Tuesday, April 21

Blood Test

I was in love many years ago when I was a Junior at Hazard High School with a fellow who was already in college. I thought I might just get married. One weekend he and I went over to Dr. Eli Boggs Office and asked for a blood test. He questioned me at length and counseled me that if I was thinking about getting married I should wait, finish school, and go on to college like my family wanted me to. He stalled us a little and asked us to wait a minute as he needed to go into the other room to a patient waiting. He came back and what we didn't know was he didn't have that other patient waiting but he called my Dad who lived a stone's throw from his office and told him what was going on. Before we could blink almost, there stood Dad, and needless to say there was no blood test nor marriage and I guess I owe Dr. Boggs because this fellow who was going to be a minister turned into a womanizer and I would have killed him.

I loved Dr. Boggs. His daddy, Dr. Jimmy Boggs was my family's doctor and then Dr. Eli. My little brother who did not live to be too old was named after Dr. Jimmy. He delivered him right in our home. Dr. Boggs would come to our house, sit on the bed of my old folks, hold their hand, and stay until he felt he could leave them in comfort. I know they paid him but I never saw any money change hands.

4 comments:

  1. Wonderful story!! Dr. Boggs was one of a kind. They sure don't make them like that any more.

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  2. LOL! I loved that.

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  3. Dr. Boggs was an angel. Bless his heart, he would come at the dead hour of midnight if my old folks called him and needed him. He would sit and pat on them, hold their hands and let them tell him about his Dad and all. He was so patient and humble. I remember when Uncle Matt was nearing his last days and needed IV's and was too ill to leave his bed, here come Dr. Boggs and a nurse and they set up the IV right in the bedroom and taught us what to watch for, etc. He made sure Uncle Matt was comfortable and he would drop by to see if it was going well, etc. That was many years ago and that was just one of the stories about him. I know when he passed a generation or two of Hazard people were lost.

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  4. Hey Idy, who was this fellow? Anyone I might know? That was fun. I remember Dr Boggs.

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