Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
The phone call to her second US Senator generated the same automated message the only thing different was the Senator's name. "Hello! This is United States Senator Gerry Mandering! Thank you for calling my office in Washington DC. Your call is very important to me. If you would like to leave a message or comment on an issue please press one now. It is my privilege to serve YOU in the United States Senate!" Today there was no option to speak to a member of his staff.
"That was odd." She thought. Usually there is some mention of the "High volume of calls", if Senate staff can't be reached. Something's up. Wonder if we will ever find out what it is.".
A quick web search and another phone call got her a staffer in her Congressman office. At the other end of the line Bridget was trying to beat her current level on Candy Crush. "Put this square one here and... Stupid game!" she grumbled as she hit the play again option on her phone. The message in front of her reminded her she was supposed to be working. Father said a summer internship in the Congressman's office would look good on a resume and "Open doors for her." She agreed to do it for a trip to Cancun with her friends before fall class started. That seemed like f-o-r-e-v-e-r!
Bridget opened a line. "United States Congressman Flessum's office, Bridget speaking. How may I help you?". She moved another candy into place and watched with satisfaction as part of a row fell off the screen.
"Hello Bridget. This Ms. Bee. I am concerned with the diseases that are traipsing across our border with the flood undocumented immigrants. Drug resistant TB, yellow fever, Dengue fever, cholera, malaria, polio, Chargus, Chikungunya and now Ebola."
"Umhum." Bridget replied. totally indifferent, wishing she could get this woman off the phone and concentrate on her game.
"Are you familiar with Chargus and Chikungunya?
"No. I've never heard of them". Bridget answered. Now if she switched the red piece with the blue one....
"Does my call mean anything or was it a complete waste of time?" Ms. Bee asked masking her annoyance.
"Yes your call matters. Your concern will be passed on to Congressman Flessum before he makes a decision.". Bridget answered using an option from the script in front of her.
"Well unless he chooses to do something soon it may not matter if he does anything at all"." Ms Bee replied.
"Umhum." Bridget replied still totally indifferent.
Time to change tactics Ms. Bee thought. "Unlike some of those other diseases Chikungunya would probably not kill you since you sound young and healthy. It will just make you feel like you wish that you were. With so many of these disease there is no vaccine, no cure and little if any natural immunity for people here in the US because we have never been exposed to them before." Ms. Bee stated trying to get the importance across.
"Umhum." Bridget mumbled after a pause not quit as indifferent.
"Have you made any preparations for your own personal safety? Considering you are potentially at ground zero for these diseases, what with the high "immigrant" population in the area and the major airports; National, Dullus and BWI. Ebola only being a flight away. There are reports the CFR (Case Fatality Rate) is between 50 and 90%. In Liberia the Ministry of Health can't pick up all the abandon dead bodies. Can you imagine that happening in front of the Rayburn Building?
Do you have shelf safe food at home? Pasta, rice, peanut butter, canned soups and meats like tuna fish? Bottled water?" Ms. Bee asked, with motherly concern.
"Yes. I have those." Bridget answered ignoring the paused game on her phone.
"Good. You might want to pick up some more on the way home and maybe some hand sanitizer and a few N95 dust masks at the hardware store. There is more information on the diseases and how to advoid getting them using PPE's (Personal Protection Equipment) on the CDC's web site." Ms. Bee added helpfully.
"Thank you.". Bridget said sounding a little nervous. She made a few quick additions to the shopping list app on her phone.
Ms. Bee smiled. "Thank you Bridget. Have a good day!" and hung up. Maybe her call had mattered to one young woman.
The end
"Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage." - ROBERT A. HEINLEIN
"That was odd." She thought. Usually there is some mention of the "High volume of calls", if Senate staff can't be reached. Something's up. Wonder if we will ever find out what it is.".
A quick web search and another phone call got her a staffer in her Congressman office. At the other end of the line Bridget was trying to beat her current level on Candy Crush. "Put this square one here and... Stupid game!" she grumbled as she hit the play again option on her phone. The message in front of her reminded her she was supposed to be working. Father said a summer internship in the Congressman's office would look good on a resume and "Open doors for her." She agreed to do it for a trip to Cancun with her friends before fall class started. That seemed like f-o-r-e-v-e-r!
Bridget opened a line. "United States Congressman Flessum's office, Bridget speaking. How may I help you?". She moved another candy into place and watched with satisfaction as part of a row fell off the screen.
"Hello Bridget. This Ms. Bee. I am concerned with the diseases that are traipsing across our border with the flood undocumented immigrants. Drug resistant TB, yellow fever, Dengue fever, cholera, malaria, polio, Chargus, Chikungunya and now Ebola."
"Umhum." Bridget replied. totally indifferent, wishing she could get this woman off the phone and concentrate on her game.
"Are you familiar with Chargus and Chikungunya?
"No. I've never heard of them". Bridget answered. Now if she switched the red piece with the blue one....
"Does my call mean anything or was it a complete waste of time?" Ms. Bee asked masking her annoyance.
"Yes your call matters. Your concern will be passed on to Congressman Flessum before he makes a decision.". Bridget answered using an option from the script in front of her.
"Well unless he chooses to do something soon it may not matter if he does anything at all"." Ms Bee replied.
"Umhum." Bridget replied still totally indifferent.
Time to change tactics Ms. Bee thought. "Unlike some of those other diseases Chikungunya would probably not kill you since you sound young and healthy. It will just make you feel like you wish that you were. With so many of these disease there is no vaccine, no cure and little if any natural immunity for people here in the US because we have never been exposed to them before." Ms. Bee stated trying to get the importance across.
"Umhum." Bridget mumbled after a pause not quit as indifferent.
"Have you made any preparations for your own personal safety? Considering you are potentially at ground zero for these diseases, what with the high "immigrant" population in the area and the major airports; National, Dullus and BWI. Ebola only being a flight away. There are reports the CFR (Case Fatality Rate) is between 50 and 90%. In Liberia the Ministry of Health can't pick up all the abandon dead bodies. Can you imagine that happening in front of the Rayburn Building?
Do you have shelf safe food at home? Pasta, rice, peanut butter, canned soups and meats like tuna fish? Bottled water?" Ms. Bee asked, with motherly concern.
"Yes. I have those." Bridget answered ignoring the paused game on her phone.
"Good. You might want to pick up some more on the way home and maybe some hand sanitizer and a few N95 dust masks at the hardware store. There is more information on the diseases and how to advoid getting them using PPE's (Personal Protection Equipment) on the CDC's web site." Ms. Bee added helpfully.
"Thank you.". Bridget said sounding a little nervous. She made a few quick additions to the shopping list app on her phone.
Ms. Bee smiled. "Thank you Bridget. Have a good day!" and hung up. Maybe her call had mattered to one young woman.
The end
"Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage." - ROBERT A. HEINLEIN
Last edited:
, yes we could only hope so.
