Summertime means a trip up north

Each summer I spent some of my vacation time at my grandparents' home in Reading, Pa., enjoying the role of the Rector's granddaughter. As a small child, I would often awaken early and go into their room to crawl into bed with them. It was then I became familiar with the sight of my 55-year-old grandfather's mangled legs.

One had been cut off well above the knee, and the other was amputated just below the kneecap. The accident happened this way:

One day in his daily railroad train trip into the city to attend seminary school, he was crossing between cars on the train when the engineer suddenly applied his brakes to avoid hitting an overloaded horse and wagon which were stuck on the tracks.

"Pop Pop" was caught off balance and fell between the cars, and both of his legs were torn off, but in an era of primitive medical care and no transfusions, he survived. How can we possibly imagine such a thing?

He was only 28 years old when the accident happened, and had a wife and six-year-old son.

Nearly 30 years later, I knew nothing of that monumental feat, as I watched his lengthy struggle each morning to get dressed. First, there was a series of stump socks, then two heavy leather pads he attached to his thighs. These were then attached to wooden legs, actually painted skin color, which were then covered with black socks and shoes to match his clerical garb.

To sit on his lap was not very comfortable for a child. The artificial legs were hard and square, not at all like real ones. It must have hurt him quite a bit to walk, too, but he did not complain. I guess I just thought it was normal and I never asked him about how it all happened.

My first real knowledge of the accident came during World War II. Every week, he traveled by train from Reading to Philadelphia, then took a cab to the Naval Hospital. He went to spend time with returning war veterans who also suffered missing limbs.

Most of them naturally felt that their lives were completely over, and were amazed to meet him. He was a role model before that was even known, working to convince them that, like him, they could eventually overcome their condition and live meaningful and yes, happy lives. He made friends with many veterans all over the country, and with their families as well.

With the increasing number of our military men and women now suffering loss of limbs due to IEDs in Iraq, we see this same struggle happening for so many young people.

As hard as it may seem to be grateful in the face of these tragic losses, we can be glad that we have such marvelous technology. Isn't it a blessing that artificial limbs today are realistic and functional, and that pain management is much more advanced.

We need to spend some time with our soldiers, and let them know all is not lost. There is always space for the best and brightest, and today's technology makes recovery more possible.

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Last Wednesday at 6:30 PM, I attended the Summer Serenade free concert series on the grounds of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church at 3200 12th Avenue in Pensacola. The weekly concert featured bluegrass music with the White Sands Panhandle Band, and there is a variety of different music being played each Wednesday evening through mid-August.

So, bring your lawn chair, and picnic snacks if you wish. You'll enjoy parking right across the street, but get there early. And remember, the programs are free.

For more information, and a schedule of performers, you can call 433-0071.

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I was chatting with two friends who are full-time caregivers, one a wife caring for her husband of 45 years, and the other, a son whose elderly mother had a severe stroke more than 30 years ago.

Each has their own problems. First, how to fit the task of caregiving into an already-busy day. After that, there is having to adjust to the changes in the person receiving care. Then there is the process of learning what community services are available to help you.

No matter how much you care for the affected person, you must learn to manage your stress so that you don't suffer bad long-term health effects yourself. The Hartford Service Group's book, "Stress Reduction for Caregivers," provides a number of stressreducing tips.

Listen to music. Read a good book. Exercise. Call a friend. Resume former skills or hobbies such as painting, quilting, knitting or writing your family history. These activities needn't take a long time: even a 10-minute break can work wonders. Remember, if you don't take care of you, you won't be able to take care of them.

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From our Strange Facts file: Only two people actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. They were John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until five years later.

Hurray for the Red, White and Blue! See you next week!