Insurance is Assuring?!

I come from a long line of insurance salesmen. My father, grandfather and several uncles have had long successful careers helping people make sure that should something happen to them, their loved ones would be taken care of. I myself sold insurance for a few years, under my father, carrying on the family trade, if you will. And the one thing I know about insurance is that though you pay for it, you really hope you don't ever have to make a claim. You'd rather your loved one is healthy, rather than them die from cancer. But, because things happen...it is best to be prepared.

Hence, my travel insurance. It was suggested we take out some before our trip, and at first I didn't think I would want it. There was no such thing when I went to Europe 15 years ago. But it is apparently a growing service. And the deciding factor for me was the thought of my bags getting lost in some obscure terminal, and then finding my items up for sale on eBay months from now. That could happen, it is not unheard of. And I will be highly miffed IF that DOES in fact happen (and you know you will all hear about it too!!). But at least I will get some monetary restitution should that occur. Not much...I mean $600 can't replace a week's wardrobe, personal items, souvenirs etc. I would like it if they gave you a Visa up to $5,000 to buy a new wardrobe, like on TLC's What Not To Wear. Maybe Stacy and Clinton could get in on that.

The thing I dreaded the most when enrolling for the travel insurance was listing a beneficiary should there be an "accident". I just felt I was really tempting fate by putting Nate's name in the drop box (I love ya hon, but I'd rather you not get the $100,000 that way!). That is the MAIN benefit I don't want to use at ALL! I am not all that convinced that airplanes are really supposed to defy gravity the way they do. I am a scientific individual, but still, something seems against nature to propel 400+ tons of steel into the sky, and fly it over the Atlantic Ocean for hours, then expect it to land on tiny wheels that may or may not decide to pop out in time!

A timely article was posted on the USAToday's website about how safe airplanes are now. It should have made me feel much better, but it had the opposite effect on me. It made me get a little nervous. I think it has to do with my brain and how it automatically processes the words "airplane" and "crash" in a sentence. It doesn't matter if the sentence is "There was an airplane crash over the mountains today", or "Scientist can now guarantee 100% that no more airplanes will ever crash starting now." :-) Plus I think 9-11 will always cause me, as I am sure it has for others, to be a little more guarded about personal safety on flights.

Ok, I am now starting to feel like I should be paying you $100/hour for listening to my phobias and worries...but don't expect a check. Because, I am going to be positive and worry-free..everything will be flawless. I will take off - land - take off - land - take off - land - take off - land smoothly and expertly. My bags will be where I need them at the precise moment I need them. And the $31 for travel insurance will pay the fates this go around.

Ouch!

Check off the vaccinations! I went to the Health Department this afternoon for what I thought were going to be my tetanus and hepatitis A vaccines. The boys were interested in seeing Mommy get shots for a change.

I had called the nurses earlier in the week to schedule an appointment, so I wouldn't have to wait, but the one I spoke with just told me to come in. But when I came in, I had to take a number as if I were at a deli counter and wait until called. I was number 53!

The boys and I waited for about 40 minutes and then I went back for the shots. We heard babies cry through the doors, and Parker knew what was going on as he had his 5 year old shots not too long ago. Then it was my turn to go in.

I sat and spoke with the nurse about my destination and the recommendation for shots. When I told her about needing tetanus, she tried to get me to take the DTaP which also would protect me from whooping cough! No thank you. I was not willing to shell out the extra $20 for something that I could just as easily catch at home...I wanted to be covered for the different stuff. So just tetanus, please.

When I mentioned needing the hepatitis A vaccine, it was only then that I learned the shot takes 4 weeks to kick in!! So I could pay for the vaccine, go on the trip, contract hep A and the vaccine would be useless. The nurse and I both figured it would be a waste to get it now. So I didn't. I will just be a little more cautious about the ice cubes and dairy.

I then asked her about the measles since I had heard there were regional outbreaks and I had only one vaccine. The nurse felt it would be an important one for me to take as protection in addition to bringing me up to date. So I decided to get the MMR vaccine too.

