Give Us Strength!
Hello, my San Saba loves, and I know the saying goes - that which does not kill you makes you stronger. However, as I begin this column, might I also add - it may peel away the very flesh from you down to your nerve endings! Harold and I have had such close dealings with the San Saba emergency response teams over the past three weeks, when I hear them walking up the ramp now, I yell out, “Come on in, you are family now!”
I told you about Harold’s three ambulance visits in my prior column. Well, there was another, but it also involved police, sheriff and the volunteer fire department. Harold and I were sitting watching television when he asked if I smelled smoke. I did smell something burning, and I asked if he had inadvertently dropped a cigarette onto the couch, since he has no feeling in his hands. He checked, I checked, and even spread the blanket he used over him over the floor and found nothing. I sat back down and the smell grew ever more pervasive. I walked down the hall and saw smoke coming from my bedroom. I hurried down the hall, called 911, explained I was not able to get my husband out of the house, he was completely incapacitated. Within a few minutes, police officer Shawn Newman, arrived, safely removed Harold from the house, and paramedics put him on a gurney, into the ambulance and drove down the block to safety. Oh wait, did I tell you guys, fire is the only thing on earth I am afraid of? Yeah, there is that little thing. I went to the garage to get a lawn chair to sit in the front yard to watch my life go up in smoke, but adorable, kind police officer, Shawn, asked me to please move out closer toward the street close to his police vehicle.
The cavalry, and by that I mean, Jack Blossman, Wally Kilman, Kody Morris and the rest of the crew arrived to save the day! I have known Jack Blossman and Wally Kilman for many, many years, and have always known what incredible human beings they are. I have never met Kody Morris, but I do know his wife, Heather. In fact, she is part of the reason I am able to type this column. Heather was the flight nurse on the helicopter when I had my catastrophic heart attack. Anyway, there I was, sitting in the front yard watching my life of the past 16 years filled with question and doubt. After some time, Wally Kilman came up and explained that an unopened package of toilet paper had been placed too closely to a light fixture, the plastic had ignited, caught fire, the package fell to the floor, and in turn caught the hardwoods on fire. The fire damage was minimal. But carbon monoxide was present, so the wait was significant. We were extremely lucky.
The past few months have not been fun, or even pleasant for that matter. Such withstanding, we are here, and no matter how difficult a day might be, how blessed we are to have it. What a joy it is discover how much others care, are willing to go out of their way to lend a helping hand! When I say I love you, San Saba, those are much more than words; it is my heart expressing the deepest part of itself. Thank you for being!