The View from the Pines: Treating the innocent and stupid exactly the same

By JIM COLEMAN, Special to The Paper

Well, it seems like things are finally getting back to normal.  Based on the fact that it took me 45 minutes to drive 12 miles to Peachtree City last Saturday, I’d say things are getting back to the way they used to be, or at least it seems so.  It’s either that, or people are so tired of being cooped up for a year that they just get in their car and ride around with nothing to do.

Now there is talk of the Delta variant lurking in the wings.  Who knows what that will bring?  In the meantime, 1,400 people have died in automobile accidents in Georgia so far this year but I still have to go to Kennesaw on Wednesday.

I had my annual physical, which is always traumatic.  It’s not physically traumatic, it’s more of an emotional thing.  It’s the day each year when I’m poked and probed, x-rayed, and have EKG leads glued to my chest hair only to be removed by a nurse who believes that jerking 3 or 4 of them off simultaneously somehow mitigates the agony.

My doctor is also my very good friend who has seen me and my family through good times and bad, which is why I drive an hour and half each way just to keep her in my life.  She always takes extra time to catch up on my comings and goings and those of my family.  After she completed the required examinations she reminded me that I have had a flu shot, both COVID vaccinations, two pneumonia shots, two shingles shots, anti-anxiety medication, acid reflux medication and two allergy medications.

In addition to that, I’ve been diagnosed with arthritis in my hip, wax in my ear, the bottom number of my blood pressure is kinda high and then she added that she wants to see me 40 pounds lighter when I come for my annual appointment next year.

The bright spot in my day was when she commented as I was leaving, “You look great!” Really?  It reminded me of my childhood when at age 13, I would drive my South Georgia grandma to the funeral home and as we were leaving she would always say, “She looked good, didn’t she?”  Even at that young age I thought “NO, she looks dead.”

I’m sure the HIPAA people are having a stroke by now because of all the information I’ve just released to the public.  If some wacko out there hacked my Facebook account and got my American Express number from my Amazon account, he could actually become me.  On second thought, I think I’m safe.  Nobody would want to be me, knowing all this.

Now on a more serious note.  I respect anybody’s right to manage his own healthcare and be a participant in his own wellbeing, but there’s a bunch of people out there that need to wake up.  After what we have been through in the last 18 months I cannot, under any scenario, fathom why so many people are not vaccinated against COVID.  If you’re one who isn’t, I’d suggest you turn off the television, stop reading Facebook posts from people who are imminently unqualified to be talking about the subject and just ask a DOCTOR.

Science is a funny thing.  It doesn’t care who you voted for, which talk radio station you listen to, which church you go to or what kind of revelation you think you have had.  If you think the government is implanting microchips into you with the COVID vaccine, then you are just some kind of a nut.

If you have eaten a Big Mac, Whopper, Bubba Burger, McRib, fries or onion rings in your life then don’t use the excuse that you care about what goes in your body.  COVID is still out there and there is a funny thing about it, also.  It treats the innocent and stupid exactly the same.

COME ON, PEOPLE.

Jim Coleman is twice retired as a financial advisor and flight attendant. A theatre geek, musician, arts administrator and preservationist, he lived a relatively obscure life until he crossed paths with Corby Winters. Jim chose Newnan as his new forever home five years ago and is dedicated to making our community the best it can be.