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GRIEF MEETS ORWELL & the “CUCKOO’S NEST” by Jim Stiles (My Recent Encounter with the Mental Health Industry) ZX#20

I’ve never written anything like this before — not in the 33 plus years I’ve been publishing The Zephyr. Not ever. It’s personal and it’s painful; it’s about mistakes I have made, and regrets I will carry to my grave. It’s about loss and and unexpected events in our lives, and how we deal with them. We all seek our own paths — some find comfort with family and friends. Others turn to their church. Some try to ride it out on their own….still others seek “professional help.”

In the context of this story, it’s also a cautionary tale –– a warning to all of you about the mental health system in this country and how badly it can be abused, intentionally or unintentionally, by the people who oversee and manage that system. I believe that mental health services, when professionally administered by people with true consciences and a genuine concern for their patients, can be of great comfort to those dealing with grief and despair–the pain that can create serious emotional problems. But it can also be abused. It can cause even more damage to the very individuals the mental health “professionals” claim they are trying to help.

Everything you are about to read is true…

THE WWII BASQUE O.S.S. SPY from New Mexico: (ZX#19) …by Jim Stiles

“My brother and I are Basque, you know. We came from the Pyrenees before the second world war,” Armando explained.

“Really,” I said. “What did you do when you came over here?”

“Well,” he replied, “I went to work for the OSS.”

“The OSS?” I knew what the OSS was…the Office of Strategic Services, the military intelligence agency during World War II. I know my WWII history pretty well, and since I also believe that in my last life I may have been the pilot of a B-24 Liberator in Europe and was shot down over Belgium in August 1944, I could converse fairly intelligently with him on the subject.

“The OSS?” I said. “Did you ever meet the director, Bill Donovan?”

“‘Wild Bill’ Donovan? Of course…I met with him several times in the President’s office.”

“The President’s office? Which president do you mean?”

“Why President Roosevelt’s office. The Oval Office. The White House…”

THE ZEPHYR BLUE MOON EXTRA

Moon, stars and clouds in the night. Wild west road illuminated from the moon. Moonlight and road background. Dark blue backdrop.Graphic Art By Dan O'Connor

A ZEPHYR ALTERNATIVE FUTURE? AN ALTERNATE REALITY?
As many of you know, The Zephyr’s future is uncertain. In December, Tonya decided to leave here and start a new life elsewhere. For once, words fail, other than to say I hope only the best for her. I will always love her. Tonya gave me the happiest decade of my life. I will leave it at that.

But regarding The Zephyr, Tonya had become publisher three years ago. But really she had been doing the lion’s share of the work, and doing it brilliantly, for most of the past decade. She took charge of all the production work on the Zephyr, the layouts, all work associated with WordPress. She …