CAN'T COMPLAIN

In a recent blog I was complaining about all the medical appointments I had, later I was feeling sheepish. As legitimate or not my complaints might be, I was getting top rate care at almost no expense to me, while millions of my countrymen have no or inadequate care and many go bankrupt due to the expense.

It is outrageous! It boggles my mind that some folks resist some form of socialized medicine. The government is here to serve the people. Things necessary for survival should be provided. There is no legitimate argument about it. Most civilized countries of the world have free medical care, education and a list of other benefits to make life more pleasant and productive. How are we different?

I had fifteen weeks of having radiation five days a week and chemo every week. I didn't pay a penny. I would have been one of those seeking bankruptcy if I had to pay for it. I have been so fortunate! I have been blessed in my life so many times. Some things that seemed like horrible misfortune turned out to be great blessings.

I got divorced, remarried and took a sabbatical during the most productive [financially] time of life. I realized I wasn't going to be able to provide a decent life for my two youngest children, scraping a living from the land and with no money, I had dreams of making enough money with my offbeat alternative psychotherapy practice. Nope. I attracted a lot of people for the benefit, but their pockets didn't jingle. I am not complaining. I learned so much I couldn't pay for the wealth of knowledge that was provided.

After seven years of contemplating my navel and sharing my learning with a myriad of interesting people, I again offered myself to the marketplace. Unfortunately, nobody wanted me at the level I left. I had a Bachelors in Psychology, a Masters in Social Work and a postgraduate Certificate in Family Therapy. I had worked for Wilder Child Guidance Clinic, The Family Therapy Institute and was in solo private practice for several years. My last job in “the system” was as a supervisor for Anoka County Social Services. I could not find employment close to my experience.

I finally found employment as an entry level social worker in Aitken County. After working there for a couple weeks my supervisor approached me with the information that I had to sign something that would disavow my Masters Degree as the State would not allow a Masters level person to work for such low wages. I did.

I loved working for Aitken County. The wages were not low for a person used to living without money. I would have stayed there forever if it was closer [I had to drive seventy miles one way] and my wish to do more acknowledged psychotherapy. I say acknowledged because Social Workers all over the world do a great deal of psychotherapy without ever labeling it as such. After two years I moved to another rural county even further away, eighty miles. I was there less than a year when I was hired by a private agency to do In-home Family Therapy in St Cloud and environs. It was my dream job. It was only forty miles from home. I thought I would work there forever.

I didn't know there was politics in the background. Apparently the director of the agency felt that the In-home Family Therapy Program was forced on her by central casting. Our little agency was part of a larger state wide group. It was her job to go to the local county social service agencies and promote our program. Her heart wasn't in it. After a year our referrals dwindled. It was obvious my job was in jeopardy. I couldn't believe it. I remember walking down the sidewalk with a couple of colleagues, we were discussing the situation wondering if it was as dire as it seemed; the the words went through my mind “if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is a duck.”

It was a deep despairing moment for me. I was standing in my kitchen without a job facing the idea of a reintroduction to pennilessness. The first time it was a voluntary adventure. This time no no no.................

I don't know what the set up was. Was there an ad in the paper? I don't think so. Did I make some inquiries? I don't remember. All that I know is that the telephone rang as I was standing in the kitchen. I picked it up. It was the supervisor of intake at Anoka County Social Services. She offered me a job doing In-home Family Therapy for people referred for services. The idea was that a short term intense service might prevent a long term case. [By the way- it worked]

In a conversation that took about thirty seconds my life changed.

I wasn't in intake more than a year when I was delegated to start up the new Children's Mental Health Unit. Some years later I was promoted to Program Manager for Family and Children Services for Anoka County. I retired in 2000.

This was actually my third term of employment for Anoka County Social Services. I began in 1962 quit to go to graduate school in1964, returned with a Masters Degree in 1966 and left in 1968 to join Wilder Child Guidance Center. This last time I stayed eleven years.

Yes I have had a charmed life.

I will not complain about anything!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Love and Peace, Gregg