Downtown Oysterville
When the siren screamed through Oysterville Saturday, I left my computer mid-sentence and headed for the front door. I don’t remember the last time an emergency vehicle came through town. It was bound to be someone we know.
Bradley had been working in his yard and he was already in the street, walking my way. “It stopped at the Jacobs,’” he said, and we both looked up the street in that direction. Whatever vehicle had stopped there had disappeared into their driveway. The street was empty; we stared anyway.
“It must be Bob,” we said in unison, though I probably said “Jake” not “Bob.” Same thought, though. Jake has had ‘heart problems’ for a number of years. Charlotte, on the other hand, arrived back in Oysterville after their usual Sun City West winter, “pretty much pain free” from her on-going back problems. “Must be Jake.”
Charlotte and Jake’s Place
Pretty soon Tucker joined us and the three of us huddled like you do when you are concerned but don’t want to intrude, yet want to know what’s going on and how you might be of help. We saw Anne Kepner, their across-the-street neighbor go over and reassured ourselves that she would let us know what was happening.
We waited for a bit and gradually drifted back to whatever we were doing. It wasn’t many minutes until the siren was on its way out of town. Again, I met Bradley in front of the church. “Well, it’s not Jake. I saw the aid car head south and Jake was driving their car right behind it.”
I called Anne; had to leave a message. An hour or so later Bradley came to the door to say that Greg had called. Anne had been in the store. Charlotte was having chest pains. Several hours later, Anne returned my call and laughed when she learned that we had already heard. I laughed too, “Come on, Anne! It’s Oysterville!”
Charlotte
Charlotte got home yesterday, all fixed up with a pacemaker and feeling tired, but according to Jake, better than she has for quite some time. When I told him that we all thought the EMTs were here for him, he laughed.
“Yep, when Anne came over, I answered the door and said, ‘Bet you thought it was me they were here for!’ I’m so glad I called 911. The first responder was here before I got off the phone! They were great!” He went on to say how amazed he was that Ocean Beach Hospital arranged for her transport to OHSU in Portland. “It was all so fast!”
I thought a little bit about the last time I spent the night in ‘the big city’ and woke with a start several times on hearing a siren go by. Thank goodness it doesn’t happen here very often. When it does, it’s always someone you know.
Omg!! Thoughts and prayers
are with you aunt Charlotte!!! I love that picture of her & my son ;-)!!!