Post by Grieving Messenger on Sept 10, 2003 18:58:28 GMT -5
TEXT
[
My door was opened wide,
"Where is your Purse?" She asked me.
"In the top drawer," I replied.
She got the purse and tossed it
into my waiting lap,
"Where are we going?" I asked her
"You can surely tell me that."
"We're on a fire alert," she said,
"perhaps that's all it will be,
but patients must be on the lower floor,
the move is precautionary."
So to the lower floor I went
to wait with many more, uncertain of the future
that I was waiting for.
Perhaps the worst will be be that we
will spend the night like this,
in chairs around a table;
not something one would wish.
But, better than to be shipped out
heaven only knows to where,
lost amongst the thousands
of people already there.
The evening hours passed slowly.
Bedtime came and went
Then we were told. "Be ready;
don't know where you'll be sent."
The worst cases were taken out,
perhaps to hospitals, for they
might need more care than others
when we were upon the way.
Then other people disappeared,
mattresses were placed around and I,
with my broken thigh
must sleep close to the ground.
Getting down was difficult
And my thigh hurt a lot
But I squirmed and struggled
'til the relief I sought, I got.
I fell asleep, don't know how long,
but wakened knowing I must go
on natures call. How to attract attention,
and how to let them know?
Then someone came. I told my need
a commode came in. They had to lift
up my dead weight, I could be no help.
And, at last, on the commode I sit.
Getting down the second time was not
as painful as the first.
And I fell asleep again
in spite of my great thirst.
And then again, in the early hours
Nature called again.
And this time, once more lifted up,
Sitting I would remain.
But with the morn the sun came forth
with clear and lovely light,
making one discount somewhat
the discomforts of the night
Then I was free to reach my room
and there I could remain
to wash myself and clean my teeth,
Then breakfast once again.
Edna Short Cassady (March 12, 1914 to Sept. 7, 2003)
**Many thanks to the staff of Windsor Manor for their
patience and help. The kitchen staff is to be applauded,
not knowing whether we would be there or not, good
food was always provided.
TEXT
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER[
TEXT
(Okanagan Park Wildfire 2003)TEXT
There wasn't any warning,My door was opened wide,
"Where is your Purse?" She asked me.
"In the top drawer," I replied.
She got the purse and tossed it
into my waiting lap,
"Where are we going?" I asked her
"You can surely tell me that."
"We're on a fire alert," she said,
"perhaps that's all it will be,
but patients must be on the lower floor,
the move is precautionary."
So to the lower floor I went
to wait with many more, uncertain of the future
that I was waiting for.
Perhaps the worst will be be that we
will spend the night like this,
in chairs around a table;
not something one would wish.
But, better than to be shipped out
heaven only knows to where,
lost amongst the thousands
of people already there.
The evening hours passed slowly.
Bedtime came and went
Then we were told. "Be ready;
don't know where you'll be sent."
The worst cases were taken out,
perhaps to hospitals, for they
might need more care than others
when we were upon the way.
Then other people disappeared,
mattresses were placed around and I,
with my broken thigh
must sleep close to the ground.
Getting down was difficult
And my thigh hurt a lot
But I squirmed and struggled
'til the relief I sought, I got.
I fell asleep, don't know how long,
but wakened knowing I must go
on natures call. How to attract attention,
and how to let them know?
Then someone came. I told my need
a commode came in. They had to lift
up my dead weight, I could be no help.
And, at last, on the commode I sit.
Getting down the second time was not
as painful as the first.
And I fell asleep again
in spite of my great thirst.
And then again, in the early hours
Nature called again.
And this time, once more lifted up,
Sitting I would remain.
But with the morn the sun came forth
with clear and lovely light,
making one discount somewhat
the discomforts of the night
Then I was free to reach my room
and there I could remain
to wash myself and clean my teeth,
Then breakfast once again.
Edna Short Cassady (March 12, 1914 to Sept. 7, 2003)
**Many thanks to the staff of Windsor Manor for their
patience and help. The kitchen staff is to be applauded,
not knowing whether we would be there or not, good
food was always provided.