I wrote a couple of weeks ago about my toothache and blood pressure situation, my dentist extracted the offending tooth as per our deal, and I went to the hospital to see my Doctor about the “Letter of Clearance” my dentist wanted. Hey, fair is fair, he lived up to his side of the deal. Now it’s my turn. A Barangay Letter of Clearance” was not required, but if that was what it would have taken to rid me of that tooth, I would have been there too.
Monday 9 March I’m at the dentist so he can remove the stitches, but it seems I had ate them. We then discussed the “Final Solution” to my dental dilemma, and decided that my Corn-on-the-Cob eating days were coming to a rapid close and all the remaining teeth were preordained to go the way of the ducks, south. Dentures are now in my headlights and after 60 plus years of glorious service my old choppers were finely going to give up the ghost. Adios old friends…
Wednesday 11 March, I once more find myself at Bay Pointe Hospital (Why they added the “E” on the word point I’ll never know?) to see my doctor about hypertension and oral surgery letters. First I see the young lady in the TriCare insurance office and she sends me to outpatient to see the doctor, and explain why I’m there, and after reading a couple of chapters from my Vince Flynn novel while waiting, I’m next in line and the doctor quickly wrote my letter of clearance. Now I’m thinking this is so not covered by my insurance and Paul foots the bill for the visit. But she then wrote me up for the next morning of lab work. Perplexed I inquired why, if I already had the letter I needed?
It seems that there on my medical record I was scheduled to be re-evaluated for my hyper-tension after one year and she thought that was why I was there. Hmmm my insurance is back in play, of course that was why I was there, and one year had passed and by some lucky happenstance it coincided with my dental work. I am truly a blessed man. Please bill my insurance, it’s not my fault I have great timing.
I’m ready for my lab work at 08:00 Thursday morning, but a fly flew into the ointment. I was supposed to fast from midnight on; consuming only water Na Lang. But the old memory being what it is, I’m at the Puter enjoying fresh brewed coffee and a blueberry muffin as Mrs. Thompson walks in with a frown on her face and said; “Mahal did you enjoy the coffee?” Oh shucks (You know that’s not really what I said.) I forgot my Mahal the shining light of my life. Paul I now must call and re-schedule the lab work for Friday .Well okay by me, if that is what’s required. (Yes we do talk like that)
I’m thinking that within the grand scheme of life does it really matter? The kids in the laboratory didn’t even know I was coming, I was not scheduled to see my doctor until Monday morning, and there is the most important part; “I’m retired.” Time has no real relevance to me, now does it? Life seems to find its own pace for each of us here in the Philippines. It is one of the reasons I like living here, I’ve often mentioned on this site that my Daughter YoHanna has her own personal time zone, I guess after twenty years I’ve now too have my own. In the year 2000 when I retired I handed my father-in-law a $2,500.00 Swiss Rado watch and have never missed it. And when I’m out if I see a Kano wearing a watch I wonder how much is he enjoying retirement, and does he know that that silly smart phone in his hand also tells him the time? My smart phone is on my dresser at home where it belongs I’ve even shut off the time feature on my tablet because while reading, who in the hell needs to know what time it is? In the waiting room someone will tell me it’s time to see the doctor. More than likely it will be my wife because when I’m reading a book, “I’m in the book!” Proving my point that truly it really is all about the timing, and we shouldn’t be overly concerned about it.
Post Script;
Friday morning, I arrived at the hospital at 07:45, they did my lab work, took an X-ray, and did an EKG I was done by 08:15. I went to the Tri-Care office; she’ll be in at nine. Once more it’s all about the timing.
Yes,”timing”..and who cares about the time when you are retired! After 42 years working for the great “uncle” (Department of the Army/DOD civilian employee), I enjoy my “own time” and I am sure you enjoy yours, Mr. Paul T. Kick back and relax and if you have some old Merle Haggard tunes there in “DinBat”, enjoy them too. 🙂 Have a good day.
Jose;
I was just listening to the “Perfect Country Song” by Merle yesterday. And thinking hmmm, some Trace Akins would be food too. Most of the days do belong to me but once in awhile “Commander Pacific Fleet House. (CommPacFltHou) will step in with a battle plan for the day. But far and few between, I’d have to go to work to get a vacation.
