One Thanksgiving

It is the day after Thanksgiving, but we are having our thanksgiving today so that J&M can be here. Here is in Kansas City and Mom's parents. The ladies of the family are planning a shopping trip to Joanns this morning. J&M should be here sometime late morning as we are going to eat about 2:00.

I wondered if I'd get any comments after Part 10 of Meleah's Western.:) I love reading them, so I hope you keep it up. If I were to post the western more often, I think you would get tired of commenting, so . . .:) By the way, I had my notebook up here for Meleah's Western and Grandma read it. She enjoyed it and, like the rest of you, she wanted to know what came next. Dad also enjoyed reading it. Grandma said she didn't know how I could describe everything and everyone so well. I don't know either, but it sure is fun.

Okay, so Part 11 is not being posted. This story was written like some others, from a calendar picture. Hannah Cov. and I decided that I would pick the assignment and she would pick the picture. Then we would both write a story. This is my story. If you want to read Hannah's, you'll have to ask her for it.:)

Characters: 4
Number of Words: 1,000 - 1600
Tense: 3rd
Time to Write it: 2 weeks
Special Instructions: must take place in two days.

One Thanksgiving
by
Rebekah Morris

“Girls, you want to explore the old trail tomorrow morning? The one Dad and I found while hunting.” The speaker was a tall, slim young man of about fourteen. His dark skin and straight black hair gave proof of his Indian ancestry.
Jessie looked up. “But tomorrow is Thanksgiving.” She hesitated. “When would we go?”
Cassie raised her head from her book. “Let’s go early! Real early.” Her black eyes flashed with excitement. “Say we can go early, Steve!”
Her brother grinned. “Why don’t we leave at 5:00. That’ll give plenty of time to be back before Mom needs your help for the 2:00 dinner.”
Suddenly Cassie seemed to have second thoughts. “Would it be just us three?”
Steven nodded.
“Couldn’t we take Major?”
“No, he’d scare off anything worth seeing, but I’ll take my gun, if you want,” Steve told her.
“But . . .” Suddenly all the stories she had read of danger came back to her mind and she shivered.
Thirteen-year-old Jessie was growing tired of her sister’s timidity. “Cass, one would think you weren’t a direct descendent of a great Indian chief.”
Thus chided by her older sister, Cassie took a deep breath, squared her slim shoulders and lifted her eyes to meet those of her siblings.
Steven chuckled, “That’s the spirit, Cass. We’ll make you a brave Indian yet. Now, do we pack food for our little expedition or attempt to eat before we leave?”
Both girls were for packing it.

It was cold and nippy when the three adventurers gathered by the back steps the following morning. Cassie was shivering with excitement and cold while she clutched Jessie’s hand tightly. Inspite of her ancestors, she admitted to herself that she was just a little bit scared.
“Are you both ready?” Steven’s whisper broke the silence.
“Yes,” came the equally quiet response.
Cassie cast a quick look back at the lighted kitchen windows knowing their mother was there at that moment putting the turkey in the oven. For a moment, only a moment, she wished she hadn’t suggested they go early. At least Steven had his gun. It was so dark, she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.
“Steve,” she whispered, “can’t we turn on a flashlight?”
Steven’s voice replied from the other side of Jessie, “No, you’re eyes will grow accustomed to the darkness.”
For several minutes no sound was heard but their soft footsteps and the crunch of fallen leaves.
“Careful now, it’s the barbed wire fence. I’ll lift the bottom of it up, and Jess, you crawl under first. Careful,” as Jessie let go of his arm and dropped to the ground without a word, “make sure you stay low.”
“I’m through.”
“Okay, Cass, now you.”
“But I don’t know where to go,” her voice was a whimper.
“Come to my voice. There, I’m right in front of you. Drop down and crawl under to Jessie.” Steven’s soft but fearless voice seemed to inspire Cassie with courage, and she obeyed without a word. Steven was also soon over and joined his sisters.

“Now we must move in single file as the path is only a deer trail.”
“Won’t you run into a tree without a light?”
“Indians can see in the dark, Cass,” was the reply.
Cassie glanced around. To her astonishment she discovered that she too could see the dark outlines of trees and of Steven and Jessie before her.
“I am the great granddaughter of Chief Strong-Arm, and I must be as stouthearted and brave as he.” The thought nerved Cassie to only flinch when a twig snapped somewhere off to her right. A tingling sensation crept up her spine at the thought of what might be watching her at that moment. She wondered if Jessie had heard the noise. Was she scared? She wouldn’t ask, for she didn’t want to break the silence.

On the threesome moved with a steady pace. Cassie marveled at how confidently Steven led them up and down hills, not pausing when the trail twisted and curved. “He is as all Indian braves should be. They must find their way in many a darker night than this. He is leading us to a powwow with other great chiefs. Or, no,” Cassie frowned in the darkness. “he is leading us to safety, for some other tribe wants to carry Jess and me off as captives.”
Her dreaming was interrupted by the sudden halt of Jessie and Steven. She glanced up in time to see a large, six-point buck pause motionless no more than five yards from them. For only an instant he stood there, then with swift leaps, he disappeared into the morning dawn.
“Oh, how pretty!” Jessie breathed.
Steven nodded and once again set off.
The light of the coming dawn was giving them enough light to see though a morning mist hung about them.

“Here we are,” Steve’s voice broke the quiet.
“We’re at the old bridge,” Cassie sounded surprised.
“Yes, and just past it, around that farther bend, we will find the old trail. It is on the right of the path. Cass, do you want to lead?”
With a toss of her black hair she stepped out in front. “Everything depends on me now,” she thought. “I must find the only path to safety and not let the enemy see or know.” With great caution she crept forward, her black eyes darting everywhere.
Behind her, Steve and Jess exchanged amused glances, and Steven tossed an acorn at her
“Come out of your dream world, Cass, and let’s get going.”
Cassie sighed. Why did they have to ruin the most exciting part of the adventure? Well, she’d save it for another time.
“It is so quiet out here,” Jessie breathed, “and so still.”
Nothing more was said until Cassie halted and pointed towards a faint opening in the woods.
“Good job, Cass, you’ll make a tracker after all.” Steven grinned at his youngest sister and shifted his gun to the other arm. “Jess, do you want to lead?”
Jessie shook her head.
“Cass?”
Cassie hesitated and began to shake her head.
“Are you losing your nerve?” Steven couldn’t resist teasing a little.
Cassie grinned. “Indians don’t explore an unknown path without a weapon. Now if you’ll give me the gun--”
“No way,” Steve interrupted. “Dad would skin me alive if I did.”
“Then you lead Steve,” Jess broke in.

