Sneaking off, 1937, Richmond, Minn., by Gerry

From MemoryArchive

Who: Gerry
What: Sneaking away to visit my brother at the hospital
When: 1937
Where: Richmond, Minnesota

My brother, Cyril, age 15, was a patient at the Richmond Hospital. Richmond was about four or five miles from my home. Cyril had an emergency appendectomy. I thought it would be fun to visit him at the hospital. I was 10 years old. So without asking permission from my parents, I jumped on my bike and pedaled to Richmond.

My older sister, Mildred, was staying with him. While I was at the hospital, the phone rang at the nurse's desk. My mother was calling to see how Cyril was doing. She asked if she could talk to Ms. Schmitz. The nurse at the desk asked, "Which Ms. Schmitz?" I knew I was in big trouble. My bike was put in the car and I was taken home by my sister.