Arlinghaus, Sandra Lach

The Earth, by descending powers of 2

April 18, 1945. Two years old.

April 1945. Mother returns home after she spent six weeks in a hospital in Buffalo having, and recovering from, a laminectomy, fusing vetebra in her lower spine. During the operation, the horsehair nerves to the legs were cut. Thus, she underwent "polio" treatment to learn to walk again. The effects of this situation remain throughout her life. During the time she was hospitalized, her sister, Mary Eheart, came and stayed with us to help my Father take care of me. I remained closer to this Aunt than most children appeared to be with a typical Aunt.

MEMORIES

I remember the excitement surrounding moving into this home.
At first, I was very shy around the home owner, Miss Russell. We lived upstairs; she had the first floor.
Also, I remember how big the staircase looked heading up to our place.
I remember my parents installed a gate at the head of the staircase. It was the folding kind with diamond shapes when unfolded. I pinched my finger between the wooden slats one time, early on. Didn't do that again, though!