The path was faint and narrow. The three children moved down it carefully, ears and eyes open for any sign of wildlife. Here and there they spied turkeys or deer, and once Jessie spied an owl, but it flew off before the others saw it. All at once Steven stopped and listened.
A faint sound was coming from their left. To Cassie’s imaginative mind it sounded like the call of their Indian foe!
“It sounds as though someone is moaning,” Steven whispered. “Come on.” He deliberately stepped off the path in the direction of the sound.
“Steve!” Cassie’s hushed call made him turn his head. “It’s a trap. They want your scalp!”
Steven’s black eyes gazed straight into those of his sister. “Cut out the pretending, Cassie. This is for real.” Then he once more set off toward the sound, his sisters following.
Each passing moment brought more light although the sky remained cloudy and the mist hung heavy. The moans grew louder, and suddenly through the trees the figure of a man lying on the ground was to be seen.
“Hello,” Steven’s voice broke the silence.
The man raised his head and looked at the three who had suddenly appeared before him.
As the man didn’t speak, Steven spoke again, “Are you hurt?”
The man nodded with a groan and let his head fall back. “I was out huntin’ a few days ago, and my gun backfired and knocked me clear down the ledge yonder an’ I ain’t been able to get farther’n this.”
By then Jessie and Cassie had drawn near, and Steven was kneeling beside the stranger. He introduced himself and his sisters.
“I’m Sam,” the stranger told them. “An’ I’d be much obliged if you could help me.”
Steven and Jessie went to work bandaging, as well as they could, Sam’s arm and head and putting a splint on his leg.
“If I had some crutches, I think I could make it to the path.”
“Here, lean on me,” Steve offered. Then with Steven on one side and Jessie on the other, they set off for the main path, Cassie leading the way. All dreams of enemies had vanished from her mind leaving only one thought. “Find the path.”
To her own surprise, she came out on the path right beside the old bridge.
“Here,” Steven handed Jessie his gun. “You and Cass wait here with Sam while I run home and get Dad.”

Before anyone could protest, Steven was gone. The girls made Sam as comfortable as they could, and Jessie pulled out a small pack of jerky.
“Here,” she offered, “eat. And here’s water.”
Sam accepted them gratefully.
“Where are you going to have Thanksgiving dinner?” queried Cassie.
“Thanksgiving? Nowhere. But I didn’t know Indians celebrated it since us white men took your land.” Sam looked curious.
Jessie spoke softly. “Yes, they took land, but if the white man had never come, we would never have learned of Jesus Christ.”
Sam gazed at the colored leaves around him, then at the two dark, yet beautiful faces near him.
“Wouldn’t you like to have Thanksgiving with us?” Cassie asked.
Sam nodded, and all three fell silent.

It wasn't the best story, but that is how it happened.

Meleah's Western Part 10

Dear me, no one commented at all on the last post. I guess they just were too sad to know that the CMA class was over. :) But all good things must come to an end sometime. Or at least I have been told that. It was rather nice to not have to go anywhere on Tuesday evening. I also taught my last writing class for this year on Wednesday. I seem to be in the finishing mood now for I also finished a short story that I will post next week. Now that so many things have been finished, I have gotten to read more.:) I believe I'm on my fifth book this month.:)

Now before you read Part 10 which some of you have been longing for, I'll give you a brief update on my book. I finally finished reading it and now Mom has it. She has suggested a few changes so far, but we'll see how things go the farther she gets into it. Also, after talking with Jimmy some about publishing my book, it looks like I will be doing it differently than I had originally thought. But of course my "test readers" have to read it first.:)

But you, my readers, have probably skipped this and gone straight to the story. Be sure to tell me what you think. And no, the next part is not written yet.

Part 10

Ty stared at his friend. Could this be true? Was this one he was to find his “baby sister”? If Carson, who knew about her for so long, hadn’t be able to find a trace of her, how was he expected to? Where should he start? Who was the family she was with? So dazed was he with this story that he gave no reply to his older companion’s heart wrenching cry for help.
Carson had buried his face in his hands and now sat silent and motionless.

Outside, the sun climbed higher and higher, doing its best to melt much of the snow before it must slip behind the mountains once more. A lone rider was slowly wending his way through the woods on the now slippery trail. Pausing often, he looked about as though to make sure he was still on the trail and had not missed it. His horse’s breath made little clouds of steam in the still air.

Inside the cabin, with a sudden shake of his head, Ty squared his shoulders and drew a deep breath. This was no time for endless puzzling. Now was the time to work out a plan if possible.
“Carson,” Ty began. “What was the family’s name that took . . . her?” He couldn’t quite decide what to call this new found sister of his.
Carson lifted his head; he spoke slowly, “I don’t rightly remember. I know it started with West, but I ain’t been able ta recall the rest of it.”
It was Ty’s turn to frown now. This made things even more difficult. How was one to find a girl after all these years without knowing the last name? He tried again.
“Would there be anyone back near where ya was livin’ that might know?”
“There’s no tellin’ what some people might remember, an’ it’s no tellin’ if’n any a the same ones is still there. After all, Ty, its been a dozen years since I was back that way.”
“Still, it wouldn’t hurt ta check.”
“No, I reckon not. Ya ain’t aimin’ ta go there alone are ya? How’d ya know who ta ask?”
“I don’t know rightly. I was thinkin’ a going alone if’n you’d stay here with Sally. Ya know I can’t stay. If they was ta get wind--”
At that moment a voice sounded behind him. “I told ya once, an’ I’m tellin’ ya again, you ain’t goin’ nowheres without me, Ty Elliot. Now ya jest get that inta yer head.”
Both men turned. Sally stood there, hands on her hips and chin squared in stubbornness. Her blue eyes flashed with determination.
“Sally, it ain’t gonna be for long. I can leave after dawn tomorrow an’ I’d jest be checkin’ ta see if’n anyone knows about--”
Sally cut him short. “It don’t matter ta me how short a time ya aim ta be gone, Ty Elliot, I ain’t stayin’ behind.”
Ty tried to reason with her, but she remained firm in her obstinacy. If he was going anywhere, she was going too. Nothing would change her mind. She stood there before him with arms crossed and a set to her mouth that reminded Carson of long ago.
At last Ty gave in to the inevitable though he did so with great reluctance. No one spoke for several minutes after Sally joined them. It was she who broke the stillness.
“Ty, who is she?”
Briefly, Ty filled his sister in on what was known. Carson sat still, gazing before him at nothing while he listened to the story and wondered again if it were even possible to find a trace of her.
“Carson,” Ty questioned when he had finished. “If Sally goes along, what do you plan ta do?”
“Do? Why I reckon I’ll go along with ya. Ain’t got any other place ta go that’s a needin’ me, an’ I might be a use ta you. ‘Sides that,” his voice dropped and his gaze fell, “I ain’t gonna feel quite easy in my mind ‘till I see my little girl once more.”

