The sick bell
Feb 15th, 2008 by Jill
When I was little and I got sick, my mom would tuck me into my bed or under blankets on the couch and give me a bell so I could ring for her when I needed her. My mom’s bell had a stained glass handle and lived on the bookcase when everyone was healthy. Mine is this brass apple (and it also lives on one of our bookshelves when we’re all healthy).
A bell is nice for sick people because they don’t have to yell from their beds, and it’s nice for me because I can hear it all through the house. I give it to G and to the kids when they come down with something that keeps them home from work or school, and they half smile like they’re not going to use it because it’s funny to ring a bell for help. Believe me, they don’t abuse it. They always ring it a little shyly. I like coming to see what they need right away, because it’s a way of showing them that I love them. When I was little and miserably sick, it felt comforting and special to know that I could ring a bell for love and attention and Seven-up and Saltines and help rearranging my blankets. I like being able to do the same thing for G and the kids.
This is so touching! It’s making me mist up more than Zuzu at the the end of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Is that apple the bell? That is so cute! Where did you get it? What a sweet blog entry. I love it.
It is! Thank you! I taught elementary school for a little while a long time ago and one of my students gave it to me.
Sounds like a wonderful thing to do. And I love your bell wherever did you find it?
This is really sweet. We did this in my house as a child too, and you’re spot on - it’s so nice to feel loved, to be taken care of, and to not scream MMMOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!at the top of your lungs across the house when you need some more ginger ale.
A nice story for me to read while laid out in the bed upstairs, alone, while M is downstairs tending children and has just brought me a turkey sandwich and soda. With five mini Reese’s cups adorning my lunch plate. I think I have a keeper.
Now all I need up here is a bell.
Hugs Jill. I LOVE the apple!
That’s right! I remember that. What a great memory. A good tradition to keep up.
That’s awesome. I love the thought behind it, the family tradition. Maybe we’ll start a similar tradition in our crazy household.
What a wonderful idea. I love it, and will have to find the perfect bell for our family. It could’ve come in handy all these past few months, when I was in bed with the baby but needed something and didn’t want to yell…
I hope you’re feeling better soon!