Planes
Dad. Please stop asking me if I "have an itinerary" yet. I do not "have an itinerary". I don't know when I'll "get my itinerary". As soon as "an itinerary happens" I'll let you know. I'll even give you my flight number*.
Boats
2. My good deed this week - and I encourage you to join in, it won't take long - was to join Amnesty International's flotilla to Guantanamo Bay. It's basically an online petition, but in flash. Anyway, if you want to know all about it, Amnesty will gladly tell you.
Automobiles
3. Ours has officially sold, for a grand total of two and a half Stims (or eight FETs)**, which is more than we were expecting. We are now not only car free, but my mother has stopped asking how we're going to pay for all this. Which probably means she's stopped lying awake at night picturing me on the Singaporean gallows for drug running. So really, everyone wins.
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*Not a euphemism. I'm talking about an actual flight number.
**The "Stim" is a unit of currency used by infertiles the world over, but its value varies depending on region and insurance cover. The price quoted here is the out-of-pocket figure for an Australian Stim after PBS, medicare and health insurance rebates. It does not take into account the cost of airfares. The FET is the lesser unit (as "cents" are to "dollars").
Whilst it is relatively straightforward to make currency conversions between, say, Australian Stims and North American Stims, difficulties arise when trying to work out how many Stims equals a Baby.
Now go join the flotilla!
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7 Comments
Excellent news, Bea - about the selling of the autos. And getting Mum to stop asking about how you'll pay for the next round.
To respond to your comment; I do believe that infertility is regarded as a medical condition - it's just one that is 100% elective. After all, you can choose not to have children. Right?
Either way, it still shows that there is a long way we need to go in order to gain any real mainstream understanding of infertility.
That's what makes me sad. People who can have kids whenever they want just don't get it.
I can go on and on, so I'll stop for now. :)
As I reflect more on infertility as a medical condition, I realize that perhaps I was being a bit optimistic.
Infertility is regarded more as an elective procedure than it is a medical condition. It's up there with something like breast augmentation. Because of the choice factor, that is. You can chose to not have children. Or adopt.
Anyway. I do agree with you that until it becomes regarded as a true medical condition, the people who get the best care are the ones who can afford it. I am very lucky that I live in a mandated state, where IF has to be covered; but I am the minority, it seems.
I love your bit about the currency! too funny. and too true!
I agree with Serenity. It's a medical condition but because it's not potentially fatal or detrimental to ones health, others consider it an elective condition. Don't they know the emotional scar and depression it brings is similar to cancer. Not dying from it doesn't mean you're not suffering!
We don't even have health insurance covering it. Maybe because our society is very fertile. We've got parents begging in the streets with six children in tow. It's just sad.
We've got a car for sale if you need one, it'll only cost you 4 stims!!
Sounds wonderful Bea! I loved this post. I think we've all looked at something and go, "Shouldn't get that, it a bottle of pills." That sounded oddly close to an addict. Hmmm.
Great news Bea. Its also nice to know i'm not the only one who thinks like that. When I look at our bank account I think "OK thats enough for 1 cycle and maybe a couple of FET's".
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