Sally stood up. “Well, now that it is all settled, when are we goin’ ta leave? Ya know ya can’t stay here all winter; someone’s gonna find out yer here.”
“I know, Sally, I know,” Ty interrupted.
“We’ve got ta leave soon, Ty. If they were ta--” She couldn’t go on, for Ty had placed his hand over her mouth.
“Hush that kind a talk, Sally,” he ordered. “I reckon we could light out at first dawn. What da ya say, Carson?”

Carson made no reply but held up his hand for silence. A dead stillness settled over the cabin; even the fire seemed to feel a need for quiet, for the logs ceased to snap. Sally fairly held her breath, straining her ears for she knew not what. Yet, try as she would, she could hear nothing. She glanced at Ty as he stealthily rose and drew his Colt repeating pistol from its holster. She reached out a hand to grasp him, but he glided past her outstretched fingers. Carson too had risen and held his rifle at the ready.

The sun, now nearing noonday, shone with blinding splendor on the remaining snow banks. The two men stood waiting. To see out the one window would have exposed them to whatever or whoever was approaching. Sally could hear it now too. Steps of some sort were nearing. They were not slow and cautious, but advanced in a sure tread. Now they could hear the faint jingle of a harness. The visitor halted in front of the cabin.

Sally cowered back against the far wall pressing her hands over her mouth to keep back the scream that rose in her throat. Ty’s face was set. Had it come to this already? How did they know he was back? His eyes narrowed. They would find that they couldn’t always have everything their own way.
The stillness was broken by a deep voice from without. “Elliot! Sally!”

Any questions? Comments? Are you tired of this story yet?

CMA Report #8

Friday has come again and with it another busy day. I know there will be some of you who won't read this until later as you will be at the AGC Reunion.:) We should have fun.

I did get quite a bit done on my book this week. I am finally nearing the end of it. After thinking about it, I don't think I'll be able to get the exam copies out to people before Christmas. I still have to finish my part, then Mom has to read the 245 pages and put in her corrections, comments and suggestions. Then I have to take the 245 pages back to the computer to add, change and correct them. After that I have to get the layout to look okay and then print the copies. I am still trying to figure out which publishing house to use to publish it. Also, I am in need of an editor. Does anyone know of any?

But enough of my book and on to my report. There are not nearly as many pictures as last week.:) Enjoy!

CMA Report #8

Welcome to all of you who have joined me for this very last class of Joplin’s very first Citizen’s METS Academy. This class was a little different than the others as it was thrown together at the last minute so to speak because some of us insisted on one more class. The topics were Emergency Preparedness and Tactical Paramedics.

Arriving at class about our usual time, we discovered only Ed was there. Shortly afterwards, Mandy and Lynn came, followed by Paula and Roger. They had brought a large Thank You poster for Marc and the others who had assisted with the CMA. We all had to slip out and sign it. Frankie came and we headed to get our food. Marc had gotten a cake as well. Marie couldn’t come, and John and Stephanie never showed up though no one knew why.

Nice cake, huh?

While we were eating, we watched a slide show that Jerry had put together that day of pictures from the class. There were some pretty funny ones.

When we were finished, Marc had us introduce ourselves to Keith who is Joplin’s director of the Emergency Management something-or-other. He spoke about, surprise! Emergency Preparedness of all things. (Okay, so you really weren’t surprised.) I did find out some interesting things.

Did you know that the “tornado sirens” really aren’t tornado sirens? They were originally put up in the 1960s for nuclear warnings. Then someone decided to make use of them for wind warnings. They get turned on if the winds are 70 mph or if there is a tornadic storm.

Did you know that more people die from flooding than from tornados? That is because people can’t seem to keep from driving over low water bridges that are covered in water and they get washed off them. (So, those of you who drive, I myself am excluded, don’t drive over places where you can’t see the road because of the water.)

Did you know that Joplin had a shelter (It is the police station and jail now.) that had enough food and water for 130 people for thirty days? We wondered how they decided which 130 people got to be there.:)

Not only did Keith talk about natural disasters, he talked about hazardous disasters. Those are mostly from trucking accidents while transporting chemicals. Did you know that one of the scariest trucks with chemicals is a Wal-Mart truck? I didn’t know that. The reason is that they can be transporting hundreds of Coleman lanterns, and as they are separate with each one holding only a gallon of fuel, they do not have to be labeled as hazardous. (Hmmm, that is interesting.) Also, the smaller the truck is, the more dangerous the stuff being transported is.

There was quite a bit of talk about people who, when the sirens go off, go get the camera to take pictures and then load them onto the Internet instead of taking cover. Also the fact that many times the sirens don’t go off until the storm is on you because of how long it can take to get the warning out. I didn’t mention that sometimes we don’t even bother going to shelter as we have no basement. (Don’t tell anyone that.)

After Keith left, Scott got up. He told us he wasn’t supposed to be the one to talk, but the other guy got called out. He is a “tactical paramedic.” (Ever hear of one of those before?) He explained that they are the paramedics who go with the SWAT teams every time they go somewhere. (If you didn’t get to read about the SWAT teams and would like to, let me know and I’ll send you the report of it.) He said that they get about forty hours of training. They have to learn how to start an IV in the dark, find and bandage bullet wounds in the dark, disarm wounded police officers without getting shot in the dark, as well as make the guns safe. (Sounds rather hard to me.)

