Thursday, June 18, 2020

Caring, and care giving, Unheralded heroes

Autos of beauty(?)  Sometimes there are just too much decorations!


For today, Friday:

In the late 40s and early 1950s in NC there were places called ‘The County Home’. I guess they were the first ‘assisted living’ facilities. I am sure the folks there were over worked and there using the wringer washers and the clothes line. That was a last resort, most families I knew tried to take care of their own, sick & elderly.

Before public assistance the first in home care giver I ever knew was our next door neighbor in Albemarle. What little she earned was taking in washing and ironing. She was caring of her father who was bed-fast. She took care of him as best she could. She had a son my age; we played together when he wasn’t working. He had a regular paper route and also saved ‘Blue Horse’ school paper wrappers. The wrappers were sort of like coupons, save 50 and get a cap, 500 or a 1000 could get you a bike. He searched school trash cans for them and friends who were not saving gave him theirs. *** Ronnie saved enough to get his own bike. I remembered being in awe of him getting the bike.

Ronnie’s house smelled badly, a strong scent of urine. There were no catheters for home bodies then. Ronnie’s mama tried to keep the bed changed but I am sure it was tough.


My Sherry quit a good job in DC and came back to this area to take care of my mama until I could get moved back. She gave it all, and was sweet to mama. Shirley returned from Maryland to help. Mother was cared for at home until she passed.

We are seeing this in Vernon’s home. Daughter Tina is there full time for her mama and dad. The other two girls come in to help along with some grands. Son Rick is in Saudi Arabia and also living with his family in Kenya. With the Virus worldwide it will be tough for Rick to get home.

God Bless all Care givers. I still see Morton Lake on line at times (In the UK). He took care of his Mum until she passed, he too was sick. His Blog was ‘Caring and Sharing’.

 Nite Shipslog  

***  From an internet article:

  Students sending in 20 Blue Horse heads received a souvenir beanie cap containing the company logo; all other prizes required a minimum of 30 heads. Youngsters did not actually choose prizes; the number of heads mailed to the company determined the relative value of the reward. Contest rules required that labels be submitted by June 15 each year, making it easier for the corporation to tabulate results, award prizes and formulate plans for the next year’s campaign.

The top prize was a Horse Head brand bicycle given to the 425 students sending in the most emblems. In addition, there were 375 table model radios, 550 footballs, 550 zipper notebook cases, 1250 surprise awards, 20,000 bonus prizes and 26,850 other prizes – totaling 50,000

9 comments:

betty said...

Interesting about the students collecting things for prizes. So glad your friend did get his bike; a lot of hard work to get it but I bet it was all worth it.

Caregivers, especially family caregivers, are all precious!! Its a hard job and not many take it on. Glad Vernon has that support with his family!

betty

Chatty Crone said...

Caregivers - all types - whether at home or the hospitals - or anywhere - are real HEROES! I mean that....

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Where would we be without the care givers, they are the salt of the earth. Giving up so much to help others. It means so much to those that need the help. I know I'm thankful for the help my family gives me. They care that I keep safe and do all my shopping for me.

Mevely317 said...

Interesting about the Blue Horse wrappers! I never heard of them, but applaud Ronnie's determination. I'll bet he appreciated that bike more than if someone gave it to him.

I agree with what Chatty/Sandie said, all caregivers being heroes. I absolutely cringe at the thought of having to depend on someone else that way.

Lisa said...

I remember mom used to collect bottle caps and cereal box tops. This is how she got 4 kids into Carrowinds each summer. I remember grandma collected some kind of tickets from laundry soap and would use them for things.
Life was easier back then but you aslo had to work hard to get the things you want.

Dizzy in Gtown
Lisa

yaya said...

My Grandparents lived with us and sometimes with my aunts and uncles. My Dad bought a house near a lake for them to live in and for us to go and have a place to play and a place for him to fish. I'm so glad Mom was able to get home from the rehab facility to spend her last days in her own home and passed with family around her. When I was young it wasn't unusual for Grandparents to live with family. Also when I was young Mom collected green stamps and I enjoyed putting the stamps in the book and seeing what we could get with them!

Susan Kane said...

This is such a perfect post, esp. at this time when so many need caregivers but are vulnerable.

This made me weepy. Such devotion! Such hard work they did to care for a family member'

Thanks, Jack.














1

TARYTERRE said...

my mom was a caregiver for my fathers mother and the later for her own. at times it seemed like a thankless job. it was 24/7 for over 20 years. great post talking about it all back in the day.

Rick Watson said...

My mom spent her last few years in a nursing home. My two sisters and I went every day. Her caregivers were remarkable.