I grew up in a small town. Population not quite 4,000 people. As a teenager I looked forward to leaving that small town in my rearview as quickly as possible. Nothing to do. No career options. No future. I got married and moved one town away to a college town that is still on the smallish side.
But there are advantages to living in a small town. Safety is one of them. Everybody knows everybody and no one locks their doors. The Farmer's Market is always stocked with fresh, locally grown produce and homemade cakes, pies and pastries. The best things, though, is how people come together and help each other in a crises.
Mama has to receive shots that boost her white blood cells. This week, they didn't help. So her doctor wanted her to have shots on Saturday and Sunday. No big deal.... except that the office is closed on Saturday. It looked like our only option was to go to the ER, sit and wait and pay ER fees to get the shots. They had increased the dosage and Mama was very, very sick. Nauseous, dizzy, weak and exhausted. Not really up for the eternal wait you are certain to have in the ER on a weekend.
Small town calvary to the rescue. Our pharmacist's wife is a Registered Nurse. She agreed to give mother the shot at the Pharmacy on Saturday and at their home on Sunday. So at 9 a.m. Saturday, I drove Mama to the pharmacy, ushered her inside where she was given a shot. This sweet lady (whom I, of course, went to school with), got her boys up and brought them in their pajamas so my Mama didn't have to go the ER. She was even upset that we came inside! She would have come out to the car and given it so Mama didn't have to move. How sweet is that?
We could not have asked for more support from family, friends and community. There have been phone calls, meals, cards, gift baskets, books, and many other expressions of love. When I feel discouraged with the world at large. These generous, kind people remind me that there is hope and that caring, selfless people do still exist.
Sparkly Street Family Update.
8 years ago
11 comments:
You just can't buy that kind of love and support.
You know - just exactly what M said...
That's a great way to live!
I'm glad your Mum is doing OK.
And my belated birthday wishes to Rob.
I am always heartened by stuff like this. You read the paper some days and ask yourself how can humans be so awful to each other, so it's good to be reminded how kind people can be too.
As I read this I had a mental soundtrack of an old Billy Bragg song, Stomper you'll know it.
The Milkman of Human Kindness
I'll link you to it and you'll probably think WTF! Billy's not the worlds best singer(sacrilegious I know Stomper, but you know it's true) he is an urban working class lyrical poet. It's not in the harmony, it's in the heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Goxm0x4dTw
Anyway the lyrics are
'If you're lonely, I will call -
If you're poorly, I will send poetry
I love you
I am the milkman of human kindness
I will leave an extra pint'
Your nurse, she's the milkman of human kindness, and we all need people like that.
wow that is inspiring. I hope you mum is going to be OK. Thinking of you
Kristen
Small town love is the best. But surprisingly enough, you can find it in big cities too!
I hope your mom is feeling a little better and that the shots worked.
that is just beautiful. makes me want to move to your town. this post made me teary Melinda! But I really needed to hear this - another reminder that there are many good, selfless people out there. x
This sort of thing is so wonderful to read about. She's a lovely lady for doing this for your mum.
I hope your mum's doing ok too. These treatments sound hard to deal with.
Nurses are a special breed.
Love the bonus of a link to a Billy Bragg track in the comments - too apt.
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