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The Jevlir Caravansary

Tag: choice

  • But I Didn’t Order It

    But I Didn’t Order It

    “We’re here to install your new Complete Health Solution,” announced the cheerful voice.

    “But I didn’t order any such thing,” said the old man.

    This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of any of the characters to anyone in the real world (including any resemblance of the old man to me) is purely coincidental. Copyright © 2024, Henry E. Neufeld

    “You didn’t have to! This is all paid for by the Department of Health. There will be no cost to you, and you can pretty much forget doctor visits and taking medications.”

    “But I didn’t order it,” said the old man, again.

    “You didn’t have to!” Less cheerful now. “The Department of Health orders it for you. They pay for it. We install it. It makes your life better.”

    “But I didn’t order it.”

    “Please listen to me! You don’t have to order it. It’s provided to you free of charge. You don’t have to pay a thing or do anything. I install it. It makes your life better.”

    “I am listening to you, but I didn’t order that thing.” The voice was very steady for an angry man past 100 years old.

    “Listen, please! Ordering doesn’t matter. It’s yours, courtesy of the Department of Health. It monitors your vital signs, looks for medical problems before they happen. It puts any required medications into your food and water for you. It does everything! It’s a wonderful machine. Now just sit down over there in your recliner while I install it for you.”

    “But. I. Didn’t. Order. It. Since you’re obviously mentally impaired, that means I. Don’t. Want. It.”

    There was silence for a few moments.

    “But it’s good for you! It’s a wonderful gift the Department of Health is just giving to you. Companies that make pills and pharmacies that dispense them will soon be a thing of the past. All your medication will come through one of these machines. You won’t have to worry about taking pills ever again.”

    “I don’t take any pills. I didn’t order it.”

    “Well, we’re providing it to you in any case. Please, just sign right here acknowledging acceptance of this wonderful gift.”

    The old man looked at the text on the tablet screen. He read it carefully. He wondered if the cheerful installer had ever actually read the text, of if he just handed it out expecting a signature.

    “I didn’t order it. Therefore, I won’t sign for it.” He handed the tablet and stylus back.

    “But you can’t do that!”

    “Actually, I can. Read it yourself. I didn’t order it. I won’t sign for it. I don’t want it.”

    “If you die, it’s all your fault!” Not cheery any more.

    “So true, young man, so true.” And the old man grinned.

    (Featured image generated by Jetpack AI, in an ironic twist, considering the topic.)

  • Clear!

    Clear!

    car-accident-300px

    By Steve Kindle, guest blogger; Image: Openclipart.org

    “Clear,” she said, as Jake pulled into the heavily traveled intersection, unaided by any traffic signals. The little VW Bug’s right side passenger window was situated such that his wife, Clara, blocked the view. So they came up with this verbal strategy to make up for the loss.  Anyway, Jake, at 85, lost his ability to turn his neck 90 degrees, so this seemed like a workable option.

    Clara wasn’t any better off. Though only a couple of years younger than Jake, she quit driving altogether. Her eyesight was good, but she became too anxious behind the wheel. The idea of driving on the freeway was out of the question, and soon to follow was contesting in any traffic whatsoever. Jake’s short-term memory was unreliable, and he joked that he’d get Clara where she needed to, but she’d have to tell him why they are there. Life became a series of doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, and a little mall-walking here and there. “Old age is not for sissies,” was their mantra.

    There’s was a life of hard work, sacrifice, and, now, pain. They put their two children through college and grad school, and now had successful careers. However, their jobs meant having to live far from their parents, and visiting the grandchildren was very occasional.  Grandma and grandpa felt unnecessary to their lives. In fact, unnecessary to anyone’s life.

    But it was the last trip to the doctor that brought them face to face with mortality. Jake was diagnosed with lung cancer that spread to his liver. Stage four; inoperable and final. He was given six months to live. This was received by Clara as her death warrant as well. How could she possibly live without Jake?

    There they were, once again, at the well-traveled intersection.  “How’s it looking, honey,” asked Jake? Clara took a long look down the road. Approaching quickly was semi loaded with scrap iron. It would be on them in seconds. “Clear,” she said.

    For some non-fiction thoughts on end of life, see:

    Hospice and Palliative Care: A Quality Alternative to Assisted Suicide

    Suicide and Grief

    Is Euthanasia Wrong – NO

    and my own story from yestderday Preserving Life.