I'm in my own last few days before an extended trip overseas. I can relate to what Mike went through recently, though I know I'll be back in a few months, so all my "last time for...." aren't permanent lasts.

 First thing on the agenda when I get 'home' in Thailand? An operation. Yeah, medical fix-em-up. I've managed to wait till this trip, and why did I wait, and not take care of the problem while here in the US you ask? Because I'm one of the millions of Americans without health insurance. So while most of you think this trip is to see my wife and family (and don't get me wrong, seeing Lena and my daughter and granddaughter are the primary reason for the trip) it's actually "medical tourism". I can't get my operation in the US, because I don't have the money for it. If the Thailand option weren't available to me, I'd put off the surgery until I had a crisis, and then it would be an ambulance ride to the ER, and if I survived, my credit would be ruined.

This is no way to run a country, folks. Especially one that thinks it's the best there is. Guess what.....we're not!