..a wee change of pace from my usual content, and I’ll ask yeez to bear with it, and read it through to the end… when Master Gallacher was all of fourteen years old, most of the non-school hours were spent playing football with my pals on the spare ground close to our home in Glasgow… an open piece of grass on which our pitched jackets served as goalposts, was bounded by tenement buildings… overlooking the area, one of these buildings was tenanted exclusively by older folks… single, either spinsters or widowed individuals, well beyond even the age that I’m now skirting with… one day I heard a call from a third floor small balcony… a petite, white-haired lady beckoned me to come up… I did so, and met for the first time Ms Kerr… she needed some help and asked if I would be kind enuff to carry her wee terrier dog with her and go on the bus a few stops down the estate to the veterinary surgeon’s office…
…the dog was obviously quite sick… it’s name was Vikki… we wrapped Vikki in an old piece of blanket to keep it warm, and off we went… she talked non-stop with the animal, assuring it that the doctor would make it well again soon… I carried Vikki into the Vet. who was as caring a gentleman as I’ve ever seen… he acknowledged how much the dog meant to Ms Kerr… in as caring a way as humanly possible he tried to explain that her dog was dying, and didn’t have much longer to live… he asked if she would like him to ‘look after it’ in a humane way… Ms Kerr was having none of that… she was firm in that way that old people can be… stubborn, resolved, determined… we brought Vikki back to the one-room apartment in the care building… a few days later while I was playing football again, she reappeared on her balcony and summoned me… this time she wanted me to go for some medicine for her pet… I looked at the dog, which she had wrapped in the same blanket, and tucked into her bed… she had been sleeping beside it… the smell was strong… Vikki was already dead… I tried to tell her that the dog wasn’t gonna make it, but she refused to accept that and said, ‘look, her ears are moving… we just need some medicine for her’… I left and sought out the caretaker, who also came and saw the dog had died… she still wouldn’t listen… we called the R.S.P.C.A. shelter and they arrived about half an hour later…the officer was excellent with Ms Kerr… he appeased her by saying that Vikki was very sick, and he would take her to the hospital to get her well… at the same time, the sanitation people arrived to fumigate the place while we took Ms Kerr to lunch… of course, Vikki was never coming back… Ms Kerr had lost the most important companion in her life… I didn’t hear anything for a week and went back to see how she was doing… my knocking on the door was unanswered, and I sought out the caretaker once more… he shook his head and told me, ‘very sad… Ms Kerr passed away two days ago’…
…why am I telling yeez this so long after this event, more than fifty years back?… at any time of year, but particularly at this Season, may I suggest if there are any older people living alone near yeez, p’raps make an excuse to go and just say hello… for Ms Kerr, and for me… it may save a life.. and one day, it may be yer own…see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!…
ALL MY BLOG POSTS ARE FREE TO SHARE/RE-BLOG SHOULD YOU SO WISH—BE MY GUEST!
Thank you for sharing another kind of holiday message that is so timely. But I think Miss Kerr wasn’t quite alone. She had a 14 year old friend to remember her and even her little dog for over fifty years. And I think that young friend was already the very fine man you grew to be.
LikeLiked by 2 people
..you are very kind, m’Lady, Barb …LUVZYA! mwaaah 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a loving and kind piece, Seumas. Bless you for that. There are a great many lonely people in the world and they aren’t all old. It’s especially true in big cities. Here in India people don’t recognize “personal space” and maybe that’s a good thing. I told someone that if I ever got sick and died alone here in India, my body probably wouldn’t lay there for more than an hour, if that long, before it was discovered.
LikeLiked by 2 people
…yes, indeed, m’Lady, Suzanne… all kinds of scenarios… but loneliness can exist also in crowds..:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re very right Seumas. Some of us don’t always remember that. You’re a very thoughtful person. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
An arrow to the heart Seamus. 💔
LikeLiked by 2 people
…i think about her often
LikeLiked by 2 people
A lovely, sad and timely story. I think you must have been an exceptional 14 year old who’s turned into a very kind man.
LikeLiked by 3 people
..oh, I’ve had my not so nice-person moments , m’Lady, Cathy… but I’d prefer these days to think of treating other people in the way I hope they would treat me…:):)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog….. An Author Promotions Enterprise! and commented:
EVERYONE – Seumas has a timely message for all of us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
…thanks , Chris 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome as always Seumas 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad but loving, and a reminder to keep an eye on our old folks (which I am approaching at lightning speed).
LikeLiked by 1 person
..aren’t we all, m’Lady? :):) thanks for the comment 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this touching memory and for the reminder that we need to look after one another.
Michelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
,,,cheeeeers, m’Lady, Michelle… have a great weekend:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect story for this time of year. Perfectly written
So many of that generation were so strong and self sufficient – “not wanting to be a bother”. You have to really look sometimes to see them. My dad was like that. He had the kindest neighbors fortunately (not so young themselves)
It’s a kindness never to rush the chatty older man or lady as they check out at the grocery store. It may be their only human contact.
As you say, best to treat them as we would ask to be treated. We are all getting there at warps speed it seems.
Thanks for the nudge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
…you are bang on the nail … mostly what older single people welcome is a kindly word and the time of day ..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
At fourteen these days, I don’t know what young boys are like. Bless your heart for being a kind and helpful boy. I give you a lot of credit handling the situation around Ms. Kerr’s dead dog, especially well. Thank you for sharing your story and for the reminder to look out for our senior neighbors. Merry Christmas to all the Ms. Kerr’s in our world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
..thank you, m’Lady :):) mwaah 🙂
LikeLike
~(*_~)~~
Merry Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh thats a beautiful and amazing story Seumas. What a lovely young man you were to help her and care so much. So sad that her only reason for living was her pet. And of course you make a very valid point… thanks for reminding us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
…cheeeeers, Ali… good to hear from you, as ever :):)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful story. . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
…cheeeers, m’Lady, Tina 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers, Sir Seumas 🙂
LikeLike
I came to you via Chris the Reading Ape. Wonderful, touching story of yours. What really caught my eye was that Ms. Kerr died in 1962, the year I was born. God bless you for helping out with the dog, and so sorry you have the angst for not checking back on Ms. Kerr. We are all human, that’s for sure. A good message, overall. I wish you a Merry Christmas, take heart in the good in the world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
…good day, m’Lady… Chris is a great pal… and, yes, there ARE plenty of positive good folks around…thanks for the comment…:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on An Author's View and commented:
A moving post from Seumas, and a timely reminder to take care of the vulnerable folk this Christmas 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
..thanks for the reblog, m’Lady, Alison:) cheers 🙂
LikeLike
It touched my hear too. A good boy and an excellent man. Thanks for the reminder. Living alone myself it’s something I think about…
LikeLiked by 1 person
…we aren’t rigged to be hermits… and the more we reach out, the brighter our own lives become, I believe;):)
LikeLike
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Interviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful piece Seumas. Ms. Kerr and Vikki live on through all who were touched by this story. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
..thank you , John..:):)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on olbigjim and commented:
We, all of us, know someone or maybe several someones living alone. What a grand idea to call on them “just to say hello” and make sure they’re making it alright. Why not take it one step further and invite them to share in your own festivities? Seumas shares a heart-touching tale from the mists of his far distant youth…
LikeLiked by 1 person
…good suggestion, Jim;):)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Ms Kerr would be delighted with how you have kept her memory alive and encouraged the rest of us to remember the Ms Kerr’s in our own lives. Thank you Seumas
LikeLiked by 1 person
..thank you, that man 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed this….thank you:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
…thank you, m’Lady, Janet:)
LikeLike