THE END OF A PERFECT DAY

My two sisters from Kamloops and the husband of the younger one arrived near noon. They had already eaten on the way so I laid out fruit as we shared a little catch-up time on family news as they prepared to leave for the farewell good-bye service of a mutual friend. “I understand it wouldn’t be wise for you to go to the service with that bronchial cough to dispense throughout the area but since your doctor’s on vacation until the l2th of July, your choice is a walk-in clinic or the emergency and I’ll drive you to the door of either one since the B.C. Nurse Line has given this advice.” said my sister’s husband. In earlier years I once asked him why he found time to include us two extras at various gatherings and he replied that he had no sisters and considered us his as well and knew that we three enjoyed each other as good friends. My husband died of Parkinson’s disease after our marriage of 54 years during which his job required using chemicals that are now banned. My older sister had decided to spend her life in a needy area of Africa. Before leaving by ship she took a brief course in dentistry to use along with her missionary work during her more than 50 years in Ivory Coast. She relieved many hundreds of people in the outback of this country who had no other recourse for painful dental problems. The only anesthetic she used was a gargle of salt water. One man was so delighted to get rid of his aching tooth, he rushed from the little stool that was Helen’s dental chair, always placed under a shady tree, gave her a big multi coloured wet hug as he wished her every blessing in the Koran which included many children.

I decided to take the opportunity to go to the walk-in clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza so Lloyd dropped me off where I asked near a safe lighted corner as a steam of traffic thundered on. There were walk signals ahead where I crossed this main highway. At the walk in clinic I told Dr. Clark my tummy didn’t want to keep food down leaving me with a feeling of weakness although my cough seemed better to me. He did a push test of the lungs and pinpointed the area where I may have slipped a gear while coughing and set up an x-ray for me “Your body is sick, lacking fuel and needs fixing and is calling for help. Healing takes time and will occur as you take more care about eating basic foods more often. Dr. van Zyl works too hard and I’m glad to see she is vacationing. She can read the x-rays next week.” added Dr. Clark. After arriving home I found myself four hours later still dressed and in bed with the phone ringing and calls waiting on the answering machine. More tomorrow as I tell you about my lost hours.