No Sleep Till Fifty

2021

Today, it is 50 days before I turn 50. That is, if I make it. Still I run into people, who say 'they don't believe in corona'. No fear, (they only are 0,3% ). I had no intention of celebrating my birthday extensively, I will not invite them anyway. A small party in the pub. Yes, not right now. Today it is also a year ago, March 19, we had our last pre-corona meeting of the veterans foundation. A week, before the first corona patient in the hospital in Tilburg was announced on national TV (Febr. 27). I was prepared. At the meeting someone came too close, I responded by quickly stepping aside. Immediately I see some veterans looking at me," what are you doing?".

In 1998 I got vague complaints, in 2003 a lot of pain, in 2004 I was diagnosed with wear and tear on all joints including the entire spine and damage to intervertebral discs. Meanwhile, there is poly osteoarthritis. All in all, a bunch of inflammatory diseases, which fall under the main name of rheumatic diseases. At this point, I have been 90% of my life, sick from a stress-related stomach disorder (diagnosed 1977). I have Complex PTSD 46% of my life, (diagnosed 1993). Already 44% of my life I have been sick of wear and tear off all joints included entire spine and damaged discs (diagnosed 2004). That also makes it official, that almost 20% of my life, I am a patient who, consciously, deliberately and well-founded, chooses cannabis as a medicine. About 4% of my life, I used governmental approved medical cannabis. And still I am 100% disregarded as patient, I received 0% help from health insurance, municipality or government. The same government that trained me for the medical military unit and life saving disaster fighter, where I worked 10% of my life (but gave 200 %).

So what have I learned so far..

The earth is flat. Now I have come to age (soon 50) I'm sure of that. Besides my own quest, over world seas (and in Ireland) something hidden inside me, always knew. As patients we are slowly being pushed off this planet. Ha !. May I present to you, Exhibit A, B, C and D ?. Yes. As patients - opting for cannabis, hash, extracts or isolated cannabinoids - we only became interesting, or important, when they could earn money on us. We have always been put back at the end of the queue. Sad. As individuals, we still run into closed doors that are open to others. Complaints systematically disappear at the bottom of the stack, you know, that stack for the round archive (trash can). Of course, completely dependent on who is sitting opposite you at the municipal office desk. Now, with corona as main season, yes, it seems even further away, that one certain day, we'll be allowed to have some relief, of our own choice. And you need that. Both.

Exhibit A, B C and D

(nr 4 = made by George Grie "Final Frontier")