tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post9128114921137906732..comments2024-03-20T08:32:25.794-04:00Comments on Dept. of Nance: Nine StoryNancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17627214346956206283noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-42872412442095721942014-09-19T21:36:29.426-04:002014-09-19T21:36:29.426-04:00I love the story you've told here - you're...I love the story you've told here - you're such a fine writer. But what a horrible experience for you!<br /><br />I had my tonsils out about the same year (I was 5 or 6, so 1969/70). What I remember is that I got a Baby Chrissy doll (all the nurses asked if she was my baby, like I was in the maternity ward), I was allergic to the sedative they gave me before surgery, and my brother had the most fun teasing me afterward because I couldn't yell at him. And ice cream. My hospital stay was mercifully short.The Bughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07509037206264761261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-67316575609521519902014-09-04T10:48:37.233-04:002014-09-04T10:48:37.233-04:00Ally Bean--Thank you. I think that's true, tha...Ally Bean--Thank you. I think that's true, that all relationships do have a way of informing our character in some way. Our experiences are instructive; it's our job to determine what their lessons may be. <br /><br />It's probably a good idea to remember that in the reverse perspective as well: when we are part of someone's life, we need to remember what impact we may be making. Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627214346956206283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-25461377871227947252014-09-03T11:49:33.443-04:002014-09-03T11:49:33.443-04:00A wonderful recollection that reminds me that all ...A wonderful recollection that reminds me that all relationships, no matter how brief or unusual, define us in subtle ways. I wonder if I have a Rosemary in my life. Must think on that.Ally Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017098395188176477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-90797091548738712992014-08-29T11:52:23.311-04:002014-08-29T11:52:23.311-04:00J@jj--I did almost die, I was told much later. My ...J@jj--I did almost die, I was told much later. My parents were terrified, and the surgeon did not mince words in that hallway. The speed of that gurney in the corridors on the way to surgery...I still remember that ride. <br /><br />It's remarkable that my parents never thought of making a fuss about the obvious lack of diligence in my care that led to the second infection. My mother still says, almost chuckling, "I'll never forget the doctor's face when he saw your incisions on Easter and how he went out and hollered at those nurses!" Everyone in that hospital dodged a bullet, thanks to my mother's even temperament and the fact that, back then, society had not yet seized upon the idea that Average Joe could sue Big Businesses.<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words. As always, I am proud to accept compliments from my Discerning Readers here.<br /><br />Shirley--How nice to see you here again! And thank you for your generous compliments.<br /><br />It is amazing to me as well how much I can recall about some things when I take the time to do so. As a very visual person my entire life long, I am a great collector of details and an observer. Color, especially, makes a great impact on me. Much of my memories are associated with color.<br /><br />When I sit down to write, it is when I am alone and it is quiet. That makes it easy for things to flood back. Small details reappear; pictures flash before me; scenes replay in my head. <br /><br />Scent--even moreso than taste--is a powerful trigger, as you say. I did a post on this long ago. And while it may be peppermints for you, it is wintergreens or horehounds for me! Those oldfashioned candies are my grandparent triggers, and are counted among some of my most pleasant memories, too.<br /><br />Melissa--Why do we even have an appendix? Nothing but trouble!<br /><br />Gina--Thank you so much.<br /><br /><br />Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627214346956206283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-58922290945751729082014-08-29T01:04:43.746-04:002014-08-29T01:04:43.746-04:00This was indeed a lovely post, though bittersweet....This was indeed a lovely post, though bittersweet. Sad that you didn't keep in touch, though perhaps you didn't have enough in common to cement a lifelong friendship. But you both remember the other, and that time together, even though it was not pleasant. You made it less lonely for each other. That's a good thing.<br /><br />And boy, that appendix thing is scary. Can't believe how close you came to dying, or at least getting MUCH sicker than you already were. Ugh.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653383372182667361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-88758355767862484322014-08-28T15:37:14.279-04:002014-08-28T15:37:14.279-04:00Nance--You always amaze me with your very precise ...Nance--You always amaze me with your very precise memories. Whether they're completely "accurate" or not, sharing how you remember them is important and, of course, the only way you can share them. As parents, we hope that such memories are forgotten or are buried deep--well, at least the painful, dark parts--but as human beings with our own memories of painful childhood experiences, we know they are not when we allow ourselves to remember them. They say that smell is the most powerful sense and can take us back in an instant. Your memory of A&D ointment is a good example. There are peppermint candies that take me back to my grandmother's house when my great aunt, Aunt Virgie, visited. Those are very pleasant memories, thankfully.<br /><br />I'm glad that Rosemary was there for you in the hospital and how wonderful that she was there for you at your dad's service. Sometimes the connections made in "single" moments in time are more powerful than those we have with people we see on a daily basis, and we all need those gilded souls in our lives.<br /><br />Shirleygfe--gluten free easilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08182613995248482102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-66060439224766049162014-08-28T11:35:38.870-04:002014-08-28T11:35:38.870-04:00I suffered a ruptured appendix six years ago. As y...I suffered a ruptured appendix six years ago. As you know, not any fun at all. I also have had a couple of Rosemarys in my life. My memories of them, indeed, are gilded.Melissa B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13172152515024862967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-19733653861413743922014-08-28T10:45:03.583-04:002014-08-28T10:45:03.583-04:00A wonderful piece of writing, Nance.A wonderful piece of writing, Nance.Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11604097511444010759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-23880110956753805232014-08-28T09:16:15.620-04:002014-08-28T09:16:15.620-04:00Rose--Some of it, perhaps. Memory is so unreliable...Rose--Some of it, perhaps. Memory is so unreliable, isn't it? I'm sure some of this is probably not entirely accurate, but it is the way I remember it. <br /><br />My stay in the hospital was memorable; let's say that. Rosemary was definitely a pleasant aspect, but like you, as a child away from home and in pain and feeling homesick and uncertain and afraid, it was largely terrible. It's funny how--even with adult perspective so many years later--our childlike emotions stay with us.<br /><br />Silliyak--I'm terribly sorry that such a thing happened to you. Very sorry.<br /><br />Lisa Johnson--Thank you. My brother has retired from his job, so my link to Rosemary is all but severed now. Like you, I fervently wish her nothing but the best in her life, forever.Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627214346956206283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-56348804071651826192014-08-27T21:57:29.265-04:002014-08-27T21:57:29.265-04:00Such a lovely memory. We are the same age apparen...Such a lovely memory. We are the same age apparently and I hated the one time I was in the hospital, at age seven for tonsils.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00312958345507812508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-39495129649634282992014-08-27T20:47:19.101-04:002014-08-27T20:47:19.101-04:00Ruptured appendix here in '68, age 18. Other t...Ruptured appendix here in '68, age 18. Other than getting molested by a male orderly in the hospital not much to tell.<br />Silliyakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12357513229346986960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15179498.post-32283816311231232342014-08-27T20:34:52.690-04:002014-08-27T20:34:52.690-04:00Such a beautiful telling of that time in your life...Such a beautiful telling of that time in your life. Even though it was so difficult. Now I'm wondering about Rosemary and wishing her well.Lisa Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096947438461486505noreply@blogger.com