“Imagine trying to get a gun away from a fallen officer. In the first place he is going to be ready to shoot anyone who comes near him, and second it is usually dark and he can’t see you well. You have to disarm him and convince him that you are going to help him. You also have to convince him that the only thing you are going to do with the gun is make it safe. You aren’t going to shoot anyone with it.”

The reason they have to do everything in the dark is because even just a little light is a perfect target and only calls for shots.
Scott showed us a You-Tube video of SWAT team training. Talk about intense! He said that when they go into a building or anywhere, he will have two guys in front of him and two guys behind him. He said that was nice as they form a shield around him. They get shot at first. When he gets called, (he showed us that night’s message he had received) he first has to go to METS to get his supplies and his ambulance. Then he goes to the police station where they have a meeting of what they are going to do. He also gets his bullet proof vest, helmet, gas mask and such. He never carries a weapon. He will either drive his ambulance if there are a lot of guys going (then there will be more than just one or two paramedics), or he will ride in the van with the rest of the SWAT team. He told us the hardest things for him would be if they were going somewhere and he saw other victims needing help and he couldn’t stop to help them. He has to stay with the SWAT team. We were told that the most common problems they have are officers who have heat exhaustion. (I would too with over 100 pounds on, plus full head to toe clothing and especially in summer!)

Scott did tell us that one time they were going to a house and his group was sent around behind. They were approaching the house, and no one had noticed the low cement foundation of an old house until the front two guys suddenly both tripped and fell flat. The last two couldn’t help laughing.:) We were alsoreminded again of how well the snipers can hide. I really think I would like to see them, or try to see them anyway.

That was about all Scott had. Marc thanked us for coming to the class, gave us our certificates, and Paula gave him the Thank You poster.

I finally got a picture of Marc!

Marc assured us that it would be put up on one of the walls in that room. Then we all headed out to the bay to take some group pictures.

BR: Me, Paula, Lynn, Frankie, Mandy
FR: Dad, Roger, Ed

It was too bad we were missing three of our classmates as well as Jason, Ike and James. They were all on call. But we got Marc and Jerry with us.

Jerry is the middle one and Marc is on the end
Talk about strange instructors.

We all stood around and talked for a while before heading home. It was only 8:15.
And that brings the Citizen’s METS Academy reports to a close. I hope you have enjoyed them and perhaps learned a thing or two. This has been Rebekah reporting for your benefit. Until another Citizen’s Academy, thank you for joining me.


I received a comment begging me to please post Part 10 of "Meleah's Western." I have it ready and waiting, so be sure you come back next week to read it.:)

CMA Report #7

Well, here it is, another Friday and another CMA Report. There are a lot of pictures on this one as I took 47 that night. Don't worry, I didn't post them all.:)

I have been working some on checking my book as well as writing another "calendar story" to post later. I still have to finish it and write another one that is due by the 15th. We'll see how much I can get done.

Oh, you might want to click on some of these pictures to see them better.:) Enjoy!

CMA Report #7

Once again, welcome to the report from Joplin’s very first Citizen’s METS Academy. This is the hands-on class, so I’m glad you joined me. I hope you are ready for some fun!
Dad and I arrived at class to find Marc there looking for our certificates. He said he had them earlier but couldn’t remember where he put them. Mandy and Lynn had brought soup for supper, and Marie had made four cheesecakes.

We were told to get our food and then as we ate we talked about class. No one really wanted it to end yet, so Marc was talking about having another class next week. (So, I guess this is not the last report you’ll get.) There were many comments we had given about liking the hands-on stuff best.

“So, you’re going to get to do some practicing of a scene, and some of you will be the victims. But we’ll divide into two groups with half driving and the other half staying here.”

Jerry, Ike and Jason were there along with two new faces: Cassie is a paramedic who works there at METS and who is seven months pregnant, and her husband Brian who is an EMT and a fireman. They would be helping later. Once we were done eating (and the instructors were done as well), we split up. Mandy, Lynn, Paula and Roger went with Ike and Jason to drive while the rest of us: Ed, Frankie, Dad, Marie and I stayed. (John and Stephanie weren’t there.) Ed was chosen to be the victim, and the rest of us were sent out to the bay with Cassie who would be our instructor/assistant on the “call.” Brian came out too. Frankie volunteered to be the “on call” person and have the walkie. Jerry was inside getting the “scene ready,” and then he became “dispatch” and called us over the walkie.

Frankie on call

“We have a vehicle collision here at 6th and Virginia. One person ejected from car to middle of road. Unsure if others are in car.”
“METS 10, Copy that.”

And we were set to go. Only, right after that, the real dispatch came on asking about that accident. Jerry informed them that it was just a joke. (Oops. I guess we needed to be on a different channel. Marc did come switch it a moment later.:))

Cassie asked us what we were going to need. No one was quite sure, so she helped us decide. She and Brian also showed us where things were. (After all, most of us had only seen the inside of the ambulance once.) She showed us how to get the cot (stretcher, for those who call it that) out. We got the backboard, air bag, suction bag and something else and headed in.

We found the “victim” lying face down on the floor, excuse me, the “street”. I started taking pictures. Jerry asked where our protective equipment was. None of us had thought of getting gloves.

Oops, don't touch him without gloves!

We all turned around and left the scene. (Maybe it wasn’t safe yet.:)) Back to the ambulance. Cassie told us where the gloves were. She looked at Marie and me and said,

“You will probably need small.” (What? You mean they have gloves that might fit me? They do! Now I can deliver those babies, work in the detective department with the police and all those other things. Or, maybe not.)

Now we are really ready. Back we go with our purple gloves on. Frankie goes up to “Victim Ed” and shakes his shoulder and says,
“Hey, are you okay?”
Jerry: Don’t move him! He was ejected from a car!”

We have to roll him over to check if he is breathing. Brian does the head hold and the rest of us gather around. Cassie says to get the backboard as we will just put him on that. I hand my camera off to Marc so I can get in on the action. Marie and I are ready at the legs while Dad and Frankie have the upper part. Brian counts as he has the head. Cassie keeps the backboard steady.
“One, two, three.” And we roll all together.

Getting ready to roll

Now we need to see if he is breathing. Frankie is ready to do the head tilt, chin lift, but you can’t do that on a trauma patient who might have neck injuries. She has to listen and feel for breath. Nothing. (Ed is a really good actor. I would have been laughing.)

