I flexed my self-control muscles today by going into a bookstore, browsing, and then leaving without buying anything. I’m feeling quite smug. But as I was scanning the books in the science fiction/fantasy section, I noticed that a certain style of book cover has become quite popular. These covers feature illustrations of svelte young women’s rear profiles; young women who seem to share an affinity for tight clothing and pagan/wiccan/whatever tatts on their lower backs. A quick glance at the cover blurbs reveals that these women are entangled in generally dysfunctional relationships with vampires, demons, and such. It’s a weird fusion of fantasy and bodice-ripper that Tolkien probably never would have imagined.

I’ve decided that my next book will be about a bad-girl hottie who works as a personal care assistant during the day and hunts vampires at night. Clearly, this kind of stuff sells and I don’t want to miss my opportunity to cash in.

Today was my last day spent in my current position, which meant that I spent most of the day in a somewhat frantic state as I finished up some outstanding tasks. The four-day weekend will provide me with an opportunity to catch my breath before I plunge into a new policy area. I’ve appreciated all the well wishes and congratulatory remarks I’ve received from colleagues. My calendar is already filling up with meetings and I have a feeling it’s only going to get busier. A bureaucrat’s life is never dull.

Assisted suicide is the topic du jour in the British press. After I posted about Noel Martin’s story on Sunday, I learned about Dan James. James was a 23-year-old rugby player who became a quadriplegic after a training injury in 2007. Earlier this fall, he traveled to Switzerland with his parents for an assisted suicide.

In related news that was drowned out by the presidential election results, Washington state passed a ballot measure that legalizes physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill individuals. It becomes the second state after Oregon to have such a law on the books. The Swiss law is much more permissive; it does not require the involvement of a physician nor does it require that the person have a terminal illness. It’s difficult to conceive of any jurisdiction here in the U.S. enacting anything similar. I’ll be curious to see how other European countries–especially Britain–strengthen or weaken their own laws on assisted suicide in response.

I was listening to the BBC late last night when I heard this interview between Liz Carr, a woman with a disability and freelance reporter, and Noel Martin, who was paralyzed in a neo-Nazi attack twelve years ago and is now seeking assistance to die from a Swiss-based euthanasia group. The conversation between Liz and Martin raises many of the questions familiar to those of us who who have been tracking the ongoing debate on disability and assisted suicide. What constitutes an acceptable quality of life? Does the right to privacy include the right to terminate one’s own life? How do society’s views on disability influence the decision to end one’s life?

After listening to the full interview, I’m struck by a couple things. First, Martin seems incredibly despondent about his situation. The BBC provides some videos of Martin’s daily life and he has been confined to bed for several months, which would depress anyone. Second, Carr can’t seem to grasp the scope of Martin’s enduring grief for the life he had before his injury. The two are talking past each other, neither one really able to understand the other’s perspective. Martin can’t imagine realizing any sense of independence in his current state and Carr can’t imagine his isolation. I have a difficult time imagining it myself.

I don’t expect Martin to change his mind about ending his life and, judging from the reactions of the callers to the live portion of the broadcast, he has plenty of support. But it seems too easy to say that his decision is a mistake or rooted in chronic depression. Life with a significant disability is a struggle and to suggest otherwise would be an act of denial. And if I suddenly experienced a dramatic change, like loss of sensation or the ability to speak, I can’t be sure how I would cope.

I’ve wanted to share this news for a while, but I had to wait until everything was made official. I recently accepted a promotion to the Health Care Eligibility and Access Division within the Department of Human Services. After seven years in Disability Services, I’ll be moving into a more advanced position with both policy and legislative responsibilities. My focus will primarily be on health care programs for kids and families, including Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare.

Of course, I’m thrilled to get this opportunity, although it probably won’t seem completely real until my start date (December 1). The upcoming legislative session promises to be challenging and I’m looking forward to getting a closer look at the process. The next few months are going to be crazy busy as I settle into my new role and familiarize myself with a complex and evolving set of policies. And any health care reforms that materialize at the federal level are likely to directly affect my work. I’ll get to play a small but meaningful role in ensuring hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans have access to affordable, quality health care.

I’m incredibly fortunate to live in a time and place that has given me the means to put my talents to use and achieve some measure of success. I’ll try to keep that thought close in the weeks and months ahead.