Macon Traditions

When I was growing up, there were several doctors practicing in Franklin. I remember hearing about Dr. Ed Angel, Dr. Furman Angel, Dr. Horsley, Dr. Winstead, and Dr. Rawlins, but my family’s doctor was Dr. E. W. Fisher. He took care of my grandmother, always making a home visit because she was confined to a wheelchair, and he also delivered my brother and me. He was able to draw us back from the brink of death many times since back then no one went to a doctor unless it was a life-or-death matter.

I was probably about 5 years old when I got a huge splinter under my toenail. My daddy was working out of town, and the three women in charge of me were not able to hold me down for extraction. Time rocked on with various unsuccessful attempts to remove that splinter. Then, red streaks began running up my leg. One of those three women, who all were descendants of Job’s “comforters,” told me, “If that red streak reaches your heart, you’ll die.” I remember I was sitting on my Aunt Barbara’s lap when I heard that news. Can you even imagine the wailing that statement produced?

We lived on Main Street in an apartment over Burrell Motor Company, and my mama could see Dr. Fisher’s office light was on, even though it was after hours; so she called him. His sweet wife answered the phone and said for the “comforters” to bring me on up to his office.

Two of them answered the call. One was my Aunt Barbara, because I had a death grip on her, and the other was my mama. Of course, my grandmother, the third “comforter,” stayed home.

I’m sure it was a sight to see — the parade down Main Street and up the stairs to Dr. Fisher’s office. There, with the help of his wife and the two “comforters,” I was placed upon the table. Dr. Fisher wielded his trusty tweezers and removed that stubborn splinter, but not before I got in one well-placed kick to his stomach. I can still hear the “oomph” that resulted. And, even though my 5-year-old self got some satisfaction from that, I now regret the kick.

Many, many years later, I visited with Mrs. Fisher in the rest home. She told me how much Dr. Fisher had loved my family and enjoyed taking care of us. I sure was relieved to know either she had forgotten about the splinter (and the kick) or was too kind to bring it up.