date is May 2017.  I volunteer to be an empirical guinea pig as to what effect this plant closing will have on my health issues.

The plant closing only underscores the link, direct and indirect, between pollution and the human price that has been paid. Insurance companies keep looking for ways to reduce costs. My suggestion would be to begin monitoring potential polluters. On Cape Cod, we have had scores of women and men who've developed multiple forms of cancer, for example lung though they didn't smoke, Parkinson's Disease, several people within one neighborhood, asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and so on. No, I didn't conduct a study. However, I've had brief conversations with patients and practitioners in the medical arena, volunteers, etc. who've told me about their sudden onset illnesses which have continued to increase. Yes, our populous has aged and we've had retirees come to the Cape--the median age here is fifty years old. Still, before arriving on Cape Cod, these people had been relatively healthy according to their assertions. 

How could a place filled with natural wonders and offering an outdoor lifestyle be a cauldron of pollution? Not only the Brayton Point Power Station, but carbon dioxide from commercial trucks which run on diesel as well as traffic via Boston; run-off from Pilgrim Nuclear Plant, and other emissions have played a part. Allergists I've consulted have said the propane or natural gas heat often causes asthmatic and bronchial issues. They've also agreed that environmental stimulants have gotten worse: pine tree residue, particulates, mold, etc. The opinion among numerous residents here has been pollution, accelerated by climate change, has been the culprit. 

Back on the Cape, ponds' (or lakes as described by off-Cape visitors) nitrogen/algae levels have risen due to fertilizer run-off and warmer and warmer days.  Strangely, the water quality differs significantly from town-to-town with clinics offering tests to new residents who may have a "sensitivity to the water." Numerous examples exist. Yet, where are the regulators? Busy conducting studies across our country--stretched beyond their abilities by a once again shrinking budget.

What about genetic propensity to develop diseases? In my case, I was born in New York City (raised in upstate New York) to a mother significantly older than mothers then. However, my mother remained untouched by health concerns other than arthritic problems and lived until she was 94. Neither she nor my father had any diagnosed chronic problems, though I believe each developed gluten sensitivity. 

And that's how I've returned full circle to my original point. At a young age, I  was diagnosed with environmental allergies. Otherwise, I had been healthy. When I arrived here, I worked hard, made friends, found my muse and lived life to the fullest. Three years ago, my auto-immune system went haywire: I developed several chronic illnesses, along with adult on-set allergies. Through vigilance, self-advocacy and a burning need to regain control of my health, I've begun to manage. And, yes, I'm that sensitive.

Nevertheless, I see life now as having been given a second chance. I also see the world through a different lens. What's clear to me is that our environment has rested on a delicate balance. Unfortunately, we have tipped the scales. Today our land, wildlife and global citizens have suffered the consequences. 

So, to those blinker-wearing physicians/specialists here and elsewhere who ask questions such as, "You're that sensitive?" I respond, "Pull off your masks!" Examine what has happened to our precious natural resources, including your own patients.

[PLEASE no advice or well-meaning suggestions. I've heard most, tried many options and have discovered what works for me.]