8 minute read

VENDOR WRITING

Gimme Shelter!

BY JEN A.

With so much construction going on in Nashville over the past several years, meant to lure folks from other places to come to our wonderful, entertaining city to spend their money, it seems as though those of us who call this special place our home have been overlooked and disregarded. All of this destruction and major inconvenience has left many of us clicking our heels together three times and calling out for Auntie Em.

You want to tear down a church or an historic rock block? Go for it! You want to cut down all the old growth trees in a neighborhood? Not a problem! You want to hack a gaping hole in a main thoroughfare and leave it that way for weeks, or months, or years? Hack away! You want to build a race track in a residential neighborhood? Yeah, that's bad but we're doing it anyway.

Since before the beginning of the pandemic, we WeGo riders have been routinely inconvenienced without care. At construction sites WeGo simply pulls up vital bus stop signs at some of the most convenient stops for riders. When we attempted to adjust by moving down the street beyond the construction, sometimes drivers stop and sometimes they just drive by as we frantically wave our arms and call out for them to stop to no avail. It's maddening — especially if you're an old woman lugging groceries and packages and her transfer will expire before the next scheduled bus is due to arrive.

We riders pray there isn't an unexpected pop-up downpour because they took down most of the shelters; at least on the lines I depend on. Traveling west on Jefferson, there isn't a single shelter left. And there are no shelters in either direction at the stops for our Tennessee History Museum or Archive. That sounds like an opportunity for a lot of wet, angry tourists to me. Several years ago WeGo put a lot of effort into erecting shelters only to come by shortly after to take them away. Where did all those shelters go? It seems that every year there is a new "study group" to propose "improvements" to Nashville bus service. It is obvious to me that those groups are not made up of citizens of Nashville who actually NEED reliable bus service or who have ever tried to navigate Nashville on our bus system. Thinking back on the many plans those groups have come up with, the most effective was the one that gave us shelters, benches, and the free bus. The free bus was a boon for tourists, townies, and downtown office workers. Bring those folks back. They knew what the heck they were doing.

I would ask city planners to remember that people with ordinary, real lives live here. We have little interest in and will likely not be able to afford the attractions at the Nashville tourist wonderland they're building. Surely, with a little forethought, they can do more to shelter citizens of our once fair city from the negative consequences of their lust for bigger and more. Please! Be more thoughtful! Gimme shelter!

This is Messed Up

BY VICKY B.

I’ve always been rather confused by the health care issue; it just seems so political when it should be so easy. Most people I’ve spoken with seem to think health care is free or as one woman said to me, “Tennessee has free health care. It’s called TennCare.” I really wish that were true, but for 46,000 residents living in Tennessee without health insurance, there really is no such thing as free health care for the poor. Two years ago, when I had my stroke, I needed medications and also to be under a doctor’s care, to prevent another event from happening, however I had no medical insurance. Many told me to get on TennCare, but I was denied and let me tell you why. The criteria for being accepted into the TennCare program is as follows:

1. You have children under the age of 18 years old. 2. You are pregnant 3. You have either breast or cervical cancer

Clearly a man wrote these criteria for obvious reasons. I fall under none of these categories, so I’d keep getting denied. It’s not as easy as lawmakers or politicians would have you believe. A fellow vendor told me about Neighborhood Health and I have been going there every three months for my medical care because they at least have a true sliding scale. Obamacare is too costly for me to get health care through, however 30 million Americans have found health care through the government website. The Affordable Care Act has greatly reduced the number of Americans uninsured and given them peace of mind and comfort in having health insurance. Many don’t have to worry about making the choice of buying food for their families or affording that prescription. Three weeks ago, after several days of some very ill and draining symptoms, my son took me to the ER. I later found out they were actually life threatening if they hadn’t been taken care of. I found out that I had an infection called C. Diff. OK, no big deal I thought, get some antibiotics and bam it’s done. Well not so easy I found out. The ER doctor informed me that the type of infection I had could only be treated with two antibiotics and they were not cheap. He gave me helpful info on GoodRX that dropped the 10-day antibiotic treatment down from $1,036 to $87. Not really affordable but obtainable with some great friends helping out. Three days after completing the 10 day treatment, the infection came back. I kept hearing in my head what the ER doctor told me, “If you can’t get the antibiotics, we’ll have to put you in the hospital for the 10 days. You could die from this.” I didn’t know how I’d be able to afford another prescription of the antibiotics, but I had to try. I didn’t want to leave my apartment and my dog Faith for 10 days plus my recertification was coming up on my affordable housing lease and I didn’t want to lose my housing either. Frantic and sick, I had no other choice but to return to the hospital. They told me this time they would be putting me on two different antibiotics that would roughly cost about $5,000. I couldn’t afford it. There was no other choice but to be admitted into the hospital for the duration of the much-needed antibiotics.

I had reached out to friends in the social work field to see if they had any resources to help pay for this and there were none. I called the manufacturers of the antibiotics to see if assistance was available, but they could assist only if I had insurance. Ten of my days spent in a hospital bed during a crucial time when I needed to be home to recertify for my affordable housing. Would I lose my housing because I needed to be in the hospital? A call to the apartment office took care of the recertification until a later date. That stress is gone. My kids could take care of Faith so that was one less thing for me to stress about. After the 10 days, I was discharged from the hospital and I’m happy to say I’m all better for now. I worry about the next time I’ll need the care of a hospital and without health insurance what massive bill will I encounter. Something has to change in Tennessee and health care. An expansion has to take place or more elderly and poor people will have to endure the stress of opening up their mailbox to find thousands of dollars’ worth of medical bills laying inside. I was given wonderful care by the hospital staff and doctors who knew that I wouldn’t be able to pay the bill, however, without them I could have very well died. It’s just messed up that so many are out there in need of health care and Tennessee lawmakers turn their back on them. They’d rather have the hospitals and the very health care professionals we call our heroes eat this cost.

[Editor’s Note: The day after Vicky sent this piece to us, she was approved for TennCare.]

The Definition of Family

BY CHRISTY P.

Some say family is based on genetics, blood, lineage, etc. To me “family” is just like these three points Bishop T. D. Jakes explained.

Confidant. This one is key. A confidant is an individual who listens, pays attention to you. Thinks of your needs (even before their own). A confidant will be there for you expecting nothing in return. They will never run and tell your secrets. You can trust them. Usually a confidant is one or two people, not a large group; although there are exceptions.

Constituent. This can however be one or more people. With this group they seem to care for you, but have something of an ulterior motive. They usually get something for themselves out of the deal. Their own selfish goal is to “be nice” to you so they can use you or receive a reward for the “job” or “good deeds.” You cannot trust these people nor confide in them. Honestly, a lot of so-called “family” are like this. The best way I believe to deal with this is speak, say hello, help them when needed, but keep distance and silent. You may have yourself been used, hurt, badmouthed or even worse.

Comrade. With this particular group, the works “suck it up buttercup.” come to mind. These people are in no way friends or confidants. They are people you have to be around, maybe work alongside or fight in battle with. They have one purpose. Setting the goal for themselves. We both have to make quota or fight the same enemy so we have to get along for the goal. Someone once said, “I don’t have to like you, but we have to come together as a team.” Of course never trust them and never confide in them, but always show respect.

Unfortunately, a lot of families don’t like each other. For example, a holiday when all members are present for the purpose of their own. Most only see each other then, they never speak outside of the dinner table, or a funeral. Now back to the subject of “family.” I would say family is number one. Confidant. Genuine unconditional LOVE. Whether blood relation or not.