CREATURES LARGE AND SMALL

All creatures large and creatures small, those with two legs or four or none at all, are born with hearts and other parts like minds and brains and veins through which blood must flow to keep the system on the go. The more they clot with plaque, the less chance you've got for coming back from a heart attack or stroke that could leave you dead and broke. And that's no joke.

When you add up all the doctor bills, the price of pills and refills, the shots and lots of therapy, it's rare Medicare or Medicaid, aided by health and other kinds of insurance will reimburse you for the expenses that must be paid.

If all the medications, unexpected complications and unintended consequences add up to more expenses than you've bargained for you'd better head for the coffin store and opt for dead instead of spending all that bread for the jazz and jive it takes to keep your insides alive.

In the end no matter what the doctors do, how they scam and pamper you, when they're through there's nothing more you can do but pay your keep and creep, then fall asleep, into the six-foot deep heap of earth that's been awaiting you since your birth.