Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Monday, September 8, 2014

Little Health. Matters.

Bonk Eye.

Recently, I've noticed something.

That, in itself, is remarkable.
Moving on . . .
I work with a group of elderly people.
Some of them like nothing better than talking about their health.
Or lack thereof.
I've been treated to stories of gall bladders.
Knees.
Hips.
Hearts.
Lungs.
Mysterious lumps.
And a plethora of aches and pains.
I cluck sympathetically.
Knowing that each of these ailments will probably visit me at some point in the very near future.
But what is truly remarkable is the fact that the very young people I also associate with, ie. my grandchildren, are equally interested in their health.
Scrapes, bruises and cuts are examined minutely and then displayed, accompanied by a lurid tale of woe.
Often.
Sometimes, a tiny wound might go undetected for several days. Have scabbed over and be well on its way to healing. But once discovered, it must be fussed over and bandaged and kissed.
Several times.
My two-year-old granddaughter had fallen and bumped her head.
Just above her eye.
After the initial tears and hysteria, she had examined her wound in the mirror.
There was a distinct bruise.
“Mom!” she said loudly. “Bonk eye!”
Her mother agreed that, yes, she had 'bonked' her eye.
But that wasn't enough.
She had to tell everyone in the room.
Several times.
Later, at dinner, she mentioned it again.
Several more times.
Her uncle Tristan, having been at an activity, was late to dinner.
He slid into his chair and started dishing out food.
Here was someone new to tell.
“Unca Tristan!” she said, “Bonk eye!”
Tristan looked at her. “Yes, I see that you bonked your eye,” he said. He started eating.
“Unca Tristan, look! Bonk eye!”
“Yes,” he said.
“Bonk eye, Unca Tristan!”
“Yes.”
She took a couple of bites of food. Then, “Unca Tristan!”
“I know,” he broke in, rather wearily.
“Bonk eye!”
“Yes.”
This went on through the remainder of the meal.
And every time we saw her for the next few weeks.
Long after the slight bruise had healed.
And until the next injury pushed it off the front page.
Then it was, “Unca Tristan! Look!”
He looked at me. “On, man. Are we going to have another chorus of 'bonk-eye'?” 
I laughed.
Health issues.
Most important at each end of the age scale.
Differing only in seriousness.
Not in concern.

19 comments:

  1. In the middle we don't have TIME for health issues...enjoy them while you can I say.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! We are caring for both sides. The sandwich . . . health care workers!

      Delete
  2. My 11 year old niece is a professional hypochondriac. We're hopeful that she'll outgrow it - but she may just grow back into it again :)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. They just seem to get better but not in any way get well . . .

      Delete
  3. What a cutie! That "bonk" must have hurt - yet she didn't seem fazed by that part ...?

    I'm not sure whether I belong in the "child" or "elder" group - but I do know that after major eye surgery earlier this summer, I talked about it to anyone who would listen! (See, I'm still doing it - gah)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Major eye surgery!!!??? That totally deserves to be talked about! :)

      Delete
  4. We all revert to our childhood behavior when we get older. It is about receiving attention.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's so funny. Mom is like that too! She has mysterious aches, pains and problems all the time. I use to rush her to the Dr. every time but now that I'm with her day in and day out I can tell which ones are serious or not. I guess I'll be doing it for the twins when they get here too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's exactly how it feels!! But I wouldn't have it any other way!

      Delete
  6. How sweet! Brings back lots of memories!
    Love,
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is actually really poignant, in that the elderly and the young pay so much attention to boink eye, and every little thing, but those of us in the middle (me anyway) pretty much ignore when we are sick. It's something weird, right? Not just me?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Two year olds are remarkably (inhumanly) persistent!
    I've never heard bonk eye before.

    ReplyDelete

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