Rosamond Press

Yesterday I wheeled my homeless veteran friend up to the check-out line at Wal-Mart. There was a mother with five beautiful children ahead of us. They were transfixed at the sight of Hollis in a wheelchair cart, they just seeing his feet because there as a big box on the cart. Because I look just like Santa Claus these children were taking peeks, they curious like Lemures. I had bought Hollis a brand new microwave with my SSI money, because he got his keys to the first apartment he has lived in since 2002. We move Hollis in today.

The day before that I went to see my friend Joy and Jonny at this rest home. Joy broke her ankle and has been there for two months. Her son, and my dear friend, Jon Gall, has been in this home for two years. He can not talk, or move, because he was stricken with a rare disease seven years ago. Three years ago he crawled up and down the steps of my building so he could see my apartment. He wanted to get a place of his own here. At twenty six, he had always lived with his parents. Jon graduated the top of his class at the University of Oregon. He was due to for a six figure salary. He was a golf and tennis player. While talking with Joy, Jonny’s nurse came down and said Jon had pulled the feeding tube out of his stomach and is going to the hospital in an ambulance. Joy got on the phone to Jon’s father to go with is son, but I volunteered. Here is the thanks I got from my friend who was my number two Trustee, who never believed he would be asked to serve after my daughter refused due to her Tea Party Lover’s hatred of disabled people in wheelchairs, he calling them “parasites”.

When Jon was able to feed himself, I was there for him and his parents. I took him to his doctor’s appointments in the Mustard Mobile. That is Joy next to me in the Antiwar march. That is my friend, Virginia, in the jester hat. When my ex-girlfriend was twenty she and her classmates of Evergreen College were in a terrible accident. They pulled Virginia from under her dead classmate. She was in a coma for thirty days, her sister by her side, she not expected to live. She did, but suffers from brain injury. I have been there for Virgina for fourteen years. I helped her plant her garden, trim her fruit trees, put new batteries in her smoke alarm, and drive her to her doctor’s appointments. Virginia was raised by a well to do parents. She had a bright future as a oceanographer. She lives off monies from the lawsuit. Ten student in the van did not have seatbelts. Five weeks ago I bought her a used wheelchair with my SSI money after she fell.

Above is a photo of my friend Ed, who I talked into getting treatment for his disease at Serenity Lane. Ed went to Harvard and was put in charge of Jack Kerouac when he came there to speak. They drank all night and got on stage together drunk. Jack said;

“My friend Ed will speak for me today. because he knows where I’m coming from!”

When Ed broke his leg, and then suffered from several strokes, I was there for him. I took him shopping in the Mustardmobile, and got him to his appointment on time. When I was not with Ed, I was with Virginia. When I was not with Virginia, I was at the Galls. Ed’s father was the head of the Mayo Clinic and has two citations in Who’s Who. Doctor Corbin wanted his son to be the CEO of General Motors. Mark Gall is in several Who’s Who for authoring books on how to educate educators. He gave birth to one child whom he may outlive.

Above is a photo of Mark Gall with Ed. We have just shot Tommy guns. Ed was sober here, but went back to drinking even after being told he would die. I did not throw Ed out of my life because he was an alcoholic, nor did Mark. Two weeks ago my friend and neighbor died of toxic shock, after being told his liver was about to go over the cliff is he did not stop drinking. sometimes it feels like I am a doctor in triage losing a battle.

It is hard for me to see Jonny. He had such a clever sense of humor. To see his caked mouth and the terror in his eyes because there is a great mind trapped inside a lifeless body, is utterly unfair. Jonny is why I disowned my daughter. I convinced Jon to get on SSI. If he had not, he would have bankrupted his parents. Hence, he has been put on their medical insurance.

People suffer greatly in the world. When I read the Bible for the first time, I read about a great man who tended to several disabled people that no one else would care for, for it was ruled they are ‘Born Sinner’.

Good riddance to the Tea Party Parasites who thrive on the chaos and misfortune of others!

God bless the Prince of Peace!

Jon Presco

Jon:

Thanks so much for visiting Joy and going with Jonnie to RiverBend.

Mark
—
M. D. “Mark” Gall
Professor Emeritus
University of Oregon
College of Education