We found some pots and pans, spatulas, cooking spoons and mixing bowls that were taken right down to the butcher house. Even found some cans of clams and baked beans that somehow had ended up here; probably gotten packed or unloaded in too much of a hurry. Those went to Jean’s kitchen together with a bag of chocolate covered peanuts. It made Mom’s eyes light up; they were her favorite. Dad had said we shouldn’t worry about bringing too many books from home, but we did find some interesting ones like cookbooks, some self-help manuals for plumbing and electrical work. Lois was tickled to find a half a dozen alternative medicine books, home cure books, and both a first aid manual and CPR booklet. She found a place for them on the kitchen counter right above the ‘first aid’ drawer.
“Look’s like this might as well be the spot for our dispensary,” she said. “And look at this good selection of old or broken eyeglasses we’ve accumulated. They’re going to come in real handy as there’s no eye doctor to go to.”
We found deodorant, shampoo and soap; there were a couple unopened boxes of those fancy little perfumed ones that people kept in bowls on their toilet. We found some jewelry. Didn’t know if any was gold or silver which would have made it worth something. Either way we saved it for some unknown future use. There were also cufflinks and tietacs and even money. Almost every drawer had some loose change in it; some was even collectable coins. Then there were several cans of Dad’s penny collection. Sandy put all the coins in a can as well as the paper currency then stashed it all on the floor of the linen closet as we now had a path cleared to it.
“Don’t know if it will ever be worth anything,” she said, “but you never know.” Soon we had several boxes full and many more started. We had boxes of sweaters, pants, shirts, winter hats, coats, and gloves. All stored where we could find them when we needed them. There was quite an assortment of cameras and film.
“Not that they’ll do us any good,” Jean said. “There’s no place to have film developed.”
“But we can still take pictures,” I said. “The exposed film might keep well enough that it could still be developed if photo labs ever come back into being.”
“She’s right,” Mrs. Smith said, “one day, we might really enjoy having a pictorial record of our life without electricity. Even if we have to wait a few years to get the film developed.”
“And,” added Lois, “we should scrutinize what we take pictures of; you know, wait for special occurrences or for some of the creative inventions we might use. But right here is something that we can use right now to take pictures: Jeremiah’s Polaroid camera. He even went out and bought four packs of film when he smelled this coming.”
“That’s great,” Jean said, “but we should still use it judiciously.”
We found some disposable diapers, tissues, and quite a few handkerchiefs.
“That’s something everyone will have to learn to use,” Mom said. “We have to save any tissues we have for toilet paper. We rarely used tissues when I was a kid. It’s been like two generations now that have learned to be a throw away society. For example, from now on we won’t be able to run out and buy new socks; it’s darning time again. Disposables have become a very bad habit that might even have contributed to this economic predicament we’re now in.”
“Oh Mom,” Mel whined, “you’re starting to sound like Dad.”
“Well, so what if she does?” Jean commented. “Probably more of us should have listened when people like your dad talked. Here I found a few packs of garden seeds I can give him. He’ll be glad for them. What’s that you have there, Alyssa?”
“I found two rifle clips with some ammo in them and a few shotgun shells. I better take them to Larry,” I answered. Larry was in charge of our weapons. He had some of them locked up in his room and others in Poppop’s house. The ammunition was locked in a different location.
“In due time,” Jean responded. “We might find more before we’re done.”
“Oh,” Mom said, “I think we’ve just about gotten enough done for the day. It’s really getting hot and everyone is so very sweated. Why don’t we let the kids go over and splash in the creek before the neighbors need to head for home?”
“That’s a good idea,” Mrs. Smith said. “We really should get started for home in about a half hour or so.”
“But we have no swimming suits, Mommy,” Robbie’s sister Susan said.
“No time for modesty; we’re all becoming family here,” Mrs. Smith replied. “If you want to walk home in wet clothes, then keep them on. It’s your choice.”
“But Robbie’s along,” Molly chimed in.
