To continue on yesterday's topic of how people react to serious situations.  I was working in a large office in El Paso, Texas.  There was a big glass office to one side that held the boss and owner.  Then there were five desks around a big room.  One of the five of us was a former bank president whom I'll call Ned for this piece.

 

There was a big office where the boss worked, and in a large room there were desks where five of us worked.  One of my co-workers, a former bank president probably in his mid 50's,had been in my office talking to me, and left to go down the hall.  I turned back to my work. A few minutes later I heard the boss say "I called your wife, Ned and she's coming to get you.  I looked over and saw Ned sitting and teetering on a chair, his skin was green, his eyes showed fear, and he couldn't speak.  I told the boss to call 911.  He started to tell me he had called ned's wife and she was coming.  I repeated to him he must call 911 bercause this was serious and minutes counted. The boss went in his office to make the call. 

 

Ned threw up a little.  I called two of the men who were co-workers, all of whom were now standing around watching.  I told them to lower Ned to the floor on his side so if he threw up again, he wouldn't choke.  I'll never forget the look of fear in Ned's eyes.  The firemen came first.  By then Ned's blood pressure was so low they couldn't move him until they could stabilize him.  The ambulance got lost and we could hear them going past us on the freeway.  The firemen were working rapidly trying to stabilize him.  By then his wife was there and soon after the ambulance crew arrived.  There was a big crowd around by then as other offices in the building followed the emergency personnel.  AT one point they thought they had lost him, but they finally got him to where they thought they could get him to the hospital.  They put him on the gurney.  His wife left to do something to the car.  Ned turned to me and the first words we'd heard since this began were "I want my wife."  I told him she was there and would be going with him.  Everyone left then except our office people.  There was a pall on us all. 

 

I was so washed out, from the whole experience and my husband had come by and the boss said I could go home.  I did and just collapsed.  I got a call later saying that Ned had a burst blood vessel at the base of his brain.  They needed to operate but they had to get him enough better to withstand the operation.  It was four days later that we got word that Ned was enough better that they would do the surgery the next morning.  We all went home for the weekend, happy that Ned would get better.  But the next morning I got the call that Ned had died the night before.

 

The office staff all went to the funeral the net week.  Ned's family with whom he had been alienated for years came a long way to attend.  I thought how Ned would have enjoyed seeing them again.  I hoped he could know.

This isn't as cheerful as my son's blogs, but it is a piece of experience of which we older types seem to have most knowledge.  Several times in life I have been involved with a terrifying experience from which I have learned that in a real emergency most people freeze. and can't help.  One such experience occured in Muscatine, Iowa.  School had been out for summer only a few days.  Our home backed up to the school playground.  There was one solid baseball going day and evening.  When some kids had to go home to eat, others took their place.  Everyone was happy.  It was on Saturday, I think because all the neighbors were home.  Jim Sr. and I in our summer shorts were just beginning to enjoy ice cream cones.  Suddenly kids ran in screaming that our middle son, Peter was hurt.  The cones flew as Jim and I raced out.  Peter lay there with blood coming out of his forehead like water from a hose.  I jumped down and tried to stop the bleeding.  People were standing all around in shock.  It seemed that after hitting the ball, Peter's girlfriend (fourth or fifth grade) had hit the ball and threw the bat back over her shoulder and hit Peter.  I asked for someone to get me a towel or something to apply pressure but no one moved.  I asked my husband to go call for help as I tore off Peter's shirt to apply pressure.  Later another mother ran in and brought me a baby towel.  Fortunately a highway patrolman lived accross the street and he followed Jim into the house.  Jim called the doctor's office and was told he wasn't available and to call back.  Jim either passed out or almost did as he can't handle blood.  The highway patrolman grabbed the phone and said this was an emergency, and to tell the doctor to meet us at the hospital.  I don't remember if he drove us or if an ambulance came, but I remember sitting in back holding my son.  He looked up at me and said, "Mommie, is my brain hurt permanently?"  I said we hoped not but not to worry, that the doctor would be there to help.  He was, and Peter did recover.  But that was my first lesson that most people can't react in an emergency.  They want to, but seem to be frozen in place.

A friend of mine sent me a very nice presentation of an American Classic. It was so well done that it made me feel like crying. I had to share it with you for your enjoyment.

 

 

Enjoy your weekend Americans.

My full name is Bertha Nell Dugger Glass.  As a hurricane I have outlasted all the others in history according to tonight's news.  My brother wrote a few days ago that I was moving fast for an old broad.  I was named after my Mom's mother who died when Mom was four.  She was Bertha.  Then my Dad's maiden sister was Nellie, hence the Nell.  But Mom was from Arkansas, and southern girls had to use both names.  So to family, I was always Bertha Nell, and I was called that through elemenary school.  I didn't like it.  So in Junior High and High School my friends called me Bertha.  (A second grade teacher tried to nickname me Binky, but thank heaven that didn't stick.)  By college, my friends called me Bert.  That sounded too masculine to me but there didn't seem to be many options.  After I was married and moved away, whenever I got a long distance phone call I could always figure approximently who was calling, by what they called me.  If they asked for Bertha Nell it was family.  If they asked for Bertha it was high school friends.  If they addressed me as Bert it was college friends.  But after I moved to Texas a friend started calling me Bertie.  And then others did too.  That felt comfortable.  Part of my problem with the Bertha part was that Hollywood used it for frumpy maids or a cow, the government used it for a cannon, and golfers had a putter nemed Big Bertha.  Now I'm a hurricane (actually this is the third time I've been a hurricane) but at least with that I can have some control over my storminess.  So This is the stoy of a name's journey through life.

