Page 27 - May 2020

smoke clouds darkened the skies to almost manifested, I went to my medical provider. The
blackout conditions by 6 pm. We managed to get PA told me I had a touch of the flu and not to

everyone out, moving to a safer and new location. worry.
There were just two vehicles left—a pumper with Within three days I took to my bed. The most
crew from Anchorage City Fire and my vehicle colorful symptom began—I was turning yellow!
with a driver and me. By day six my neighbor rushed me to the clinic in

The captain is the last to leave the sinking a wheelchair. I could barely move or stay awake.
ship, right? This is when I faced once again that They recommended that I go to the hospital in
moment of “what am I doing” and with an actual Hermiston at once. I remember telling myself
physical and painful demise. With flames all over and over again that I would not die!

around us, the pumper took off first, punching I awoke in Richland, Washington when a face
a small tunnel through the smoke and flames appeared, very scary looking with long scraggy
with spraying water. grey hair saying, “I want your blood!”
My poor driver panicked, afraid we would not I was told later that there were no beds

get out before the fire consumed the surrounding available in Herminston. I did not remember the
trees and brush as well as ambulance ride over the border to the Tri-cities
ourselves. He kept right at all. For me, it was “Goodbye gall bladder, hello
on the pumper’s tail pipe Chiquita banana.” The surgeon later told me that

as we watched the flames they lost me once during the radical operation as
crown in the trees over my gall bladder crumbled away. Ten days later
us. By some miracle, we I left the hospital and underwent three months
managed to get out with of rehab and therapy. (That didn’t stop me

just a singed paint job on from giving my #10 speech for my Competent
the back of the van. Communicator Award from a wheelchair!)
My third and final Once again, a brush with death, life flashing
moment was in the before my eyes, and the feeling of it not yet being

Eastern Desert of Oregon. my time.
I was instructing ESL, Yes, I am following the current pandemic
ABE, and GED programs recommendations—social distancing, masking,
with Blue Mountain gloving up, and staying home 99.9% of the

Community College in time. But I am not letting it control me nor am
Pendleton, Oregon. We I becoming fearful of impending fatal doom.
were on Winter Term If anything, Covid-19 has given me plenty of
break in December when stories and potential speech topics for the future.

I started feeling sluggish, Personally, I am planning to stick around a little
achy, and generally not while longer and see how it all plays out.
running on all cylinders. Dies Irae? Nope. Carpe Diem!
When another symptom

VOICES! | MAY 2020 27