No one sets out to be uninsured. When I decided to switch career paths and move to the Western Slope, I knew that I’d be trading away urban amenities and opportunities for a quieter path through life, but I didn’t give much thought to health insurance. I was healthy and adventurous — health care simply wasn’t something I thought about.

I’m still healthy and adventurous, but I’m older, and over the years things have come up. I’ve been genetically blessed with a sound body, so I’ve spent very little time with doctors on my own behalf — I’ve spent far more time accompanying other people to their doctor appointments.

Menopause was the beginning of my adventures in medicine. While I looooove being post-menopausal, getting here was a rough road that took years to navigate — I could not have made the trip safely, or sanely, without medical help.

I’ve done a lot of different kinds of work since I moved here — only one job ever included health benefits. They just seem to have disappeared as part of the employment package as the years went by. When it came time to see a doctor, I had absolutely no idea where to go.

About that time, Marillac Clinic began advertising a screening program for women going into menopause — I remember the billboards. I wasn’t sure, at that point, just what “menopause” meant exactly, but I was pretty sure I had it, and it wasn’t going well. My body was messing with me in ways that defied understanding — sometimes several times a day. I came close to ripping off my clothing as I sat in a classroom at Mesa State one winter day — temperature changes ruled my life.

My attitude toward our health care system has never been that good — I grew up around it, I knew so many people in it and I’d worked with political and social institutions that governed and/or controlled health care. I’d spent a lot of time with issues about providing health care benefits to the indigent, so I knew what “charity” medical care can be like. I never expected to be walking into a clinic for the uninsured — I hadn’t expected to travel downscale.

I signed up for the Marillac program so I could figure out how not to kill myself, or someone else, before the next hot flash. I wanted to be back in control of my body and mind again. I was possessed by the Evil Demon Menopause, and I wanted him cast out! Yes, I believe that menopause was designed by a man. Go figure.

With expectations low and my pride taking a hit, I turned myself over to Marillac Clinic. It may have been the third most intelligent decision I ever made in my life (after having my daughter and moving here), and I have been grateful for them every day since.

Why isn’t everyone’s health care as gracious, comprehensive, reasonable and intelligent as Marillac’s? I don’t mean that they’re the fanciest or the quietest (Marillac is full of the sounds of life — if this were Sesame Street, Marillac would be their clinic. The whole world passes through there — GREAT people watching!). You do rub up against humanity there. Personally, I think that helps build up healthy immunities, so I don’t mind. I have that kind of immune system.

The quality of treatment and care is just stunningly good. I have never been rushed. Never been talked down to. Never been left in the dark or in the lurch. Never been turned away. I look forward to seeing the staff — their system works smoothly, courteously and with great humor. And I can afford it. It isn’t free — it’s accessible if your income is low enough. Which mine is.

There’s nothing in my socioeconomic background that predicted that I’d one day need the services of a clinic for uninsured people. It was hard for me to walk in there. What if I hadn’t? Let’s not go there!

It’s Marillac’s 20th anniversary, so I thought I’d take a moment to say thank you. Thank you to all the people behind the clinic, and to the funders/fundraisers of Colorado who have made this marvelous service available to people like me. Yeah — people like me. I’m one of those people who is served by Marillac, and I’m lucky to be able to say that.

Judith writes a “Bossy Gardener” column every Friday in the Grand Junction Free Press Real Estate Showplace. She also writes a “View From The Driver’s Seat” column each Wednesday in the FP.