Feel free to copy and paste

You are more than welcome — encouraged even — to copy and paste the following to your own Senator. I sent the following to Sen. Kerry earlier today:

 

Dear Senator Kerry,

 

I am urging you to put all available energy and resources into the prompt passage of the health care reform bill that was just passed in the House.

 

With the Democrats in control of the White House, the House and Senate, there is absolutely no reason why this bill should not pass. There are only excuses. And, frankly, we have all had more than enough of those.

 

No one disputes that our country has many talented doctors and amazing facilities. It’s the access to that system that’s the issue. Our citizenry’s access to our health system compared to what is available in other Western nations, well, that is simply a source of shameful embarrassment. We absolutely can and should correct this. Immediately.

 

Under the status quo, we are paying far too much for the system’s flaws. As I’m sure you know, people who don’t have insurance or any other means to pay for medical needs simply go to the emergency room for “free” service. Not only does this clog the ER with non-emergency issues, it means higher costs for those of us who do have insurance. The hospitals pass the expense of indigent care onto those of who pay. This process, which is happening right now, is much more costly than an effective public option, such as is outlined in the House bill.

 

So, again, I urge you to do everything you can to get this bill passed, intact, and in the shortest possible time frame.

 

Thank you,

Jeff Haynes

Since the last time

Never mind what can happen in six weeks.

Six words is more than enough to change everything: “Meg called. We got our match.”

 

Jade Yanghui

Those were the words, and this was the first photo — the first sight — I had of our daughter. When Kim and I started the adoption process, we fully expected this day would come. But the call was still a surprise. A big surprise. I’m told that in those first few moments I turned white. I wouldn’t doubt it — I know my head was pounding.

Even though we’ve been working toward this point for a long time, suddenly the work left to be done seemed like a mountain right in our path. But every look at our girl’s photos was more than enough of a motivator to get where we needed to go. And as soon as possible.

 

Jade Yanghui

This amazing little girl, who turns 2 in January, is waiting for us in China. And I can’t wait for the day when we can go get her. Right now, we don’t know exactly when that will be.

Before that call, before those six words, it had been an October like many others: Kim’s birthday, my birthday, and fall colors. Just days before Jade Yanghui came into our lives, we took a trip to Borderland to appreciate the season.

 

Borderland

 

 

Borderland

 

 

Borderland

 

 

But I’m betting that next October, however, will be unlike any prior October for us. Yes, we’ll be doing many of the same things, but with a new life and new soul who will certainly be the center of our universe. (And, yes, it will also mean after a decades-long break, I can return to the world of costumes and trick-or-treating.)