Saddling My Lamb to Go Off in Search of a Surgeon

I was all set this morning to launch into a posting about inmates riding away from prison on a lamb, but I done been preempted.

In case you missed it, yesterday’s (5/21) Woodward News (whose motto, translated from the Latin means “Idioms Are Us”) had on the front page an article entitled “Inmate Still on the Lamb”…even used the word Lamb in the body of the article.   Okay, if you still don’t get it, it should have been “Inmate Still on the Lam”…which makes use of an idiom as an editorial device, which most newspaper editors are wont to do. 

As I sat on the front porch of the compound contemplating that, there was an article below it on the front page about Newman Memorial Hospital shutting down some of its services, specifically, obstetrics and surgical services.  It was another busy front page at Woodward News. 

But, Rachael Van Horn preempted me with her mea culpa in this morning’s paper on the editorial page.  Seems she took a dose of grief yesterday for composing the headline with Lamb instead of Lam.  I even noticed that the News’ web site had changed the title to “Inmate Still on the Loose”.  Same scary looking dude’s photo, different title.  Frankly, he was a lot less scary when you thought of him riding his saddled lamb pell-mell across the plains.  So, I guess I’ll stop mentioning the mistake…for now.  Maybe it’s time to start talking about the William S. Key Correctional Revolving Door Center and why these guys keep escaping.  OH…I know…there are no walls or fences to keep them in!  Judas priest…

Back to the situation with the Shattuck hospital.  Newman Memorial Hospital has served the Shattuck community and indeed much of the Southern Great Plains for years.  Back in the day, it was known as the Mayo Clinic of the Plains.  It earned that reputation by providing quality, leading edge medical services to people living in this region.

I was born in the old Newman Memorial building.  My grandmother used to laughingly tell people that they burned down the hospital after I was born.  Actually, they did.  A more modern building rose from the ashes and continued to serve those who had long come to depend on its facilities and staff. 

I suppose this is the latest example of the reality of healthcare in America today.  Institutions that once held as their primary focus the health and care of its local population must now either compete with the really large “chain” hospitals or cut services.

While I was pleased to see that the hospital will continue to operate with 24/7 emergency care, rehabilitative services, etc…honestly, it’s probably only a matter of time before those disappear as well. 

In the end, it would be nice if the idiots in the Congress and the White House could actually sort all of this out so that those of us who choose to live in rural America have easy access to the same quality of care as those who choose live in the larger cities.  Just sayin’.

Oh…quick update on Lake Mountebank.  We’ve had a steady stream of RVs driving past the gates of the compound.  Guess they’re checking out what we have to offer after being turned away from Ft. Supply.  I did notice that the Woodward News this morning had a piece that showed RV and tent campsites are still available at Roman Nose and other state parks.  Thanks Woodward News!

I’m considering asking the brother-in-law to bring his front-end loader back over to move a lot of debris into the road just beyond the compound.  That will force the RVs to at least pull in here.  After that, I figure they’ll just stay once they see all of our great facilities that we’ve slap-dashed together.

Have a great weekend everybody…stay safe!