I though David Allen Coe sang the “Perfect Country Song”
Chris;
You are 100% correct, I just lost my country music standing at Texas Joe’s. Thanks for straightening me out.
Paul, I can’t wait to begin to enjoy my own time. I have been retired 4 years and just recently went back to work to put money in the bank for my first visit to the Philippines. I am coming for two weeks in July. I am getting anxious. Thanks for sharing your stories.
Brian
Brian;
Your first of many visits if the islands affects you the way it does some of us. I’ll never forget my first visit, I left knowing that I would by hook or crook be back. Take your time to enjoy everything and everyone you meet..
New Dentures!! corn on the cob? very possible. Biting out a chuck of apple? highly unlikely. SMB’s? no effect–good to go.
Loren;
after much debate with the two dentists I told them that my “Kuya Loren” said yank em’ all. Then they came around to our way of thinking. Logic was applied.
been there , done that. LOL
Luke;
Now we both have.
Every morning I wake up and turn on the radio but keep it at a low volume since I too am retired and when I get up depends on how I feel rather than what time it is. Most of the time it is between 2:00 am and 3:00am but not set by an alarm clock. I don’t even own one. I will hear the radio announcer periodically Say it is exactly XX;00 am Philippine Standard Time. He is normally off by several minutes since the just look a a clock the has been running a week or more and is about as accurate as Trying to throw a curved Heater in a baseball game. What really cracks me up is the Use of Philippine Standard Time! The is no such thing, only Philippine time If I catch a ferry to Cebu that is supposed to leave at 8:00PM, it seldom Casts of Mooring lines until at least 8:30 pm. Same with the Airlines . Then there are the businesses that open at *;00 AM— Maybe! but you can set your watch by the closing Time! That is another Item I do not possess, After al, I am retired, What do I need a watch for anyway?l
Joe;
Philippine Standard Time is whatever my daughter says it is. My computer is connected to the atomic clock when I am on line. As if I could care but my Puter Guy feels that its important, like he’s ever showed up on time. I’ll be there when you see me is the best definition of time that I know.
Now for the funny part: My old watch sits in a drawer at my brother-in-laws house as he’s afraid to wear something that expensive. Its self winding so it will be useless very soon. Oh well!!!
This is starting to remind me of a Hit song by the group Chicago. ” Does Anybody really know what time it is, does anybody really care “.
Bob NY;
I checked my music libraries and found it, I’m listening now to it and what a great song. I’ll keep it on my music player to start my day with it. Thanks friend.
hi paul had a great time in subic your a lucky man to live there in bataan went to texas joe on saturday
best burger in the philippines, me and the wife had a good few days driving about the place got pulled
over coming back from the zoo place at the gate wife for the first time in her life forgot to wear her seatbelt i went in to charm mode let me off with a warning shook his hand and went our way lifes good
in the philippines derek in sunny pasig.
Derek;
Just after the toll booth you go down hill across the bridge and start up hill again. A car was in front of me going slow, and two “NCR” types zoomed passed the both of us. I saw the police on the crest of the hill as that is the spot they like to wait. Two more Manila types busted as I slowly motor on by. Seat belts is a big one here on base, but the smile and the hand shake will work wonders, you did the right thing.
Paul/Derek –
The smile works fine 99 percent most of the time, but make sure you don’t “accidentally” palm a folded 500 peso bill in your hand when you shake the officer’s hand, or that one remaining one percent might just come back and bite you in the ass. LOL
John;
The Subic police have pride in the service they provide. and I’ve never heard of one taking a bribe. Even the visiting Manilaites are learning that lesson. If you remain respectful, and your infraction is minor a warning is all you might get.
I was told Tricare was not taken there?
Fred;
It is not island wide, mostly in pockets where a lot of retired US Military live. Check with Tricare http://WWW.tricare-overseas.com Tele 63-2687-8656 or FAX 8609 or E-mail [email protected] people don’t research before they tell you stuff.
Thanks Bob for helping out.
The standard tri-care is taken here.
Thanks Bob, good to know.
