When my dad gave me the blue folder, I was surprised, dismayed, curious about why he waited until I was getting married to give me something so concrete, yet so powerfully mundane. Why did he save it? I don't know, but I'm grateful he did. It contained this list. (Read Face, A Memoir, from the beginning here.)
Part Seven
Week of 6/17/61
C. Jeanne Roslanic, special nurse 7 nights........................................ $126.00
Ruth Fairris, special nurse 7 days......................................................... $88.50
Mildred Tayor, special nurse 7 days..................................................... $126.00
Ambulance ............................................................................................ $12.00
Clothes ruined, undershirt, t-shirt, shorts and pantie.................... $5.00
Mrs. Henry Medema, caring for children............................................ $10.00
Carol Black, caring for children............................................................. $5.00
Kathy Wirkutis, caring for children....................................................... $6.00
Housecleaning ............................................................................................ $5.00
Total .............................................................................................. $384.00
Week of 6/24/61
C. Jeanne Roslanic, special nurse 4 nights......................................... $72.00
Mildred Tayor, special nurse 3 days...................................................... $54.00
Ruth Fairris, special nurse 4 days.......................................................... $54.00
Mrs. Medema, caring for children.......................................................... $10.00
Carol Black, caring for children.............................................................. $6.00
Kathy Wirkutis, caring for children........................................................ $7.00
Housecleaning ............................................................................................. $7.00
Total .............................................................................................. $210.00
Week of 7/1/61
C. Jeanne Roslanic, special nurse 3 nights.......................................... $54.00
Mrs. McMann, special nurse 1 day........................................................... $18.00
Mrs. Medema, caring for children........................................................... $10.00
Carol Black, caring for children............................................................... $2.00
Kathy Wirkutis, caring for children........................................................ $4.00
Patty Wirkutis, caring for children......................................................... $1.50
Geraldine Green, caring for children..................................................... $3.00
Housecleaning ............................................................................................. $5.00
Total ................................................................................................ $97.50
Week of 7/8/61
C. Jeanne Roslanic, special nurse 3 nights........................................... $54.00
Mrs. Medema, caring for children............................................................ $15.00
Carol Black, caring for children................................................................ $4.50
Kathy Wirkutis, caring for children......................................................... $2.50
Patty Wirkutis, caring for children.......................................................... $1.75
Barbara Green, caring for children......................................................... $1.50
Total .................................................................................................. 79.25
Week of 7/15/61
Patty Wirkutis, caring for children......................................................... $13.00
Kathy Wirkutis, caring for children........................................................ $2.50
Geraldine Green, caring for children..................................................... $0.75
Carol Black, caring for children............................................................... $3.00
Total ................................................................................................ $19.25
Discharged from Hospital 7/22/61
Dr. Kislov .............................................................................................. $650.00
Dr. Crawford.............................................................................................. $195.00
Dr. Bond .............................................................................................. $150.00
Dr. Askam ................................................................................................ $65.00
Dr. Smith .............................................................................................. $105.00
Hospital Expense .................................................................................... $1,302.92
Total ........................................................................................... $2,467.92
Grand total ........................................................................................ $3,257.92
John Hancock Insurance paid Hospital ........................................... $834.94
John Hancock Insurance paid Surgery............................................. $336.50
Total cost ........................................................................... $2,086.48
When I found Dad’s list, I thought, This is so like my dad. Meticulous, careful to record every expense and include everything, down to my blood-soaked panties. Oddly, one thing is glaringly missing: my mangled bicycle. I can’t imagine that he would leave that off. Maybe some kind soul got rid of it so my parents wouldn’t have to confront it, and he just overlooked it when he was making his tally. Perhaps it was just too painful to consider. I don’t know. But today I wonder about it. About whether he considered the cost versus the emotional toll. Whether in some way ignoring the bike allowed him to cope. I don’t think he would have blamed himself. That wasn’t like my dad. But he may have overlooked it if someone discarded it in an act of kindness. And when he realized it was gone, he might have decided it was too late to include in an insurance claim...
(Part Eight)