“Like he’s never seen you girls in your underwear before? You’re all wet and sticky. Go cool off and enjoy yourselves. I’ll bring Julie’s little girls over and wash them as well. Would you have a towel I could borrow, Mrs. Stump?”
“Sure,” four women answered.
“Yeah that’s right, I guess you’re all Mrs. Stump,” she laughed.
“Here, take three towels for all to use; Alyssa can bring them back,” Mom said. We headed for the creek. Because of the cooling rain of the morning, the creek was a little fuller than usual, even a little muddy, and wasn’t terribly warm. That made it all the more refreshing and fun. We probably spent about one half an hour there, and then Mrs. Smith gathered up her crew, toweled the young’ns off, and headed for home.
Lynette, Amy, and I trudged back to the house with the towels and waved good-bye to our friends from Crystal View Farm. As they walked up the road we spied someone on a bicycle coming down the road toward us. He had large saddlebags on his bike. He looked somewhat familiar, but I just couldn’t place him. He stopped and parked his bicycle, pulled a small black leather bag out of one of the saddlebags, and approached us. He was tall, well-built and looked to be around 30 years old. But it wasn’t until he spoke that I recognized him. It was Dr. Fleming, the chiropractor my dad visited.
“Hello young ladies,” he said. “I’m Doctor Fleming. Are your folks around?
“Our mothers are in the house,” Amy answered. “Our dads and the other men are around the farm close by somewhere.”
“We don’t travel very far now-a-days,” Lynette added.
“No, I guess you don’t,” he responded. “I was just up at Butch and Clare’s, and they told me the Stump family lived at this farm.” He looked directly at me and continued, “You look familiar. I think you father is one of my patients. Is your name Lizzie, or Liddy, or Lisa, or something like that?”
“Alyssa”, I announced, “and my dad is one of your patients. I’ll go and get him. I’m sure Mom remembers you. Why don’t you head into the house with my cousins here? Dad and I will catch up.”
“Thank you,” he said, “I’ll do that.”
I gave the towel I was carrying to Lynette and sprinted to the barn to find Dad. I found him, Jeremiah, Harvey, Dennis, and Aaron working in the milk house. They had been dismantling the milk tank and making a hole in the wall large enough to remove the tank to its new home next to the butcher house.
“Dad,” I said, “guess who’s here?”
“How would I know?” he answered, “seems like we get more visitors now that people have no motorized transportation than when they could just hop in a car and drive anywhere they wanted. So who is it?”
“Doctor Fleming.”
“Really? I could sure use an adjustment.”
“So could I,” said Jeremiah.
“Well he’s headed toward the house, if you want to talk to him,” I said.
“Let’s all head in there boys. His visit might be beneficial to all of us,” Dad concluded.
We found the others in the butcher house where things had already been put into motion. One of the tables had a blanket on it as well as Lois. Dr. Fleming was working on her neck.
“What’s going on?” I asked Dad.
“Looks like Doctor Fleming is practicing his trade,” Dad answered. “Doctor Fleming! Good to see you. I see you’ve become an itinerant.”
“Yes, I guess you could say that, and good to see you, too,” he answered. “It got to the point I had to close my office. Few had the gas to continue making visits for my services; nor the money to pay.”
“Hey! What would you need money for?” Harvey asked. “All doctors are rich anyway.”
“Yes and no,” Dr. Fleming said, as he finished with Lois and Sandy hopped onto the table. “I guess some were rich, and then there were others, like myself, who still had student loans and mortgages on our offices to pay. That’s where a lot of my earnings went. But the collapse has evened it out; we’re all in the same boat. Now one of my valued possessions is my bicycle and a few tension hammers and other tools of my trade. But the possession that’s most valuable, that truly makes me rich, is the skill I have as a chiropractor; the skill that I can use to benefit others, by helping them heal. The same way you’re rich, Harvey, because you can use your dairying skills to produce milk to feed others. And Joe can use his butchering skill to put meat on the table for everyone.”
“Guess you’re right,” Harvey said sheepishly as Sandy relinquished her position to Mom for the doctor’s manipulating hands.
