USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT

USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT

Over the years, I have found that you have to use your own judgment in many matters. For example, I had a lot of "nose problems" as a child, sneezing, reacting to weather changes (which were quite frequent in Arkansas), reacting to cigarette smoke, having "sinus fits" pretty regularly, especially when I went out in the woods, when I got too hot, when I got around smoke (not just cigarette smoke, but burning leaves and other smoky situations). Since I was having "nose problems," my folks took me to a "Nose Doctor." I don't remember his title, but he specialized in noses. Of course, if you had foot problems, you went to a Foot Doctor, if you had bone problems, you went to a Bone Doctor. This all seems logical, doesn't it?

So, what did the "Nose Doctor" recommend? Well, a "nose operation," of course. My family and I didn't think much about it. We went ahead and got my "nose operation," which consisted of the "Nose Doctor" chiseling some bone out of a part of my nose. This did open up my nose. I could breathe better than I could in years, I could smell again, and I felt that the "nose operation" would take care of the problem.

Later, when I married, my new wife experienced some "nose problems." So, what did I do? Well, I suggested that she see the "Nose Doctor" I had seen. And what did the "Nose Doctor" recommend? Well, of course, he recommended the same "nose operation." My new wife decided against it, and as far as I know, she hasn't had the same "nose operation" done to this day.

Later, I got called up by the Selective Service folks for a physical exam to see if I was "fit" to go into the military. I passed it with flying colors! Until the interview with a nice old physician who inquired about any previous operations. When I told him about my "nose operation," and the problems prior to it, he suggested sending me out to an allergy clinic for some allergy tests. He said the government would pay for them and he recommended them, so I did as he suggested. It seems that I tested very strongly on allergies, and the old physician at Uncle Sam's testing center said that he would recommend that I be classified as a person who was "1-Y," meaning that I had a deferment because of my "nose problems" and allergies, but that it was like a "1-A" classification, in that I could be drafted in case of an "all-out war." He said that I couldn't be transported by air.

Much later in my life, about 30 years to be exact, I decided to take a trip overseas, and I rode on an airplane with no problems from my allergies. I also ran into some folks my own age who were getting allergy shots, so I went back to an allergy clinic again, went through their tests, and began getting allergy shots. By being one to use your own judgment, which I did, I solved some problems that the earlier "nose operation" had not solved. What's the point of the story? Simply that if I had investigated the situation more, which would have been almost impossible when I was a child, I might not have needed or had the "nose operation." I might have gone the allergy shot route instead. But, since we went to a "Nose Doctor," he recommended a "nose operation."

Most people must take the recommendation of the first doctor they see. I still say, use your own judgment, get a second opinion. It might be better to go a different route. I know of a lady who was having "back problems." So, what did she do? She went to a "Back Doctor." And what did he recommend? Well, a "back operation," of course. In other words, he wanted to cut into her back, work on some discs, replace a hip. This is a pretty big deal! It's expensive. He would make a lot of money. Plus, how many people who go through the operation wind up paralyzed for the rest of their life? Perhaps this lady should be one to use her own judgment. I had some "back problems" earlier in my life, too. I went to a chiropractor. He "popped" my back a few times, and my "back problems" went away. I still go to a chiropractor occasionally, when I have "back problems." I sure don't want some guy cutting on my back unless I'm about to die!

Most people must take the recommendation of the first auto mechanic they see. I still say, use your own judgment, get a second opinion. It might be better to go a different route. I know of a lady who was having "car problems." So, she went to a "car mechanic." What did he recommend? Well, since he rebuilt a lot of motors, he recommended a complete rebuilding job on the motor. This is an expensive job! He would make a lot of money. Of course, this would probably cure most of the "car problems" the lady and her old car were having, but perhaps she could go to another "car mechanic," get a second opinion, and get some repairs done a lot cheaper.

I once took my car in to a dealership in another town not too far from where I lived. I wanted a tune-up. I am not a mechanic, and I don't look like a guy who knows much about cars. In fact, I don't know much about cars! I don't like to get my hands greasy. I don't like to "tinker" with cars. But over the years I have paid the bill for mechanics to work on my car, and I can usually figure out what the problem is by the way the car acts and sounds, by how long it has been since I had a tune-up. Well, on this particular day, I felt like I needed a tune-up. Back in those days, I knew that I could get a tune-up at most shops for around $ 25 or so. However, this particular dealer was having a "special." He had a sign on a board set up so that anyone could see it when they got out of their car to talk to the "service manager." It said something like this: "1. Check fan belts, 2. Check the radiator coolant, 3. Check air conditioner, 4. Check battery, 5. Check..." Well you get the idea. Buried somewhere down there around number 26 or so, it said something about spark plugs. The price shown was $ 39.95, which I thought was a bit high. I told the "service manager" that I wanted a tune-up, consisting of spark plugs, points, and a condenser. He pointed to the sign and asked if that was what I wanted. Now, at this point, most folks would probably say "yes," but I was a poor boy who didn't have the sum of $ 39.95 on him, and I knew I could get a tune-up at most places for around the sum of $ 25 or so, and I told him that I didn't want all that other stuff, that I had just had most of it checked when I got an oil change, and that I just wanted plugs, points, and a condenser. He pointed to the sign again, and I insisted on just the plugs, points, and a condenser.

He acted like he didn't know what I was talking about, and I don't think I ever got a price out of him for my tune-up of just the plugs, points, and a condenser. I finally left and went somewhere else where I could get what I wanted. So, again, by being one to use your own judgment, I didn't fall for the "special," I didn't pay the extra $ 15 or so for some things I didn't want or need, and I eventually got what I wanted, since I was willing to seek out a second opinion.


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

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