The ladies and I have been discussing the recent elections and hoping with all our might for a national health candidate.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could pay that much less for health insurance.  Gladys had a knee operation last month and it literally COST her both her knees.  Sharon has a mammogram coming up at Doctors’ Hospital and she’s already trying to save up for what she’s sure will be a tough expense.  Well, don’t you know we’ve been daydreaming about an executive health program—executive, that is, meaning coming from The White House itself.   Imagine the federal government paying for most of your medical benefits, the way it does in the nation of Canada, for example.  I suppose I’m lucky that my mother has Medicare, but she still has to pay partially for many of her medications.  I just do what I can to help her out when she has a rough time, to try and supplement her widow’s benefits and her Railroad Retirement Board pension from my late dad.  It’s the least I can do; they tried so very hard to make my life better than theirs was.  You know what?  I think it’s time for our coffee klatsch again.  This time, it’ll be at Leigh’s house.  I hope no one’s allergic to cats!!!