We visited a senior center called Emerald Heights this week.  My husband goes there occasionally to help seniors who have computer problems, mostly people from our church.  When we go there we often have breakfast at their little cafe, and we know a lot of people who live there, so we see friends while we have breakfast.  Those of you who know my husband know he has a weird sense of humor which most people enjoy but sometimes I worry that some people won't understand.  Well he was carrying on, and this fellow who works there said we ought to move there so Jim could keep those seniors smiling.  I told him I understood their waiting list had around 400 on it and we wouldn't live to get in there. He said there were only 240 on the waiting list. He went and got a packet and told us how to get to the top of the list.  He said to schedule a tour on a Thursday and get a free lunch.  Well, their cafeteria is to die for.  I've never had so many choices and so healthy and tasty.  So we may do that.  It is a beautiful clean place where people have bought into an appartment or house.  They have many activities, a pool, a garden model train, excercise classes, Bible classes, a huge library, and store.  But the best part is that if either of you become ill, they have the Corwin Center with top medical caregivers at no additional cost.  When residents go to the hospital they can return there for PT or whatever care they need.  The residents have their own cars but there is a van for those who don't.  It was very appealing.  I would be tempted because to do it, we'd have to get rid of a lot of things. (Which would make it easier on our kids when the time comes for them to clean it out.)  But if we get rid of a lot of things, it would be nicer here.  We have a really nice place here that we've fixed the way we like it.  We are really set for life in a wonderful location, with our three kitty cats, and some of our children and framilies nearby.  Jim and Suzy take us out for breakfast every Saturday morning and we love that time with them.  We see the other two and their families off and on.  Our daughter, Debby,from Minneapolis, and son Peter, come to visit in October and help us catch up on things at home here.  We are truly blessed with our five children.  If only we knew what is in our future we could plan around that.  But maybe it is better this way.

Last Sunday after church I was talking to  one of the pastor's daughters who just graduated from college and in Sept. goes to Africa to work with orphans.  I told her that I have often made baby blankets that people seem to like.  I get a yard of flannel which is about 40" wide.  Usually I handstitch a blanket stitch around it and embroider a small animal or some such in one corner.  It makes a nice receiving blanket and later it is a nice lightweight crib blanket.  So she asked if I might make some for her to take with her to Africa.  Of course I will but there isn't time to make many.  I think it will be fun since those little ones have so little.

 

After church Jim Sr. and I go to an Irish Pub for lunch.  It is never too crowded and the food is good.  At our age we can't drink alcohol because of meds.  So having had my quota of coffee for the day I have tea, and Jim has more coffee.  Our kids tease us saying we go to church and then to a saloon.  Yeh.  This time I went back to the ladies room, and was shocked to see that some items had been torn off the walls, and were laying on the floor, now dirty and some broken.  And paper towells were all over the floor.  What on earth causes people to get their kicks from destruction and making messes for other people?  The pub had a couple of large lepricons in green suits, top hats and dancing, painted on the front windows.  They had been there since St. Patrick's Day.  And now someone had scratched in the paint some not so nice things.  Why on earth must they make something that is attractive, so mean.  Leaving that subject, I'll retire for the night and try to think of someting more cheerful for tomorrow night's topic.

 

Thanks to the new people who are now my friends.

Here in the Northwest we have had very different weather this year.  Two or three months ago we had some days that the temps were in the high 80's and 90's.  Then in June the weather people called it Junuary because it was the coldest first two weeks of June in history.  There was even snow and in the mountains around a foot of new snow.  How crazy was that? Then the night before last a terrific storm came in and I kid you not, when I say we had solid thundred and lightening, from 5:30 pm 'til the next afternoon.  The news media said there were over 3000 strikes.  Ayesha, our little blue point Balanese just took it in stride and stayed on my lap or curled up with us in bed that night.  The other two gold and silver Maine Coons just disapeared except when they were hungry.  Well, today is a beautiful, almost perfect day for the 4th.  We spent a good part of the day with son, Jim, and his wife, Suzy, and our Granddog, and three grand cats.  They had a nice barbecue and we had one of our twice a year games of Scrabble.  Suzy won by a lot.  That is always such fun. 

 

Willie's name is William of Orange and called Willie.  Tillie is Matilda and called Tillie.  She is the silver one with really long hair and green eyes.  She is such a good hunter she will see what looks like a speck moving and assume her killer stance.  But she just plays with them and then I have to go in for the kill.  She'll let them go a little bit and then pounce, bat it around a bit, and then let it go again and pounce etc.  Willie is orange with copper colored eyes.  Just a few months ago he started dropping the tip of his long tail over on his back making a big circle with it.  He looks like a teapot with the tail as a handle.  It is said that people live longer if they have pets.  How could anyone hear a cat purr or see it curled up so happily in a home where he is loved and love back, and not feel relaxed and happy too.  Happy summer everyone.