Cassie, Frankie, Marie and Brian get the oxygen things out, and Dad and I are left with the patient. He sort of comes to and moans and moves a little. We have to keep him still and in the same place.

Keeping our "victim" still

Frankie and Cassie start him on oxygen. Dad listens for lung movement while they get ready. We really hook Ed up to the oxygen.

On oxygen

While they are doing that, Marie and I check for other injuries. We didn’t find any. (Pretty amazing after being ejected from a car.)
Brian instructs Marie in taking blood pressure while Dad and I strap Ed on the backboard. Cassie then instructs Frankie on how to check his blood sugar level.
I get the head blocks and the straps. Now he is strapped on.

Jerry then informs us, as we are all going to get the co, that our victim is throwing up. “What do you do now?”
“Roll him toward your partner,” Dad replies immediately.
Jerry starts to laugh. “You must have really been listening.”
Cassie hands Dad the “suction bag,” and we head back over. Frankie, Cassie and I along with another one of the METS personnel who had come in, roll Ed over towards Dad.:)

Dad using the "suction"

Would you like to be held on your side like that?

Marie and I learn how to put the cot down so we don’t have to lift our victim so much.:)
Back by Ed we make sure we are ready. Marc turns to yet another METS person in the room and says,
“You might want to help them as we don’t want any of them hurting their backs.” (I’m telling you they do look out for each other.)

Dad and Jerry are at the head, Frankie is on one side, and I’m on the other in the middle, and the other guy is at the foot. The other guy shows me how to hook the oxygen bottle to the board between his legs so it wouldn’t fall. Jerry counts, and we lift. The cot is ready for him. Once on that, we strap him to it and are ready to head out.

Don't we look official?

Dad and the other guy (nice name) wheel the cot out to the waiting ambulance, and the rest of us gather our bags and follow.

At the ambulance the other guy, Jerry and Dad load the cot.

"Other guy," Dad, Jerry

Then the “medics crew” (that would be us four) and Cassie climb in. She shows us the heart monitor and we pretend to hook it up. During this time we can’t help saying things like: “Now we’ve got to shock him.” “Where are the tubes? We have to intubate him.” That is when Ed wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face. At one point, Dad says,
“We’re going to shock him. All clear!”
We all started laughing as the rest of us were touching Ed.
Cassie protests, “You’re supposed to say, ‘I’m clear. You clear?’ You aren’t supposed to shock your partners.”:)

In the ambulance

At last we take all the straps off and tell Ed that he was rejected by the hospitals so he might as well just get out.:)

Brian was standing at the back of the ambulance, and I almost needed him to catch me. I said almost. I tripped slightly on a strap that was on the floor, but caught myself.

Our next thing was driving the ambulance. Ike and Jason took us out to Memorial Hall parking lot. We rode in the back of the ambulance. On the way there we got rather silly saying that we should go to the back doors (The light was on inside, and we could be seen by those behind us.) and pretend to call for help. Marie wanted a marker to write “help” on the window.:)

Arriving in the parking lot, Jason instructed us on the driving route. Dad drove first with Ed riding. Then Ed drove with Frankie riding. Next it was Frankie with Marie, and last (as I didn’t have a license) I rode with Marie. It was quite interesting.

Ike turned the lights on just for this picture.:)

You probably didn’t know that you have to wear a seat belt in the cab of an ambulance or an alarm will go off that is very annoying. Also, unless you have a special key, you can’t start the ambulance. And it is not like a regular key, it is something else. (Now you know you can’t steal an ambulance very well.)

Back at the station, we joined the rest of the class. Since we had each done a trauma incident, we were going to do a medical one. Ed, Mandy (the other groups’ victim), and Lynn were to be the “medic crew.” Roger really wanted to do a meth house, so he was the victim.

“We have a situation at 6th and Virginia (Sounds like a dangerous place. By the way, that is where METS is.:)) Strange odors coming from house, victim not responding. Smoke coming from kitchen window. Fire en route.”
“Copy that.”

The “medics” came, stopped in the doorway and asked if the scene was safe.
“Yes, the firemen carried him out to the front yard.”

In came the crew with Cassie. Roger sat in a chair and looked at them. He then decides it would be better if he were on the floor since they were going to put him on the floor anyway. (Very helpful unresponsive victim, huh?) They begin to assess him.

Lynn, Mandy, Ed, Cassie

His breathing is slow, his pulse weak and fluttering, his left arm is rather burnt. Roger raises it so they can see. They get him on oxygen or pretend to anyway. Cassie keeps asking Jerry questions about him, and finally says,
“I’d stay away so as not to get contaminated.”
Jerry assures her that the firemen have hosed him down.:)

Paula tells Roger to be quiet a few times as he doesn’t seem to be unresponsive. Now comes a problem. They have to get him on to the cot. Cassie shows them how to first roll him on to a blanket to make the lifting of him easier.

Getting ready to roll

Roger tells them that he will help. Once he was on the blanket Marc says to Cassie,
“Cassie, you don’t need to be lifting, we’ll do it.” We were told again that that is what firemen do, so Brian, Marc and Jerry join Mandy and Lynn. Ed was going to keep the cot steady. All were ready, and one of the guys says to Lynn,
“Don’t use your back. Bend your knees.”

"And lift!"

At last Roger was on the cot and strapped on half sitting up. When he was on, Roger “came to” and began to get violent. He had us all laughing. Jerry told us that in that kind of a situation, you should have a police officer ride in the ambulance with you. Cassie adds that they’ll have a tazer.
After a little more talk, they let Roger off the cot and pack things up.
There was a little more talk about that and then we talked about next week. Marc said they would provide hamburgers and a cake. Paula was the one that said we had to have a cake. We also decided that we all had to wear our shirts next week, and we would get a class picture. Marie thinks there should be several more classes, but as Marc said, we have to stop sometime. One of the medics rolled his eyes when told we didn’t want to stop class. He looked as though he were thinking, “What kind of crazy people are they?”
And that brings this report to a close. Thanks for joining me. Until next week, this is Rebekah.

Will you be back next week?

CMA Report #6

There will be only one more report after this one, so enjoy them while you can. Of course, if the fire department does start a CFA, . . .:) But if they do it won't be until next year.:)

Right now I have a stack of papers sitting on my desk. 245 pages to be exact. It is the very first printed copy of "Home Fires of the Great War"! You test readers will still have to wait for a little while as I have to read through it all, adding things and changing things, then it has to go to Mom for her corrections. After that I have to fix them all and then I can print your copies. You will have to share your copies with others, as I can't afford to print one for each person.:) I still can't believe I have reached this point! It is pretty exciting. I am looking forward to reading the entire thing together as I have yet to do that.

