Guardedly Optimistic

As my dealings with the Veterans Administration (VA) continue, I think we may have actually moved my disability claim forward, thanks to a gentleman that works in the VA hospital.

My VA social worker recommended I contact this man.  He is a kind of “trouble shooter” that looks into claim problems, sorts through them, and recommends the best course of action.  If there is anything holding up the claim, like missing paperwork, etc., he’ll get that corrected.

The most encouraging part is he then is able to hand carry my claim through the VA system, locate the individual handling my paperwork and gently “push” my paperwork to the top of the pile of claims sitting on that someone’s desk.  Then he can monitor and follow up on everything.  Before you think this is cheating in the VA system, with the staggering amount of disability claims filed, older paperwork tends to get pushed towards the bottom as new claims arrive.  It just is the way the system tends to work.

Not that this will instantly move my claim forward, but it moves it into a faster track.  I should be notified in a couple of weeks that my claim has been received and then over the next few months, all the appointments necessary to examine my injuries should take place.

This is helpful, because it gives us an idea of how much longer we’ll be having to stay in South Carolina before we can hit the road and do some serious traveling.  Is this the light at the end of the tunnel we’ve been looking for?  We think so, because up to now, we weren’t even able to find the tunnel. ;c)

Had a follow up on my eye at the VA, and everything is looking good.  My vision in the eye is now 20/25 and the doc says it should hit 20/20 after my stiches are removed next week.  It was not a fun procedure, but I’m happy with the results.

We spent a quiet Independence Day at home in the Journey.  It has been raining on and off here, so we haven’t done anything exciting.  We did go over to our daughter’s house for an evening cook out and a backyard fireworks show.  Little Owie was so excited to have the fireworks that he was frustrated on it not getting dark soon enough to suit him.

Finally, the rain stopped and it got dark enough, so out went Owie and Andrew with daddy Brian to put on the show. 

First, there was the safety brief.  Even though the fireworks that Heather bought were not the kind that shoot up in the air, there was still the possibility of getting burned, so caution was important.  Plus, the boys were going to be the ones lighting off the fireworks under Brian’s careful supervision.

First Andrew lit one of the fuses.

Then Owie got his turn.

He done good!

We even had a Disney style display from a castle in the yard.

Lots of fun, the boys enjoyed putting on the show, we enjoyed watching, and best of all…no crowds!

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