Page 91 - Margaret Neil James - A Love Story

ISSUE : Issue 60

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1992/6/1

situation for ourselves financially and every other way. Because at that time there was no hospitalization, no doctors paid for, or anything. You had to pay everything out of your own pocket, So he had a lot of expenses, with his wife being in the hospi? tal, having special nurses for the 6 days that she lived. And then the hospital and the doctors, specialists, and everything. And then the following year after that, I had an operation. And his father was in the hospital twice that year. He had started having diabetes. So he was in twice in that one year. So, you know, you were very seri? ous about what you were doing. But what lit? tle we had, we'd share it together, I laugh once a day when I see people get? ting married, and they have to have this and they have to have that and they have to have everything. And they don't leave any? thing to get after they get married. And I think they blow the whole thing at the one shot. And then they do nothing but fight over it. And that's one thing we didn't do --we didn't fight. If I said I wanted some? thing, we talked about it and decided how we could arrange to get it, and when we could get it. It was the same with Neil. Everything that I did was appreciated by Neil and by the kids, and by his parents. And I often remember Grandma--like, the kids would sleep every afternoon. So, af? ter I had been sick. Grandma would say to me, "Now, Mama, you go upstairs and lay down with them. And I'll do the dishes. And then when you get up, I'll go and lay down." So that's the way we got along.... And Grandma got sick on the Saturday be? fore Easter. And we had to have the priest, and she was anointed, and we had the doctor three times within a week. And they couldn't do anything for her. And the doctor said she wasn't going to live very long. But there wasn't anything they could do for her in the hospital that I wasn't doing here. That's the only thing she asked when we said we were going to send for the doctor was, "Now, Mama, don't let them take me to the hospital." I said, "No, I won't. Grandma. You won't go if I have anything to say about it." And the doctor said there was nothing they could do that we couldn't do here. She lived 28 days. But 3 days before she died--my back was quite sore. And I used to have to straighten it up by putting my hand's on my hips, back hips, you know, to force myself to straighten up. (I had a spina bifida-type injury in my back. And I was supposed to have an operation on it.) So she said to me that day, "You're suf? fering a lot with your back, aren't you?" And I said, "Nothing more than I can stand. Grandma. When you get better, I'll go and have it looked after." And she said, "I'm not going to get better, dear. I'm going to Heaven..,, I'm going to die. But when I get to Heaven, you'll be all right," And I said, "Well, that's good. When you get to Heaven, you tell God that I'm down here struggling. And I have to look after Grandpa and the kids and Daddy and me, so, see if I'll get better." The wake was held here at the house, and the funeral. About a week after. Neil said to me, "You don't seem to be having much trouble with your back." And I said, "My back is good." He said, "Well, I think you'd better call that doctor again." I went down, and the specialist in Sydney couldn't find the weak spot in my back. It seemed to have been corrected, whatever-- he couldn't understand it. Neither could I. And I didn't ask any questions about it. But he said, "If it comes back at you, come down, and then we'll look after it." I never went back. That was 33 years ago. And it's only this spring that I really started having an awful lot of trou? ble with my back.,.. But I at? tribute it to Grandma's prayers, and Grandma inter? ceding for me, that I got well enough. So that'll tell you what kind of a per? son she was. (You have a very strong religious belief.) Yeah. (And Neil him? self ) Well, (the rosary)--it was more said (on the road) than said in the house. THE BEAR PAW GIFT & CRAFT SHOP Local Crafts to Tickle Your Fancy • Photographs • Knitting • Painting • Crocheting • Quilts • Weaving & Hooking Imported Items to Test Your Resistance • Beautiful Souvenirs • Attractive Tartans • China and Glassware CENTRAL AVE. NVERNESS PHONE 258-2528 Stores To Serve You CAPE BRETON SHOPPING PLAZA SYDNEYRIVER • ' Featuring 'W W OfPANTMtNTCTORtt The Crossroads of Cape Breton' Sobeys & Shopper's Drug Mart "''hways 4 and s open Daily "' • 10 p.m. Opei 'TIM Plenty Of Fr** Parking

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