I expect there is a more appropriate place to post this, but are you able to recommend any books about grief/loss by any chance? Just lost my best friend at 42 and it strikes me that if you have found anything that helps, it would probably help me too. Also, your $6.66 monthly tier reminds me that my dead pal Jason looked at a $4999 car a couple years ago and told the cat he would only buy it if he could pay $5150. I am sure you know it, but the work you do is really important. Your writing helps give people the strength to get through shit that is so awful that it cannot be, and the sure-fire knowledge that there is more where that came from. Thanks for hanging in there with/for everybody.
Not to get too off-topic, but glad you linked Handel's Water Music. I've been down a Samuel Butler (1835-1902) rabbit hole lately and the dude worshiped Handel. If you don't know old Sammy Butler, he's most famous for The Way of All Flesh but his "Note-books" are a hoot, too. He'd list out potential story ideas like "The Complete Drunkard. He would not give money to sober people, he said they would only eat it and send their children to school with it."
Omigodomigodohmigod! That was the most perfect explanation of the insurance/hospital system. I worked for doctors for a long time, and every one of them was willing to cut their bill in half or write it off completely when a patient was in need - including surgery. But, the hospital, where the biggest bills come from would not negotiate up-front. Please tell David to call the financial office at the hospital(s) and ask for a discount & financial forms to show he is unable to pay their full bill. I was given a 75% discount on mine last year, and he may get an even bigger one. It never hurts to ask. If he doesn't want to do that, he should make them break down all of the miscellaneous charges that are the bulk of that outrageous bill. I wish him much luck & would be happy to type his handbook if he wanted to dictate it or handwrite it. My transcription skills are just going to waste out here in "retirement". :)
I expect there is a more appropriate place to post this, but are you able to recommend any books about grief/loss by any chance? Just lost my best friend at 42 and it strikes me that if you have found anything that helps, it would probably help me too. Also, your $6.66 monthly tier reminds me that my dead pal Jason looked at a $4999 car a couple years ago and told the cat he would only buy it if he could pay $5150. I am sure you know it, but the work you do is really important. Your writing helps give people the strength to get through shit that is so awful that it cannot be, and the sure-fire knowledge that there is more where that came from. Thanks for hanging in there with/for everybody.
Not to get too off-topic, but glad you linked Handel's Water Music. I've been down a Samuel Butler (1835-1902) rabbit hole lately and the dude worshiped Handel. If you don't know old Sammy Butler, he's most famous for The Way of All Flesh but his "Note-books" are a hoot, too. He'd list out potential story ideas like "The Complete Drunkard. He would not give money to sober people, he said they would only eat it and send their children to school with it."
Omigodomigodohmigod! That was the most perfect explanation of the insurance/hospital system. I worked for doctors for a long time, and every one of them was willing to cut their bill in half or write it off completely when a patient was in need - including surgery. But, the hospital, where the biggest bills come from would not negotiate up-front. Please tell David to call the financial office at the hospital(s) and ask for a discount & financial forms to show he is unable to pay their full bill. I was given a 75% discount on mine last year, and he may get an even bigger one. It never hurts to ask. If he doesn't want to do that, he should make them break down all of the miscellaneous charges that are the bulk of that outrageous bill. I wish him much luck & would be happy to type his handbook if he wanted to dictate it or handwrite it. My transcription skills are just going to waste out here in "retirement". :)