Bewilderment

There are, at least in my opinion, a few quick interim solutions to the homeless problem on the island. There are at least two public elementary school campuses, one in Kaimuki and one in Upper Aina Haina, and at least one high-rise State office building in town that could be converted to homeless shelters. Right now, all are sitting empty. At least one public park could be designated for overnight parking for homeless people with automobiles. It would provide a safe place for sleeping along with restrooms. The obstacle to those solutions is the "groupthink" that more shelters would encourage more homeless to migrate here. Well, the homeless are migrating here in droves regardless of the availability of shelters.

Instead, lots of time and money is being spent on homeless deterrents. Bus stop seating has been made homeless-proof. Huge planters have been placed in the middle of sidewalks to prevent tent camping. Restrooms have been shuttered because of the homeless. And, any large homeless project is usually just a ruse to create new social worker jobs. What can an abundance of social workers do? There are only three inadequate homeless shelters and zero truly affordable housing. More social workers isn't going to shelter the homeless.

Again, my daily observations of the homeless are alarming. The sheer number of elderly homeless is definitely rising. Let me put it this way ... I have never seen so many homeless senior citizens. Most of them are living on the streets or at remote beaches. Will I soon be one of them?

By the way, I finally received the membership card from my healthcare provider. Actually, it was mailed several months ago to a non-existent Waikiki homeless shelter. Is that an omen, or what? As I have stated previously in the "blog," I have an excellent healthcare plan. If I had to pay for a similar plan through ObamaScare, I would be doling out $700 after the tax credit (only applicable to uninsured wage slaves). I really cannot afford to be without medical insurance. I still am suffering from some kind of unidentifiable heart problem.

Speaking of heart problems, I am bewildered by my homeless buddy's decision to camp at the airport. He nearly died at the bus stop when he collapsed from heart failure. He doesn't even know who called the paramedics. After surviving a heart transplant operation, he continues to live a marginal existence. What's even more puzzling is that he has over $60,000 in cash, skimmed from his disability entitlement, all stashed in a safe deposit box. Sure, he is going to visit Vietnam for six months to visit family. However, he will be camping at the airport indefinitely when he returns. A heart transplant does not insure that he will have a long, healthy lifespan. Rather, he is at risk of even more cardiac events.

My homeless buddy is one of the "walking dead." So is Maka. Diabetes will eventually claim one of his legs. After the amputation, he will be confined to a wheelchair. That's probably the worst case scenario for a diabetic. Not being able to exercise rigorously will lead to increased weight. The cycle will only lead to early death. Essentially, we are all "walking dead." It is just a matter of time and circumstance before the "walking" part is eliminated.

I have not really gotten over seeing the prematurely-aging Les a week or so ago. I am not joshing when I claimed that he looked to be 75 years old. I have been fortunate. I have staved off the effects of aging, which I attribute to a consistent workout regimen at the gym. How old do I look? Many people are fooled and believe that I am still in my forties. Yet, the day will come when I will not be able to stop the aging process.

To be honest, I don't believe that I will be able to tolerate the effects of old age. Mind you, I enjoy being alive and healthy. However, once the body starts falling apart, the joy disappears. To become so fragile and helpless in an increasingly narcissistic and hostile society ... I shudder at the thought.

Ol' Lavahead Mini-Update®
I was able to restore my evening outing to Kahala for a couple of days, although I spent little time in the den of consumerism (read: shopping mall).