But that has nothing to do with my report. It is a rather short report, but at least there is something. Enjoy it!

CMA Report #6

Welcome back. This is Rebekah, your very own reporter with Joplin’s first CMA class. I am pleased you could join me as we learn about delivering babies.
Dad and I arrived with chocolate mint brownies to go with our fried chicken. We found out that Stephanie had brought mashed potatoes and gravy and macaroni & cheese as well as cookies. A few minutes later, Paula shows up with another pan of brownies. We sure ate well! (Did I make you hungry?)

Ike and Jerry

Our instructors, Ike and Jerry, told us they had a video for us to see, but we could watch it later after we ate, unless we had strong stomachs. To their great surprise, we were all game to watch it while we ate. They gave each other a look of “Okay, if they think they can handle it.” It didn’t bother my stomach at all. In fact, I thought that several of the other things we had seen while we ate were worse than that.

After the video we had a slide show, which Ike talked us through, all on pregnancy and delivering babies. I did learn a lot. (Now, if I can just find some gloves that fit me, I should be ready to deliver the next baby. Any takers? Okay, maybe not quite, but in an emergency, I think I could do it. At least I wouldn’t be running the other way shouting, “No, way!”)

Did you know that there are many people who will call the fire department or the ambulance if they are about to have a baby just because they don’t want to pay the hospital bill?

Did you know that it is becoming a “new fad” to have your baby at home? I almost started laughing at that one. No one in class except Dad and me could figure out why anyone would be so crazy. I mean, don’t they know that hospitals are the best place to give birth? I thought about how not that long ago it was unusual to have a baby in the hospital. (Maybe they don’t know their history.)

Did you know that around the Joplin area at least, there are many people who do not know they are pregnant until they are about to give birth? I don’t know why that is. (I can’t figure out how they could keep from knowing.)

One thing that I really appreciated about Ike was that he didn’t want to call the baby a “fetus”. “It is a baby,” he would say, “and I’m going to call it that.”
Ike had delivered two babies about ten years apart. The last one was during the ice storm, and the mom spoke no English. I can imagine that was rather interesting.
Jerry has delivered about a dozen. He said that one time he responded to a call, and the wife was giving birth in the cab of the truck while her husband was inside finishing watching the football game.

We were told several times that newborn babies were very slippery, so be careful! If they are transporting a woman in labor to the hospital in the ambulance and the baby starts to come, they will pull over and stop until the baby is delivered. One, they don’t want to drop the baby in a moving ambulance, and two, it takes both of them to deliver it.:)

We did have a few short breaks, but as it was a long slide show, it took awhile. Jerry joined Ike towards the end of the talk, and I couldn’t help thinking of Bobby Lee Duke, coach of the Richland Giants. Have you ever watched “Facing the Giants”? Jerry was eating suckers almost the entire evening.:)

We went over proper handling of the baby as it is born, complications in delivery, premature birth, multiple births and the list goes on. Here are a few pointers we were given:
Don’t get in reach of a laboring mother’s hands. She might break your bones.
Never ask a woman in labor if she is sure she is in labor.
Don’t take offense if the woman yells at you and calls you names. She is in a lot of trauma right now.:) Ike said he tells the ladies they can scream all they want. His wife told him it helped.
Act like you know what you are doing even if you aren’t sure. It gives the patient a sense of security. (Now why did I tell you that. No one will trust me now.:))
Don’t drop the baby.:) (Remember, they are slippery.)

We got to see all the tools in their “birthing bag.” Jerry got out a bottle of oxygen, and hooked it up to a baby’s oxygen mask.

Hooking up the baby oxygen mask

Ike decided then that he needed some oxygen so he put the mask on.

I think it's a little small for you, Ike.

Of course Paula and I had the cameras ready.

After the slide show was finished, we did some “bagging.” No, that is not putting anyone in a bag, it is giving oxygen. Jerry wanted to be sure we all knew how so that when we go on ride-alongs, we can “bag” the victim while they do other things. It was very easy.

"Bagging" the poor victim.

We ran a little late this time, but no one minded. As we were about to leave, they got started talking about some of us getting our EMT licenses. Jerry said that in one class he taught (I think he teaches at MSSU as does Ike.) he had a seventy-year-old lady become an EMT. So you are never too old to start. (Thanks, but I think I’ll skip it now. I still haven’t found any gloves that will fit me.)

And that brings us to the end of the report. Thanks for joining me this week. I hope you’ll be back for the last class where we backboard, splint and drive the ambulance. Until then, this is Rebekah.

After the last report I'll post the "chicken pictures" for those of you who are wanting to see them.:)

CMA Report #5

We did have class this week and I did get a report written. It is a good thing too, as I don't have anything else to post. Well, I did almost finish the "Marshmallow Thief" part whatever it is.:) But I have to save that for the Pickwick. I must say, it sure was fun to read all those comments about "Meleah's Western." Thanks so much for leaving them.:) I guess if I really want a lot of comments, I should post a bunch of one thing and then suddenly without warning, slip a Western in.:) Of course, it probably wouldn't work next time.;)

Let me see, have I done anything exciting and worth mentioning this week? I have! I actually have the background for my book on the computer with all the "letters" inserted where they go! I am working now on adding some other little things here and there. It is quite exciting. I will warn you now that it will be a long book. It is nearly 300 pages right now, and I haven't added in the chapters.

But enough of that. Here is the report.

CMA Report #5

Welcome back to the fifth class of the first CMA. I am delighted you could join me. Today our topic is Mass Casualties.

Arriving at class, I was a little apprehensive of what we would be doing or seeing. Jerry (from the first class) was there and told us that Jason (from medical emergencies) was picking up supper for us. Since he wasn’t there yet, we would go outside and see one of the fire station’s supply trucks. Dave Holden was the firefighter there.

