Tonight the Olympics will close with great pomp and circumstance as happy athlete’s celebrate their victory’s. As much as I enjoy their success it always brings back memories of Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. It is a very large and old structure that fell into hard times, sold by the government, and now has been converted into commercial use.

In April 1980 my husband and I were there for his recuperation and treatment in the loss of his left leg. (I shall write, in length, of this later on.) In the large physical therapy wing, active and retired military of all ages and manner of disabilities were struggling to regain the use of their bodies again. As they worked to overcome their loss of arms or legs and adapt to their prostheses, the television was airing the trials for the Summer Olympics. The goal was so starkly different for both, I was moved to write these lines.


AMPUTEE WARD

Outside is a world who loves a winner.
How we applaud, honor, bedeck, praise.
And rewards are great.
Promotions, endorsements, bonuses, a raise.
How differently we achieve here.
To sit up once more, one unsure step, to button,
To drink, to swing a stump that was a leg.
And to feel the heady joy of accomplishment
So innocent and pure
The angels bend low to watch.


Dedicated to all the men who fought the biggest battle of their lives, at Fitzsimmons. Written April 16, 1980.


Tomorrow I return to,
Essentially Esther