The summer of 1952 was a defining year of my life. Up until that summer, I was a typical young Nebraska farm boy, full of energy, loved baseball, loved my mother's fried chicken and gravy, loved her home made (everything was) rhubarb cobbler and had no worries about keeping up with the Joneses; the Joneses didn't have anything either. ...more

October 21, 2009

I have been around this old Earth for more than 85 years and consider myself very lucky. Being around that long you can't help but learn something about something! One of the most important things that I have learned is that a person's character begins to show in their face sooner or later. ...more

August 27, 2009

It's very encouraging to see the Obama administration moving so quickly to address the health care crisis in this nation. That said, I know there are many who fear health care reform and think that it means socialism, limits to care and long waits. The truth is there are many examples of successful universal health care systems in the world, some probably more appealing to conservative Americans than others. And in a country like ours where a person goes bankrupt from health care costs every 30 seconds, it's time to start taking a look at them. In England (what we typically think of as "socialized medicine"), they pay for services through taxes and use a primary physician as a "gatekeeper" to keep costs down, similar to our HMOs. There may be wait times for elective services, but they are a leader in preventative medicine. ...more

March 8, 2009

Upon your arrival home after a day at work, your teenage daughter informs you she has a sore throat and a fever. ...more

February 18, 2008

For those of us who plan to spend our lives in Florida, a new survey by Florida State University's College of Medicine is a worrisome reminder that the Sunshine State has a shortage of physicians. ...more

November 11, 2007

It's probably the last place you would look for skin cancer. Your scalp. It never occurred to 43-year-old Karen Shultes of Palmetto. In December, she discovered a patch of discolored skin behind her left ear. She had been absent-mindedly scratching it for several weeks and finally asked her husband to take a look. ...more

October 26, 2007

Dear Lyn: I'm retired and single. I've been taking care of my elderly mother at home. Her memory is good, but she's declining physically. Our family doctor recently told me she should be in a nursing home. Her condition is getting worse and she needs more care than I can provide. We found a nice place. It's close, so I'm able to see her often. But I'm feeling guilty — like I should be doing more. Any suggestions on how to shake this feeling? I really want to spend time at the facility, but I'm a fish out of water. I should be more cheerful when I visit. – Anna ...more

October 18, 2007