“It’s not far I can walk down the block to Table Talk. Close my eyes, make the pies all day. Plastic cap on my hair. I used to mind, now I don’t care. I used to mind, now I don’t care ’cause I’m gray. Did I show you this picture of my nephew taken at his big birthday surprise at my sister’s house last Sunday? This is Monday and we’re making pies. I’m making pies.” ”“ Patty Griffin

Dear Mr. Obama,

First, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your day to read this letter. I’m aware that with wars raging in the Middle East, the federal deficit larger than I’ll ever be able to fathom and a family to take care of, you probably don’t get a whole lot of time to yourself.

I’m afraid, sir, that you don’t know me from a hole in the wall. I’m about as far removed from Washington as us Americans go. However, like my fellow citizens the decisions you and your colleagues make tend to affect my life.

Or more accurately, my household budget.

It has come to even my attention that you and your staff are attempting to create a government-run healthcare system. I’ve heard through the grapevine that, if enacted, the new reform will directly impact just about every one of us citizens.

Now I do know that, while you were campaigning for presidency, you promised to create this system for America. I’ll respectfully admit, sir, that I thought it was just another empty campaign promised used to gain electoral votes.

Regardless, the reform is upon us and appears to be gaining momentum. Not that my approval matters in the grand scheme of your life, but I would like to offer my congratulations. It appears as if you set out to attain the unachievable and succeeded. In politics, sir, there’s something to be said for following through.

However, I have to admit I’m totally lost here. I confess, albeit with embarrassment, that I know very little about how the system is actually going to work for us citizens. Now maybe my lack of prowess in politics is shining through here, but it seems like the more I read in the newspapers, watch in the news and listen to my peers the more confused I become.

As with most controversial issues bouncing around Washington, from where I sit I hear very few facts and figures, the basic fundamentals of how things tick, and much more about Senator So-And-So quitting in protest and Republican Suzy-Q from Nowhereville risking her political career to stand behind the motion.

Well, sir, that brings me to the reason I’ve written you today.

You see, I really could care less about them, their opinions and whether standing behind you will make or break their career.

And I say that with the utmost respect, of course. I’m sure their careers matter a bunch to them. They simply don’t matter at all to me.

What I do care about, as do most of my family and peers, is how, exactly, this healthcare reform is going to effect me. Personally. Not in a round-about, vague sense, or in a ”˜this is the greatest thing ever’ attitude.

What I would totally appreciate is for someone, somewhere to sit down with us average Americans and have enough knowledge of the reform to explain it in plain English.

Then I would love for that person to have the patience to break down the details on how it might improve our day-to-day lives, healthcare coverage and budget.

That way, after all of that, I can ignore the outburst of the both left- and right-wing extremists and base my opinion simply on the facts.

You see, like you, I get up every morning, and whether I want to or not I go to work.

I’m sure you don’t get sick days either.

But unlike you, while the wars rage on and the politicians battle around you, my life remains relatively simple. I work my heart out and hope I can continue to provide for my family. I’m not an astronaut or an engineer. I’m a baker, sir. I make pies, not laws. And I simply can’t see through the smoke and mirrors of this reform.

So does this reform ease some of that burden, or am I just going to be swapping my insurance policy for one that’s approved by legislature? Will my co-pays remain the same? Deductibles? Will my family be covered for more services? Less? Will I end up being able to hold on to a couple more dollars?

I am a simple, working-class American and these are my simple, working-class questions. These are the ones I need answers to. Otherwise, I really don’t care about a reformed anything.

Again, sir, I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter. I hope you keep plugging away up on the hill, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Hussey Reilly

— Elizabeth Reilly can be reached at elizabethreilly1@yahoo.com.

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