A simpler time

 “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

The Buddha

It's not like me to spend a whole lot of time gazing into the rear view mirror.

Yesterday is in the past and for the most part, that's where it should remain.

The wonders of technology and the conveniences we have today can not be compared to life as I remember it growing up.

The world has changed so rapidly.

With that said, I do find myself wondering what we gave up along the way and at what cost?

Specifically this morning, I was thinking about going to the doctor today as compared to when I was a kid.

Our family had a family doctor.

We all went to the same family doctor (although by the time my brother came around he had a pediatrician).

His office was in the lower level of his house, a very nice split level which afforded him a separate entrance to see patients.

He had a waiting room, an office and an examination room.

There was no receptionist, billing clerk or nurse, just the doctor.

His exam room had an x-ray machine, which he operated himself. We didn't have to go to a radiology facility for a sprained ankle.

When we were really sick, the doctor would make what was called a house visit, carrying with him his little black doctor's bag.

Do doctors even have little black bags anymore?

After our visit, on the way out, my father would take out his check book, write a check and the billing process was now complete.

Money was always tight in the Spiegel house and I am sure there were times when the office visit might have been discounted but he always got paid.

And I think he was paid well. My doctor, along with the other doctors in the community all had the nicer homes, drove the nicer cars and their kids wore the nicer clothes.

All of their kids went to summer camp and not just day camp.

Doctors made a good living even back then.

I dare say, better than most.

It was just a whole lot simpler.

I know, medicine has made huge strides in 60 years.

But a cold is still a cold, the flu is still the flu, stitches are still just stiches, an ankle sprain is still, an ankle sprain and an x-ray is still just an x-ray.

Doctors had license plates that said MD on them. I always believed this was so that they could park anywhere they needed to, not just as a sign of vanity.

Today things are quite different.

Things are not quite as simple.

And not just with doctors , so don't think I am picking on them. I'm not.

Try calling a plumber nowadays!

Times were simpler.

Does that mean better?

Maybe.