Meets Future Wife

The year 1952 ... At this time in my life I was enployed with Bowaters Woods, and on this certain day I was checking the yards of the previous cut-over, taking account of the brows of wood that had been missed during the winter haul-off. When the streems were running high the wood would be guided down the streams, rivers and lakes about the month of June, to the seaside, where it would be loaed into ships and shipped to overseas markets and used in news-print work. This certain day, in the course of my work I happened to break throw the ice into a pool of water. I got out and squeezed the water from my footware and continued working, but it was a cold, windy day in April. When I approached the logging camp that evening, where I would spend the night, expecting to find a keeper there and have warm quarters and food, I found myself all alone. The winter work having been completed, the workers had returned to their homes until the "drive" conditions were ready. I started the wood stove up but it was a while before it began to warm the place. I put my foot wear to dry, had some supper and then went to bed. I woke up next mmorning, feelling sick.

That morning I walked the three miles to Camp 8, our headquarters. I recovered somewhat and went about my work as usual, but felt that something was wrong in my body. On a worm day I decided to take a swim. I went into the water and began to swim, but soon realized that my strenth was waning, and I turned back toward the shore. Frinds nearby came and helped me to my quarters. Gradually I recovered to some extent and about the first of June I took a weekend off, travelling up the lake by motor boat and walking six miles to my mome.

My morher and my sister, a nurse, helped me up the stairs to my bedroom and settled me in my bed; I relaxed and drifted into sleep. An hour later my sister went up to check on me. She found my body cold, no breading visible and no pulse. She thought I had died, but was so shocked that she couldn't tell the others what had happened. An hour later she went up again and observed some signs of life and went down to tell the family that I was very sick, but would be all right. I was brought to the clinic at Flowers Cove and then to St Anthony Hospital.

I arrived in St Anthony on the Coastal Vessel that docked in the afternoon. An ambulance took us to the hospital, and I was taken in for examination immediately. An operation to draw fluid from my lung was set for 7 PM; at which time I was sitting on a chair with my arms draped over the back of it. Doctor Pinfield and Doctor Gray performed the procedure, pushing a rather large needle between my ribs into the lung area, and all the while I was holding on, bathed in perspiration. Finally Dr. Pinfield said, "Now then, see if you can draw a deep breath." For the first time in about two months I drew in a deep breath; it didn't hurt at all, my breathing was normal and effortless, again. The doctors were pleased and asked, "How does it feel?" I answered, gratefully, "Marvelous! its like a miracle." They then brought me to a bed in the ward and settled me in for the night. After they left I lay there, freely breathing life-giving fresh air again, oblivious of the other patients, in perfect contentment, just reflecting on how wonderful life is. Thank God.

One morning while they made my bed, I strolled out into the other ward, nameded, the Sun Porch. A girl I had not seen before was mopping the floor. She was nice looking, with blond hair and a neat figure. I suppose my gaze lingered longer than I meant to, for the man I was talking with at the time remarked, "It looks like you're pretty interested in that girl". I was caught off guard. "If you're looking for a girl", he continued,"you couldn't get a better one; Im married to her cousin, and my woman is one of the best. "Yes", he concluded, "I think you two would be right for each other." I instinctively glanced toward the girl and it appeared that she was embarressed. The man was from town,I think, an outgoing, friendly fellow and woulld come out to our ward most every morning with news he had heard, etc. As I was leaving, he nodded to me, and in a confidential tone, observed, "notice how she blushed; that's a good sign; I'd follow up on that if I were you."

In about three weeks after my being admitted, Doctor Thomas came to see me, one day. He said they had noticed some scarring of my left lung, and wanted me to stay for the summer months so they could observe my progress. He did not prescribe treatment but emphasized that I needed complete bed-rest. In the meantime there had been a vacancy in the hospital annex, and they would be moving me into that facility.

The atmosphere in the annex turned out to be much freer and unregulated than the hospital had been. To me, though, it was a place where one could rest and get well, for I had a good job that I valued highly, and wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. I rather liked the place, and one of the reasons was that my sister, Marion was a patient there. I would nowv visit her at various times; she had already been here for some months and was quite lonely for home, family and friends.

After I had been at the annex for two or three weeks, one evening when the girls brought in the supper trays, I noticed that one of them was that nice girl with the blond hair. She was filling in for the regulars who had the weekend off. My bed was next to the entrance door, and she took the first tray across to the patient opposite me. As she passed I noticed that her bra strap had slipped of her shoulder, she was wearing a short sleeved dress. When she came with my tray and bent to place it on my lap, I said to her in wisper, "your bra strap is showing." She didn't acknowledge my comment, but hurried back to the kitchen. When she reappeared to place the remaining trays I noticed that the strap was not visible, but she never even glanced in my direction. Had I offended her or hurt her feelings, I thought.

The next day was Sunday. Sunday dinner was the special meal of the week; we had fresh pork with all the trimmings. After the ample dinner, most of the patients fell asleep, so I was left practically all alone. The door opened and I idly thought it to be a relative who had come to visit someone; when she moved toward my bed,I was expecting the lady to ask where to find a certain person. I looked up and there before me stood the blond girl, this time in street dress! It took some seconds to register, for I had seen her only in white uniform. I managed to say, "Well! And what are you doing today?" She smiled and cheerfully said, "Well, I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to go, so I came to see you; is it OK?". I said, "You couldn't have picked a better person to visit. Please stay awhile; pull up a chair". She replied, "Thanks," and smiling, sat down. She told two or more funny jokes that made me chuckle with glee. Then we talked on various topics that young people use as they reach out to get acquianted with one another. I enjoye every minute with this pleasant girl, the time passed too swiftly, and she had to return to the hospital. I relaxed and reflected on how pleasant the afternoon had been while she was with me.

The next week Doctor Gray came with his group ane they sang beautiful gospol songs. Then the Doctor preached a short sermon and spoke a word of exortation, then closd with prayer. As they filed out the singers called, "Good night", and "God bless", and we expressed our thanks.

I relaxed on my bed, it had been a good day. I thought about the lovely girl and felt rather lonely; I wondered if she was working today. Later I heard footsteps and the door to our ward opened. It was her! I felt a surge of joy, and the void of loneliness fled away. She came to my bedside and spoke privitely. She said she didn't have much time to visit, as she was going on night shift, but felt to come and see me for a few minutes. She said that their rounds would take them to our ward about midnight. I told her that if I should be asleep when she came, to awaken me. When they came to do the rounds in our ward, the only lights on was their flashlights. The girl in charge said she would inspect the women's ward alone, so we could have a few minutes of privicy.

We sat close together on the side of my bed, there in the darkened ward, aware only of each other. I put my arms around her and she leaned toward me, gently responding to my embrace, and we kissed. All too soon the other girl was back, and my girl had to go. after that brief emotional encounter, our parting didn't bring loneliness again, for I knew she would return to me. I felt that a bond had been established between us in that magic moment.

A wonderful song seemed to be singing somewhere deep inside of me. I knew instinctively what it meant; I had fallen in love with a wonderful girl; my girl. It seemed to me that my world, which had been disrupted by my illness, was beginning to settle back into its rightful place again. She later told me the other girl asked her how our brief meeting together had worked out, and she had answered, "Wonderful!"

About a year and a half later we were married, and we are still in love. God bless you...

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