Good luck with having your teeth replaced Paul. I have had a couple of them have parts of them break away and have had them repaired with crowns at the cost of about $1000 USD each. I blame the breakage on Pizza Crust. If teeth with fillings are removed, I wonder if the metal in the fillings will go to some kind of recycling place so the metal can be used for something else. Who knows maybe the metal from the fillings could be used for a San Mig can ?
Bob NY;
All my crowns were gold and my wife cashed them in, I never saw a peso of it. But the fillings were amalgamate and a SMB can would be a most fitting end. Pizza Crust? Switch to eating Greek Gyros they’re better for you.
Fred Patterson, the article was written by Paul Thompson. Paul left you a reply about Tricare, and I thought I would share it with you here. Here is what Paul said: Fred;
It is not island wide, mostly in pockets where a lot of retired US Military live. Check with Tricare http://WWW.tricare-overseas.com Tele 63-2687-8656 or FAX 8609 or E-mail [email protected]. Some people don’t research before they tell you stuff.
Thank you Bob.
Paul,
I still wear a watch, but mostly do not use it. I guess it’s just a habit lol. No more corn on the cob? That would hurt me as i eat it quite a bit.
PapaDuck’
Life will send you in many directions and no corn-on-the-cob is but one. BTW I was told that most bad habits can be broken, Give the watch away. (LOL)
You can still eat corn on the cob, after 6 mo. I learned you need to bite to one side instead of front on.
No need for a watch, but I like the look.
Besides as we get older time gets less, it’s the 40 year old kids that have all the time, no need to rush but it is just that we advance to the front of the line.
Gerald;
If what you say about Corn-on-the-cob is true, you’ve made my day. They just released the new I-Watch but that sounded so voyeuristic I gave it a pass.
Much as I might prefer to avoid, there are family and professional time-sensitive duties that require some accurate chronographic cognizance. I do have a perfectly good $44.95 (plus of course PST and GST back there) virtually “new” Timex(TM) in a drawer around here somewhere, hibernating while awaiting a replacement battery for a decade or more by now. I retired my wrist-clock circa the turn of the century shortly after landing here and more recently have eschewed drilling into concrete walls to mount wall-clocks, all realizing that my cellphone provides that functionality anytime I need it, plus it does a few more useful things when I need it to.
I recently humorously quipped about my wife’s white watch-shaped wrist band contrasting her natural tanned color, when she parked her “jewelry” on coming home from the mountains. For once she “got it” and since laughs about it too. To her a “watch” isn’t a functional piece, it’s jewelry, the functionality of a timepiece is today long subsumed by :”cellfones”. (As you somewhat slyly suggest.)
Ed;
My father and I both loved fine watches and we would trade off for a year or so or until the next time I saw him. He was wearing my Rolex Oyster stainless steel watch when he passed. At the funeral I noticed my Brother Richard had it on. My mother remembered it was my watch after she let my brother have it. She asked me if I wanted it back, but Richard thought it was a memento of our dad, and I told my mother to say nothing and I’ll get another one. I have yet to own a battery powered watch even my first Timex in the Navy was a winder. But I do peek at the clock in my car once in awhile.
For the ladies it is fashion and nothing else. My wife has a collection of watches and I’m never sure if she sets the time on them.
hi paul my father had a gold omega sea master watch , when he died never saw the watch again
i never wanted it one of my sisters or brothers must have got it nobody said anything about it ,
me i am happy with my seiko watch by the way paul and john would never try to bribe one of these
traffick guys in subic in manila its expected derek in sunny pasig.
Derek;
I never would have thought John would attempt to bribe a Subic Traffic enforcer, but many a fool from Manila have and suffered for it.
In the early sixties the Seiko had just came out but were very expensive in Europe. I could buy them at the Navy Exchange and sell them in Naples for three times what I paid for one. Doing that got me my first good watch and by the way it was an Omega (Not the gold one)
Hi Paul,
I went to the dentist yesterday. I still have all 32 of my teeth. I will be 50 in May. My problem is my gums are going away. I guess at some point you can’t have teeth without gums.
Jay;
Between the US Navy and myself I kept my teeth in great shape until in my 50’s when it started going south. I had crowns and root canals but they were all there. I’ll learn to live with the dentures, all my friends have.