Childhood memories

As I sat by the window this morning, sipping my mid-morning drink, I saw a soap bubble floating across the garden, then another glinting in the winter sunshine, all the colours of the rainbow. I could hear the sound of children in the garden next door and realised that they were blowing bubbles. It brought back a childhood memory.

At the age of six, I was in a car accident and taken to hospital with a fractured skull and ankle. The child opposite me was about three years old and had suffered 80% burns. She was in constant pain, naked and couldn't lie down. She cried a lot. Her parents were allowed to visit without restriction. Late one evening, the little girl was very restless. On the side table by my bed, my mother had left a small container of bubble liquid earlier in the afternoon. One of the parents walked across and asked if they could have the liquid to entertain the little girl because she loved to watch the bubbles. I was almost asleep but awake enough to respond that I didn't mind at all. I fell asleep as the little girl's eyes followed the floating bubbles that distracted her from the pain she was feeling.

When I returned to the hospital to have the stitches removed, the mother of another patient sitting next to us in the waiting room told my mother that the badly burned little girl had died. Such a blessing.

Thanks for sharing that, Shelagh. Sometimes it is the little acts of kindness that turn out to be the best kind.

11/26/2012

Shelagh.....

That was a beautiful, touching story.

Cheers..Joe...

Shelagh, I just re-read your post and wonder what the mid-morning drink consists of. Schnapps or Sekt would get the day started off with some relaxation, or do you slip something into the British Tea? Just curious. If you spike the tea, perhaps you could come up with a name for it, i.e., Shelagh's morning delight.

Shelagh,

I am so glad you survived. What an ordeal!

Could the bubbles have come from other than next door? Perhaps a gentle visitation of an angel no longer in distress visiting with you for a moment to return your kindness, regaling you with a round rainbow to brighten your mid morning tea time? Just a thought.

Or maybe both? Perhaps the Universe helped to waft the neighbor's bubbles in your direction, for the reasons Victor stated.

What Victor and Ann said. Keep doing what your heart tells you and you won't be wrong.

I'm re-living childhood memories through my grand kids. Had a wonderful time and am now in the process of trying to squeeze everything I want to take back with me in my suitcase and carry-on. It is sure to be overweight, but paying extra for things of memory is okay.
I'll be leaving here this afternoon and arriving in Frankfurt tomorrow morning. Then for the two days of re-adjustment for jet-lag and re-acclimation of lifestyle.
Glad to have voted and thrilled at the result. I hope our faith in the President will be justified. He has a tough job and it won't be easy, but every little bit he does to improve the lives of those he is charged with, caring for and protecting, is helpful.

Have a safe trip, Abe.

Have a safe trip, Abe and get up and walk about when you can

God bless you and keep you.

Victor D. Lopez wrote:

Could the bubbles have come from other than next door? Perhaps a gentle visitation of an angel no longer in distress visiting with you for a moment to return your kindness, regaling you with a round rainbow to brighten your mid morning tea time? Just a thought.

Kindness runs in the family. On one of my mother's pensioner's (senior citizen?) trips, she fell into conversation with a young woman who said she loved to read. Of course that gave my mother the excuse to tell her to look for me on the web. The young woman said that if I was as nice as my mother, I would be a really lovely person. When my mother told me about this conversation, I said: "Oh, gosh, mum, you're much nicer than me." She is.

Have a safe trip, Abe.

Have a safe trip, Abe. The nice things about (good) memories is that they don't weigh you down, can be carried everywhere with you, and don't require an extra bag to check them in at the airport!

A double rainbow for you, Victor:

W O W ! Beauuuuuuuuuuutiful Shelagh!

Thank you for sharing!

My mother took the photograph. The rainbows are above the farm where my grandmother was born. This is the scene my father sees every day as he sits by the window reading his newspaper. He's eighty-seven.

Just a quick post to tell you I arrived safely and on time this morning.
Now it is time for napping.

Abe,

Glad you are home safely.



Shelagh,

Your mother is an excellent photographer.

You ought to sell that picture.

I like it so well it is my desdtop background.

You are sitttiing on two pots of gold.

Glad to hear you arrived safely, Abe.

Alice, My mother will be thrilled when I tell her how much you liked the photo!

Good and you can tell her my hubby loved it also.

My mother- in- law loves to paint-- I will give it to her to paint.

Enjoy Germany for me. I wish it wasn't such a long flight. My last flight round trip to Italy soured me on economical flying overseas. I said I would never fly over eight hours again without business class or higher - which means never :-(

DK. I remember the days when I flew only Business Class and First Class. When one can take two flights with economy fare for the Price of one flight Business Class, it is a no brainer.
In the recent past, International flights cut back on services,i.e., one had to pay for alcoholic beverages, the meals were skimpy and the economy passengers were packed in like sardines. The last time I flew UAL, I was very upset. This time I flew Lufthansa at a good rate, the service was great and all inclusive. I was overweight with my luggage and didn't have to pay extra for that. I found that the seats were not so confined and it was an enjoyable flight.

There are special fares with all major airlines. Best bet is to use a Travel Service and have them do the search. Travel Agencies are not being used as they once were since many people book flights direct with the Airlines and that makes the agency do a better job to keep in business. Unfortunately the Airlines don't always inform the client about special fares unless you are a member of their frequent flyer programs. Even then, one must ask.

I don't like flying ever since security became such an issue. The fact that one has to arrive extra early at the airline and then the long lines to pass through security, is a hassle. Of course it is for the passenger's protection, but the inconvenience is still a bother. 9/11 and other incidents has changed our lives in many ways, especially for traveling.

Even with the inconvenience, if the service personnel are polite and treat the passenger with respect, it makes a world of difference.

It appears that I may have hijacked this thread with my arrival notice. It was not intended as such. Those childhood memories may have something to do with wandering thoughts. Or, you may wish to chalk it up to Senior Moments.

Well I never!

What a sad yet beautiful story. It is amazing to think about how every single act we do can and will affect people. We never know, it could be the last nice or mean thing the person experiences in life. You brought a moment of stillness and joy in another little girl's life, nobody can ever take that away from you!!