Way Back When-Ida's Finger

Saying for the Day: Sometimes the reason we can do something is because we didn't know it couldn't be done.

There are stories that have been passed down in my family of which I am now the custodian. They are stories of the way it was a long time ago. They are stories of the great great grandparents of my grandchildren and the people around them. I am going to share these stories on this blog. Since this may not be of interest to you I will warn you by always posting “Way Back When” in the title. The stories will usually (but not always be posted on Thursdays).
I want to start with a story about my Aunt Ida. The story takes place in 1907 ( well it could be 1906 or 1908). Ida was just a little girl. She lived with her parents, my grandparents, in a big boarding house which my grandmother ran. She was smart and inquisitive.
One day her mother was washing clothes. She used a washer like one in the picture above. It had huge open gears. Somehow little Ida decided to stick her finger into one of those gears while the machine was running. It ripped her finger off just below the knuckle.
Now if she had lived in this age they would have rushed her to the hospital , bringing the finger with her. A micro surgeon would have reattached the finger. They would have shot her full of antibiotics to prevent infection. It would have cost thousands. They would have sued the maker of the washer.
But this was 1907. There were no antibiotics. There was no micro surgeon. People didn’t sue when they did stupid things.
Instead my grandmother picked up the finger and pushed it back on , taping it in place. Then she prayed over it. That was it.
The finger grew back in place. It was in all ways normal but one. She couldn’t bend it.
My grandmother accomplished what now takes a surgeon with a full team to accomplish. She did not have the advantage of anesthesia or antibiotics. The only thing she had going for her was she didn’t know that what she was doing shouldn’t work. So she did it.
Life was like that back then.

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9450 spins without a prize. Old Hapless watched "Unanimous" again last night. This is the show that asks can seven people ( they started with nine) put aside their own greed and together give a million and one half dollars to one of them. The longer they take the less money they have to give. It is down now to half a million. After last night Old Hapless thinks the answer to the question is NO they never will get together. He is getting ready to invite all of them to his losers party.
Well Uncle Wiggly lovers as long as the people on "Unanimous" don't get together and give somebody the money thus keeping Old Hapless happy. We will be back tomorrow with another chapter in " As the World Spins'
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Wasted the morning because I knew I had to see the doctor at 1:00 ( that always makes me nervous) . The examination went fine. The Dr. said I looked fine on paper ( my tests came back fine). Came hone and Betty and I mixed and poured cement for the layout. Pigeon Falls city street is now ready for painting and placing. I have one of the best doctors in the world. I had a problem with apria over the setting on my BiPap and he took the time to get a hold of the specialist in Marquette and then issue me a letter for Apria. What a great guy. Well I need a breathing treatment.
GBYA