Archives of Our Lives

{a narrow and broad look into the lives of people I love}

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The Ending of an Era...

I feel so discontented when life changes on me and I'm not prepared.

Today, the Banner Mesa Medical Center (formerly known as the Mesa Lutheran Hospital) closed. I was born there. My sister was born there. Most of my extended family was born there. It was in that hospital that I have participated in countless--countless--waiting-room vigils for loved ones. {Evidently convening in waiting rooms while a family member has a baby or undergoes surgery is not a common occurrence. In the Leavitt Family, it's a given. If someone is at the hospital, we are all there--not necessarily in the hospital room, but definitely in the waiting area. Steve's Krazy Sub is always involved in these wakes, and they are times that the family comes together...for strength, for socialization (if the situation is not life-or-death), or sometimes just to annoy the people at the nurse's station. I was 19 years old by the time I realised that not every family does this.} I've held the hand of many sick family members at "my hospital;" spent numberless nights on ridiculously hard and endlessly squeaky cots.

Here's the "old" sign on the Brown Road Curve. It looks awfully bare. Forlorn, even.

The management had been planning on closing the hospital for a long time, but I don't think any amount of time could prepare me for the sense of loss I feel now, at it's closure. I didn't even get to go to the 9th floor one last time. And it was not a big deal to them! I feel cheated. I feel like the hospital has been abandoned, used for its purposes and now left lonely since it 's grown too old to be considered "cost-efficient." [Vile phrase, that.]

Poor Kyle--if I feel this downtrodden from a 44 year-old building closing its doors, how will I be when I move out of the country I've called home for 20 of my 21 years? Poor, poor Kyle...

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10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh dear...I hadn't realized that the closing of the hospital was today. I do understand your withdrawls, truly I do. I think in a way, that means that Grandpa truly is gone. Y'know? How many of those vigils were for him? I mean, I know he's dead, but I guess I just keep thinking he's at Mi Casa, just for a long time this go around, and that I've been a bad granddaughter because I haven't been to visit him in months. But that is simply not the case. While some of your readers may read this blog and think it's absolutely silly, I understand 100%. That hospital represented a symbol of Mesan stability. It's almost as if Mesa just isn't quite Mesa anymore.

I don't do well with change. This is a sad, sad day indeed.

September 18, 2007 at 11:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Camille. I wish I knew what to say, but I really, really don't.

You will persevere. I know you will.

September 19, 2007 at 10:03 AM  
Blogger Geevz said...

This is a sad day indeed. I propose a moment of silence for the passing of Mesa Lutheran, for it will ever be Mesa Lutheran Hospital in my heart. *moment* Fare thee well Mesa Lutheran, fare thee well

September 19, 2007 at 11:48 AM  
Blogger Andy said...

Wow. I do feel sorry for your husband. A hospital? You're waxing a little too poetic these days. I would suggest you stop. For your own sake. I'm just trying to help you see how disturbed this is...

September 19, 2007 at 1:27 PM  
Blogger RPH said...

camille, i appologize for my husbands previous sarcasm, but really with a comment from him...what would you expect? i am just glad he is reading your awesome blog. sorry for your loss. if if makes you feel any better, today is national-talk like-a-pirate-day! aaaaeeehrrrr!

September 19, 2007 at 2:39 PM  
Blogger lindsay said...

you know, i have witness one of these krazy-sub sponsered gatherings....i was in the ER with my dad because i had just been rearended...and lo and behold...a group of people i recognize across the room sitting in awkward bolted together square chairs!

that was a random moment.

But it was good to see you and your family!

September 19, 2007 at 3:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you always bring emotions out of me that i never knew i had. i feel like a part of mesa has died and only those who truly love it will understand how improtant this blog is.

September 19, 2007 at 9:11 PM  
Blogger Amy Jo said...

Good point about the zapping of pimples:0 i am totally down with that. Thanks for the compliments your sweet:) You should go to MN. Its great and not far from CANADA!!!

September 20, 2007 at 12:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Wee One... You must always remember. The closing of one door leaves room for the opening of another. Such is life. ~deep huh?

September 21, 2007 at 7:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

People should read this.

November 10, 2008 at 5:52 PM  

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