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Or not.  Packing is an art.  Packing for a family an enigma.  Still, I felt comfortably confident as we pulled out of our driveway on the verge of vacation that everything we needed was in the proverbial bag.  Then our daughter, sent us scavenging for help.

Late on our first full day of vacation our daughter had an accident.  Reaching blindly underneath the hotel bed frame for a toy, a stray splinter of wood cut a deep path beneath the nail bed of her pinky finger.  My husband tried patiently to retract the stubborn piece of wood while our daughter bravely held her breath between gulping sobs that racked her small frame.  Tired and frightened our daughter fell asleep.  By morning it was clear we needed help.

In a quiet children’s emergency room we found a friendly community of doctors and nurses that met our daughter’s tears with soothing words and able hands.  For all my efforts to predict, plan, and pack we were entirely dependent on strangers for comfort and care.  A very warm thanks to the staff at St. Anthony’s in St. Louis.

Tagged: Vacation