Firefighter Dave Holden

He said he drives this truck and then trades off with another guy and drives a ladder truck. He works in station five. It was pretty neat seeing their equipment. The tools for cutting someone out of a car and these little, flat things that can be slid under a car and then inflated to twelve inches or so to raise the car. They can stack them on top of each other to raise it even higher. Later he showed us the huge ones that can raise a semi! Those things can push it up about five feet! Talk about some heavy duty stuff. We saw the things for high-angle rescues. Dave said he doesn’t like them. He pulled out his mask, and Roger and Dad tried it on.

Roger
Dad (Anyone else want to wear it?)

We were shown things that they put down to soak up toxic fluids as well as their little thing that tells you how much oxygen is in the air and how much chemical. They have a really neat thing that will melt metal. It looks like a metal stick. Dave told us that it can be used right next to a victim’s head and not hurt them. While we were out looking at the truck, a call came from dispatch. There was a fire in Carterville. Dave listened, but they didn’t call him. They did call for an ambulance though, and in another moment one pulled out with lights and sirens on.

We heard that if another call came in, we didn’t have an ambulance to respond to it. They were all out. Well, there was an ambulance, but no one to staff it. About that time Jason returned with supper. As we were getting our food, I heard Jerry tell Dave what this class was for and how it was the first one and they would advertise for the next one. (Hmmm, will that get the fire department to start a Citizen’s Fire Academy? Can’t you picture me learning all about being a firefighter?:))
Anyway, once we had gotten our food, we started leaning about MCIs. That is Mass Casualty Incident for those who were wondering. A mass casualty is anytime they have more victims than they have room for in the ambulances. By the way, they can take two people in an ambulance, one on the cot and one one the bench.
Jason talked first. We talked about terrorist attacks, (That would cause a mass casualty.) and I learned that Joplin is the third in the target cities for Missouri. That is because it has several plants or factories that make things for the military as well as having one of the few remaining dynamite factories. (Don’t you want to live in Joplin now? Not only is it a border town with a higher crime rate than Springfield, but it is third on the list for terrorist attacks in the state. But you have to admit, it is a great place to live.) Jason again stressed the importance of keeping yourself safe. A terrorist does not have to be from another country. He can be someone who just wants to go out and kill people. (Does that sound like Hitler to you?) He talked about different ways of attack. One is very obviously an attack, be it flying planes into buildings, bombing places or shooting people. The other is subtle, poisoning water, the air, or things like that. If you notice a large number of dead birds and animals, stay away. This isn’t stuff we deal with, but overseas it can be a real threat.

After a short break, Jason left and Jerry took over. We first watched a slideshow on the May 10th tornadoes. (That was the day of the first Family Round-Up.) Jerry talked about that as we looked at more pictures. While he talked, several guys came and joined us: Ike, Jason and Darrell. When the tornado hit, Joplin METS was called out to come help Newton County as they were overrun with calls. At the intersection of 43 and Iris Road, they set up camp. People came from all over. Jerry said it was very difficult getting things set up as they didn’t know where to start. Their supervisor, Darrell, was in charge, and all but overwhelmed by it all. There were victims trapped in cars which were stuck in trees, and others were upside down out in the fields, there were injured victims that kept appearing from they knew not where, there were problems everywhere. The first thing that had to be done was triage. That is where they walk all around and mark everyone with a color. Black means the person is dead and no one has to check them. Red means they need help right away. Yellow means they have a broken arm or leg or some such thing, but they don’t need medical attention right away. Green is for the walking wounded, those that can move about but still have injuries. Jerry said that the hardest thing was not to be able to stop and help people then and there, but to have to give them a colored flag and say, “Give this to the next person that comes by.” There was one family in a car and the father had a broken leg. The children were crying and terrified because of what they had just been through, and the mother was frantic. She couldn’t understand why they didn’t help them immediately. So, if you are ever involved in an MCI, just be patient. They will get to you as soon as they can.
They actually set up the “dressing station” (to use a WWI term) in the middle of the road. It was the only place that was safe.
They didn’t have enough ambulances to take people to the hospitals. The roads were so blocked and messed up that the firemen who were needed to do searches, as well as get people from the vehicles, couldn’t get their trucks there. The police that were needed to keep things under control had a hard time getting there as well. The hospitals were full, and a general call went out for anyone with medical skills to go to 43 and Iris. That made even more problems. There were those who really didn’t know what to do or how to do it. There were those doctors who were not being helpful. Like the one that told them they shouldn’t have their “dressing station” in the road. Darrell looked at him and said,
“If you can find a better place to move it, we will do so, otherwise get over there and start helping people.” (I told you they aren’t always helpful.)
With the storm gone, people started showing up looking for friends and family, and then to add to the confusion already there, the media shows up and wants to talk to people. Talk about problems! They couldn’t get any helicopters to transport victims as they were all sitting down in Oklahoma where they were not needed. Finally one showed up after Darrell had been told they couldn’t get any.
A fireman, who was off duty, was driving his pickup when the storm came. Instead of trying to get away, he got out and started warning others. He was killed that evening when the storm came, but he had saved many lives. He had told one man who was trying to change a tire, to get to shelter as a bad storm was coming. The man had a small child in a car seat with him. He got in the back of the car, put the child on the floor and got down on top of the child. The storm bounced that car all around and finally smashed the front of it completely. The man got out with some scratches, and the child didn’t appear to be hurt at all. The medics kept trying to convince the man to go get checked out at the hospital, but he didn’t want to. Finally Jerry came over to him and said,
“Look at your car. You were in that car when it happened. You really should go and get checked.”
After the man had walked around the car a few times looking at it, he finally agreed. There was much more, but I can’t remember it all.

After another break we got to hear about hurricanes. Don’t worry, there haven’t been any here in Joplin. Several of the crew here go down to help when hurricanes come to the southern US. They do get paid by the federal government to do so. Jerry told us that they basically live in their ambulances while they are down there. Each morning they get their assignments of where they are supposed to go. Just before leaving they get their gas tanks topped off and then head out using their GPS to direct them. They don’t know if they will be able to find a gas station later or not. Jerry said that one time he was transporting someone from Galveston to Houston, and it took twice as long because of the traffic.
As there really wasn’t an order to this class session, it is rather hard to put things down. Now and then Jason would throw in something from his experience down there. It was interesting to listen to but didn’t have much to do with MCIs.

At the end of class, we had a little visitor. All of a sudden Jason says,
“There is a scorpion,” and stands up.

Isn't it neat?

