Early to Rise

  At least for me. I had a medical appointment at the local hospital for some routine testing. It was short and sweet. In and out in half an hour. If anything shows up, I'll get a call next week. If not, a letter touting a clean bill of health should come within thirty days.
  I am an age when these things are important. The only thing is I don't know any of my birth family health history. Is breast cancer in the family? Heart disease? Diabetes? Do I even want to know? Especially now I have a family doctor who is big on preventative screening, does it matter? That, and I am blessed to live in a country where testing, etc. is possible for everyone regardless of financial constraints.
  Except the parking. It's not free. But that's okay. It does raise funds for the hospital enabling them to upgrade equipment, maintain the building, and helps keep one of the last small, rural hospitals open for business.
  A drop in the bucket.
  Even though health care is a service provided for by our taxes, it's the community that keeps our little hospital open. It's the community that funded the birthing unit which had to be closed for several years due to lack of government money.
  Funds are constantly being raised through volunteer organizations and personal contributions. I believe there are plans for expansion in the works. Which would be a good thing.
  Beside it sits a large, white, three story clapboard building that was once the nurse's residence. It may have been built around 1900. It's old, anyways. Back then, a roof over her head was part of nursing. Single nurses were chaperoned and watched over by a matron who made sure they maintained their dignity and chastity, representing their fine, upstanding position. When a nurse or any woman married, if they were working, they had no choice but to leave their job to tend to the more important matters of hearth and home. (I am so glad the times have changed!)
  Currently the building houses mental health services. Which is a problem. Mostly it's a confidentiality thing. No one goes there unless they have mental health challenges. Anyone who sees a person going in knows that's what they are struggling with. In a small community, that's a big deal. Mostly because there is still a lot of suspicion, discrimination and fear within the population when it comes to matters of the mind.
  Thankfully, the more who share about mental health, the stigma becomes less and less.
   When the hospital expands, the plan is to move these services into the main building. A change that is long overdue.
  Now I am off again to see about my new glasses. I've been wearing them for a while but am not happy. Things are far too blurry.

  "But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42