The Worst of People and the Best of People

This morning I encountered both. While waiting in line at the local thrift shop (there's a regular crowd of dealers on Monday because they put out new books), I had a discussion with a young woman who turned out to be the nastiest of teabaggers. The whole thing started when I made the comment that ebay book sellers had ruined the market for book sellers in general because they will list a valuable book for practically nothing. Teabagger girl said she thought that was just fine, that the free market should set the price. She went on to say she thought outsourcing American jobs was absolutely fine, too, and that there was nothing wrong with working at Walmart for minimum wage, etc., etc., etc. At this point, another woman in line chimed in with "Ask her about children working in sweat shops." Turns out bagger girl also thinks that is a good idea because "it keeps the kids off the street." By this time my blood pressure was reaching stroke level and I muttered something about feeling sorry for her 40 years from now. To that she replied, "Oh, I'll probably be dead by then." I assured her she was probably correct since there was no way she would be able to afford health care. Then she dropped the bombshell. She told me she was a citizen of another country and was covered under their FREE, SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. At that point the door opened, which probably stopped me from going for her throat. Fast forward . . . less than 2 hours later, I ran into an old acquaintance in the grocery store parking lot. She and her husband had sold their beautiful home and moved to another about 20 miles away. I hadn't seen her in several years and wasn't aware of the circumstances of the move. We caught up for a few minutes and then she told me her husband, who is 78 years old, had to have dialysis 3 times a week and that they had moved to be closer to the hospital. She said they were disappointed their plans to travel during their retirement would never happen, but they were happy in the new home. Then I asked if her husband was on a kidney transplant list. She smiled and got a little teary eyed and said, "No. He didn't want to take a kidney away from a younger person." All in the same morning. The best and the worst.

...the part about the gentleman not wanting to take a kidney away from a younger person really resonates ... my 26-year old daughter is waiting for a transplant.

Thanks for posting.