THE SOUTH, POLIO AND PARCEL POST

My main memories deal with successes with the new treament. And being hungry. The work was hard and constant. Every time the hotpacks were removed, a short treatment was recommended. If for instance the biceps was paralyzed, the upper arm was massaged and then given passive exersises. I would bend the arm, stroking the length of the muscle, and say: think that you are moving the arm. Concentrate on the origin of the muscle. Soon I will let you help me move the arm.

We had a little infant who didn't understand what was wanted from her. She was the only patient who remained in the hospital when I left eight or nine months later. It was hard to leave her. But every person in that place loved her and took care of her. I don't remember what her family's circumstances were.

My best recollection is a girl whose name was Polly-Anne Barber. Many parts of her body were involved and healed quite rapidly, except for a stubborn muscle located under her shoulder blade. When we tried to exercise it she was asked to take a big step away from the wall, put two hands on the wall, and then touch her nose on the wall. Every time she tried this, her right shoulder blade would stick out like a wing. She worked so hard and was such good patient. When she went home, she promised to keep working. Next spring I got an Easter card from her. I still have it. It says:'Dear Miss Svensson. My shoulder does not stick out when I push. Happy Easter. Jessica, can you find out if Polly Anne is still alive. She would be in her middle or late seventies by now.

When I arrivedd in ny new home, I felt that the way to m's heart was to knit him a pair of kahki socks. I had never knitted socks before so I had to learn all about turning a heel and I must have had to rip that fist sock more than ten times. Finally I mastered the art and then I had to go shopping for items to put in my shoe box and get it sent in time to be delivered before Christmas. I found a delicatessen and bought a small canned ham and some sweets. I felt like a million dollars when it was finally on its way.

A week later we were told that the ship the army used for Christmas presents had been sunk in the Atlantic. We never knew if it was only a rumor. We had to wait for a thank you to know for sure if it arrived or not. It was sad.

Every Tuesday after work I used to go downtown to buy a Sunday NY Times. I was sitting on the crowded bus filled by GIs and officers. I was trying to manage the thick news paper. Noticed a First Lt. bending over my seat trying to read over my shoulder. So I said 'Would you like the sporting pages. He said No thank you. Never read them. I would like the book section. I said 'Sorry, thats the section I wanted when I went downtown for the paper. But if you write down your address I will be glad to mail it to you when I have finished reading it. He did and I did and then there was a call from him asking me to go out for dinner. I went through the usual line: Thank you but. He said that was OK with him. After dinner we walked downtown and when we passed the biggest hotel in town he said: Would you like to check in and make love for a couple of hours. I was shocked at such directness and laughed and said no. That was the end of him. He was a psychologist and judged people who were trying to get into the US Airforce.

One day when we had only one or maybe two patients left, I recieved a note from Dr Hansson in NY that I had been selected for a Post Graduate Scholarship from Warm Springs GA. So I guess all the readers of this epistle can guess whose name I am lkely to drop next.