We all look down on the floor and, sure enough, a small scorpion is crawling across the floor. Jerry turns the lights on, and Jason steps over to it. Paula and I grab our cameras. I thought Jason would step on it, but he didn’t. Instead he got some tongs and picked it up. I thought it was quite interesting. After we took some pictures, Jason departed with it.
That is all for now, but I hope you will join me next week as we learn about delivering babies from a medic’s point of view. So, until then, this is Rebekah, your reporter for the Joplin CMA.

Did you learn anything new?

Meleah's Western Part 9

If you are wondering, no, I didn't put the wrong title on this post. I really am posting "Meleah's Western." That is because we didn't end up having CMA this week. You see, we were supposed to be outside at the airport for three hours on Tuesday evening. If you remember, that day was cold, cloudy and it started misting in the evening. Not very good weather for driving ambulances or standing around outside. We are going to try to have a make up class sometime, but I'm not sure when. Next week we will just go on to the next thing, "Mass Casualties." Sound like fun?:) We'll see.;)

Anyway, I was very glad I had already written Part 9 of "Meleah's Western" or I would be frantically trying to find something to post. I have been writing my book, but no short stories. And just to let you know, I actually got the "background" ended! Yes, I was able to type "The End" and know what was the end of the book. I still have to go and add some little things here and there as well as finish figuring out where all the "letters" go. But it is so much fun to be finally working on some of the last details! I wouldn't be this far if we had had CMA and if we hadn't finished the "5,000 Year Leap" book last week.

But you didn't get on here to just read my ramblings. Yes, Hank, I do get put on the spot quite often. Thankfully it usually doesn't bother me. It just gives me something to laugh about.:) But here is the western.

Part 9

Carson rolled over stiffly and opened his eyes. The faint light entering the cabin through the windows indicated the arrival of the sun in the eastern sky. For a moment he lay there gathering his thoughts. At last, silently, he arose and built up the fire.
Ty stirred restlessly on his pallet. The habit of early rising was still upon him and in very few minutes more he had risen and joined Carson before the fire.
“Did ya sleep well?” Ty queried of his companion.
Carson shrugged. “Didn’t stay awake ta find out. How ‘bout you?”
A slight hint of a smile flickered across Ty’s face. “Like a bear in hibernation.”

For several minutes not another word was said. Each man was busy with his own thoughts. Now and then Ty would turn and look at the bed where Sally still lay wrapped in the heavy sleep of the exhausted. At last he spoke.

“Carson,” his voice was low and there was a hint of trouble in it. “Sally an’ me, we got a problem.”
Carson nodded but said not a word.
Ty continued. “’Fore Pa died he made me promise ta find someone, but he never told me who it was, only ta find “her”. All I got ta go by is this broken locket an’ this picture.” With almost reverent care he laid the items on his knee.
When Carson made no reply, Ty glanced up to see his face grow pale as he stared at the objects. With trembling hand he reached out and picked up the locket.
“Carson?” Ty queried, “You all right?” When he received no answer, he fell silent, knowing that the older man was not listening.
After a silence which lasted for some time, Carson spoke as one waking from a daze. “What was ya sayin’? I reckon I weren’t listenin’.”

Once again, Ty told of his problem of finding the missing person. Of how he and Sally thought it might be an illegitimate sister and that the locket and photo were the only clues they had.
Carson sat and watched Ty’s face closely. He could read the perplexity mingled with pain in his expressions. When Ty ceased to speak, Carson laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Son,” he began, “I can’t tell ya where she is, but I reckon I ken tell ya somethin’ ta help. It might jest relieve yer mind some too. It’s a long story, but I reckon ya ain’t wantin’ ta light out today.”
Ty shook his head and glanced again toward the bed where his sister still lay. After putting another log on the fire, he resumed his seat and prepared himself to listen.

“Yer pa and me, we growed up together farther east. It weren’t settled land then, but I reckon it is now, though I ain’t been back there fer well nigh on ta a dozen years. When yer pa got hitched, he brought yer ma out ta his cabin far from anyone. This here picture is a right good likeness of yer ma. She sure was purty.” Carson fell silent as he looked again at the tiny picture.
Ty made no move and remained silent.
“Ye pa loved her more’n anyone knew. An’ when you an’ Sally come along, he was so proud I dun thought fer sure his buttons were gonna bust. But then yer little sister came. She looked jest like yer ma, an’. . . well . . . I reckon she still does. Yer ma took real sick an’ died jest hours after she was borned. Ye pa couldn’t take care o’ her an’ my aunt took her. It weren’t long after that when yer pa packed ya all up and came out here, leavin’ the little one with me an’ my aunt. I knowed he couldn’t take care of the young one, an’ I promised ta take care of her for him.” Carson’s voice grew unsteady. “God forgive me! I thought I was doin’ right!” The cry was full of deep anguish and heartbreak. “Ty, ya got ta help me make it right!”
“Make what right? Carson, what happened?”

It was only after a few minutes of struggle that Carson could continue the story.
“Fer three years Aunt Kate an’ I raised her, my little sunshine. Aunt Kate had given her the name of yer ma, Eleanor, but I jest couldn’t bear ta call her Ellen as yer ma was called. It was in the late summer that Aunt Kate took sick. I jest couldn’t take care of her an’ Sunshine, so I let a family take the little one jest until my aunt was well. I still remember the day I brought yer sister back to the cabin. Aunt Kate had some flowers on the table an’ we was all jest as happy as ken be. Then, Ty, I ain’t never forgiven myself for it, but only a little while after that I went out on a huntin’ an’ trappin’ trip. I promised her I wouldn’t be gone more’n ten days. I promised her! Ty.” Carson’s voice sunk, and he looked at his companion.

Ty’s heart beat so hard he could scarcely get his breath.
“The troubles I faced on that trip -- my horse went lame, I took sick, early snows forced me ta stay with the Indian family that took me in. The passes were covered in snow, the creeks flooded in spring an’ it was six long months ‘fore I got back. When I did get back, Ty, Aunt Kate had died an’ my trust, yer little sister, was no where ta be found. I did learn that the family she’d stayed with had taken her. Some folks said they went further west an’ others said it was back east. I’ve looked fer her every place I been ta an’ ain’t found one clue yet. I’ve lost her, Ty, lost her! An’ her the trust o’ the best friend I ever had. Ya got ta help me find her! Ya got ta!”

I hope this answers some of the questions you have been asking. Do you have any more?