“And we’re all rich in friends that care,” Dr. Fleming continued. “Look how quickly you all readily received me, and I you, knowing any money you might have to give me is worthless.”
“But we’ll have something for you, Doc,” Dad answered. “At least a good meal, and some food or other supplies you can take home to your family. By the way, how are they and where are they?”
“Thanks for asking,” Dr. Fleming answered. “We found a farm, just a little out of town, similar to Harvey’s here, with a spring to supply water. The Missus and the kids are fine, helping on the farm, while I’m out applying my trade.”
One after another we jumped onto the table for an adjustment by Dr. Fleming. Dad made sure Barry received a treatment, knowing some of his previous medical conditions. Many of us, me included, had never had a chiropractor work on us before. When it was my turn, I was tense, not knowing what to expect, but Dr. Fleming talked me through, for everyone’s benefit as well as mine.
He started, “You know your nervous system is responsible for helping your body heal as well as stay healthy. All your nerves run through your spine, so anytime the vertebrae in your spine are out of alignment they can possibly rub against or pinch the nerves, thus interfering with the signals that go through them. This can make you feel bad, or feel pain, and prohibit your body from healing. There, you’re all done. Jump off and stand up straight. Do you feel okay?”
“I feel fine,” I answered, “what was wrong with me?”
“Hardly anything,” the doctor replied. “I see you have excellent posture, your back muscles appear very strong. That’s good; keeps your vertebrae in line. You evidently work hard, are careful not to lift too heavy and not from awkward positions. You only had two vertebrae slightly out of line. They popped right back into place. Now let’s see how your dad is.”
Dad lay down on the table. “More than one vertebra out of alignment here,” Dr. Fleming said. “I haven’t seen you for what, eight - ten weeks?”
“Sometime in early June,” Dad answered.
“I could tell,” the doctor replied. “A lesson for everyone: take care with your back and spine, then your spine will take care of you. I’ll probably get around every month or so.”
“Well, whenever you get here, you’re welcome,” Jean said. “You’re the only medical care we have.”
“Not quite true,” Jeremiah said. “Lois is a nurse, remember; she can handle a lot of things.”
“Sorry,” Jean replied, “she is very valuable. I just meant we don’t see any doctors or dentists.”
“But you might soon,” Dr. Fleming interjected. “Both Dr. Bear, the physician in town and the dentist, Dr. Miller have the use of horse and buggies, so they can make rounds like I am. With a buggy they can carry more of their tools and a small supply of medicines with them. Don’t know how often they’ll get around, but at least they are around. Finding them in an emergency might be tough, maybe some system should be created for the future.”
“It would be helpful if we knew where they both live now,” Jean said.
“I guess it would,” Dr. Fleming replied. “Dr. Miller is on his cousin’s farm about three miles from here on Possum Lane. I can’t remember his name.”
“Ed Miller,” Harvey said.
“Yeah, that’s it, thanks. Maybe I can find out till I’m around next time where Dr. Bear is. Well, I should be going now. I’d like to stop a few other places on the way home.”
“Won’t you stay for supper?” Lois asked.
“Not this time. I’ll take a rain check.”
“Can you handle a small sack of red beets and a few potatoes on that bicycle?” Poppop asked. “Or is there something else you might really be in need of?”
“I have some room for a few. Some people gave me a couple cans of fruit and another family some toothpaste. We could use some bath soap, if you’ve some to spare?” Dr. Fleming inquired.
“That we can,” Jean said. “Amy, you know where it is. Would you go get Dr. Fleming what – three or four bars?” The doctor nodded in agreement.
“We’re hoping we’ll be able to make more in the future, after we’ve butchered a few beef. Sorry we can’t thank you more than that,” she concluded.
“Nothing more necessary,” he remarked, “it was my pleasure. You all take care of your spines now.”
As he pedaled back up the road Lois said, “That was some special man.”
“More special than me?” her husband Jeremiah asked.
“Shush, you know what I mean. People like that, with hearts like his, will be an integral part in the survival of many families and the communities of this country.”
“I do know what you mean,” my uncle responded.
To be continued….. Mort
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