DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

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Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

Page 151

the bed. The next day I set up- not because I wanted to, but because I was made to -. From that I was so completely exhausted I thought I could never move again. I sunk greatfully into bed into a heap; a heap too numb to compile and get straightened out. Oh to lie thus forever! Nevermore having to move! Oh blessed peace just to be permitted to lie!
That first day I was supposed to sit up twice but I couldn't think of making a second effort. Because I was so tired I bargained with the nurse, "If you won't make me sit up again today, I will do so three times tomorrow." The three times I bargained for were a bluff and I didn't think they would be demanded of me. However, i set up but one that first day and that was all, and a bit more than I really could do.
Some days later after the show was pretty well over, and was well on the road back and beginning to feel better, I remarked to Dr Gray one morning, which he was on rounds, "You would never have guessed or have known where the thing hit me the hardest, meaning, of course, the surgery - "believe it or not, it was hardest on my head! I expected my tummy to hurt. I am accustomed to that, but the surprise was my head. I didn't expect that to bother me."
Unhesitatingly, offhandedly, jokingly he came back with a ready reply "Oh that is just because you have the most room there," then thinking perhaps he had spoken impulsively, unthinkingly, he added a bit apologetically in his quiet, easy voice, "You very well know that if we meant those things, we would never say them."
"You don't need to modify or explain your original statement to me. I have understood from the beginning, "I made

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the bed. The next day I set up- not because I wanted to, but because I was made to -. From that I was so completely exhausted I thought I could never move again. I sunk greatfully into bed into a heap; a heap too numb to compile and get straightened out. Oh to lie thus forever! Nevermore having to move! Oh blessed peace just to be permitted to lie! That first day I was supposed to sit up twice but I couldn't think of making a second effort. Because I was so tired I bargained with the nurse, "If you won't make me sit up again today, I will do so three times tomorrow." The three times I bargained for were a bluff and I didn't think they would be demanded of me. However, i set up but one that first day and that was all, and a bit more than I really could do. Some days later after the show was pretty well over, and was well on the road back and beginning to feel better, I remarked to Dr Gray one morning, which he was on rounds, "You would never have guessed or have known where the thing hit me the hardest, meaning, of course, the surgery - "believe it or not, it was hardest on my head! I expected my tummy to hurt. I am accustomed to that, but the surprise was my head. I didn't expect that to bother me." Unhesitatingly, offhandedly, jokingly he came back with a ready reply "Oh that is just because you have the most room there," then thinking perhaps he had spoken impulsively, unthinkingly, he added a bit apologetically in his quiet, easy voice, "You very well know that if we meant those things, we would never say them." "You don't need to modify or explain your original statement to me. I have understood from the beginning, "I made