As the nurse prepared for me tetanus and MMR vacs, I smiled to the boys, their eyes wide in anticipation. Both of them huddled close to me, focusing intently on the syringe as it approached my arm. They were worried. Parker asked me if I was going to be ok. :-)

The tetanus was injected - no problem. It didn't hurt and I was smiling to the boys. They thought I was pretty tough. But the MMR - OUCH!!! It stung and hurt like crazy. The nurse said that one was always the bad one - it is the one they give the kids last that makes them cry so much. I gave a sympathetic glance to Parker remembering well how on his last shot he had lost his cool.

Bandaged and officially inoculated for my travel, the boys followed me to the check out station. Devin asked if my arm hurt too much, it was touching how they tried to soothe me. I assured them I was fine and then went to pay my bill!

Two injections = $80!
Ouch!

At least it is over with.

Next on my list...travel insurance.

SHOTS!!

I am going Wednesday afternoon to the Health Department for shots that were recommended for the trip! I am NOT looking forward to that! Recommended for me are:

• Tetanus
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Measles

Ok, so here is my opinion on these. I will get the tetanus booster, I am long overdue. And Hepatitis A can be important as you never know the condition of food or water overseas. But I am not sure I will get the last three.

Hepatitis B is mainly if you swap spit or blood...Which I plan on doing neither!

Typhoid is optional, but I think the conditions in Prague are updated enough to not be too concerned.

The measles shot was recommended by the Health Department because overseas it is still very common. I had the vaccine when I was a child but they say if you got one, and not two as they do now, you may be at risk. I am considering this only because I just read there has been a recent outbreak of measles in Germany and the surrounding areas.

I am a tiny bit uneasy around needles. I used to be much more so when I was little. My phobia disappeared with the birth of my two children due to all the needles and IVs I endured. Still if I could choose not to have an injection, I would.

*Sigh* I know it sounds like I am being a wimp. But aside from the pain of the actual needle, there is the pain of having to shell out the $$ for it too!! Oh well, if I gotta, I've gotta! But I am so glad I live in the healthy USA!

Renee

Two weeks and counting...

Well, I am two weeks away from my trip to Prague. Hard to believe. I have been so busy with everything else in my life that the trip has snuck up on me. Now I have to shift gears and start preparing for when I leave.

To bring everyone up to speed, here are some common questions I am asked:

When DO you leave?

I fly out Monday July 10th and will return the following Monday July 17th.

Why ARE you going to Prague?

I have been singing with the Spartanburg Festival Chorus for over a year now. It has been one of the best things I have done of late. I have gotten back into the singing I've missed and I have had numerous opportunities along the short way. The best part though are the incredible people I have had the good fortune to meet and sing with.

My conductor is Dr. Keith Jones, who is an Associate Professor of Voice and Choirs at Converse College. He directed our choir in a local production of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, collaborating with the Spartanburg Philharmonic and Spartanburg Ballet. It was an amazing event to be part of. SC ETV will be broadcasting the concert sometime in November.

A colleague of Dr. Jones, named Dr. Jirka Kratochvil, is the director of Hartwick College Choral Festival and Institute in Oneta, New York. It was serendipitous that Dr. Kratochvil was himself conducting Carmina Burana with a group, as well as coordinating a trip to Prague to perform the same piece. He asked Dr. Jones would he be interested in the Tenor Solo of Carmina, and would he have anyone interested from his group who would like to participate in Prague.

That's how we got involved. A group of about 30 of us from SFC will be joining some 150+ voices from other choirs to perform with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Prague is RICH in musical history, much of which I have only just learned of. I cannot wait to share with you all that I am learning along the way!

I will be posting more in the next few days to answer other questions that have been asked so that everyone can understand the who, what, when, where, why and how of this once in a lifetime trip for me.

I hope you will enjoy this blog as it will be updated as I am on the trip! :-)

Love,

Renee