Echoes of a Winter Earache

Grandma Stella recounts a vivid childhood memory of suffering from an ear infection on a snowy winter day, finding comfort in her mother’s care and simple pleasures.

For the past few days, I have been suffering from a harsh ear infection. I am in a hurry to get it over with because it is uncomfortable. I have suffered from ear infections since I was a very young girl. One memory I have is of a winter day. The snow was lazily coming down on the frozen ground outside. I was ensconced in my semi-grownup bed. You know the kind? It was a full-sized bed with raised sides to prevent a child from falling out of it in her sleep. My father’s classical music floated through the house, filling the air soothingly. Mama was driving poor Mariam crazy, ordering her to squeeze orange juice, make soup, make soft-boiled eggs… In the meantime, she rubbed Vicks all over my chest and back, warmed salt in a little bag to place in my ear, and wrapped a scarf tightly around my head… When she was satisfied, they all let me rest. Pillows were piled against the headboard. I leaned back against them and looked out of the window at the gently falling snow. After a while, I picked up my book of paper dolls. I chose one and proceeded to cut out dresses to dress her with. Memories…