A GLOBAL EVENT

Several years ago, maybe in the early 90's, I had spent part of Christmas Eve afternoon stringing lights on the front porch. When finished, I came inside, sat in my easy chair and began reading the Saturday newspaper. Shortly I was summoned to the kitchen to get Grandma's supper tray and take it to her. That chore accomplished, I was back out in the kitchen waiting for supper to be put on the table. Evidently at this time I was observed to be acting rather confused. But the family proceeded to sit down for supper at which time I continued to act strangely but not aggressively. A phone call was made to the family doctor who, after hearing of my somewhat odd behavior, advised the family to bring me in to his office after supper was over. I readily agreed to go. My wife, Barb, and I went out to the car. I was about to get in the driver's seat, when she somehow dissuaded me and drove us the five miles to town. The good doctor checked me over physically and found no deficiencies. He then quizzed me and found that, although I could remember names of my high school teachers of long ago, I could not recall what I had done the day before. I was set up for hospital tests for the following Monday and sent home. Attendance at the Christmas Eve church service was abandoned and our near-normal evening activities at home continued. A neighbor couple came for a visit about 9 o'clock. We sat in the living room having normal conversation. Toward 10 o'clock we all sat around the dining room table having coffee and cake and maybe ice cream. All at once, as if a television screen had come on, my total consciousness returned, although I was never aware that I had lost it! After the guests left, I returned to my easy chair where I was interrogated by my family members. I easily remembered what I had done the day before. All of my memory was restored, except for the five-hour span from about 5 to 10 that evening. The later hospital tests revealed no causative factors. To me, this event in my life was certainly eerie. I would hope that this condition was my last bout with Transient Global Amnesia. Post Script: When and if I reach the Pearly Gates, I will certainly demand of St. Peter my lost five hours!

The Family, November 1995. Becky, Amy, Bob, Barb, Melinda, and Randy.

I worked in the county seat of Mercer. The state police maintained a driver license center there where they tested the capabilities of future drivers. If driver candidates passed the oral quiz and successfully navigated the road course they were granted a state drivers license. One fine day a local lady arrived to take her tests. She quickly passed the oral section of the test and then the trooper got into the passenger's seat to observe her driving skills. After starting the car, the woman's nervous tension took the wheel and drove right into the side of the nearby administration building. A period of shocked silence followed. In classic understatement she looked over at the police officer and asked, "Does this mean I failed?"

CRIME in the COUNTRYSIDE It was a crisp clear Saturday morning in October when Mrs. Byler, an Amish lady, set out to visit one of her aunts to do some sewing. Her three young children were in the buggy with her as their horse pulled them toward their destination three and a half miles away. As Ada approached the lane leading to her relative's farm, she noted that a white car was behind her buggy. Having to make a left turn, she stopped to allow the auto to pass to permit her to make a safe turn. The sedan did pass but then abruptly pulled in front of the horse, stopping it. A white man, about 40 years old, with medium length light-brown hair and a mustache, got out of the car and approached Mrs. Byler, demanding money. Having none, Ada gave the man her checkbook. He went back to his car and then returned with a baseball bat and struck her with it. He then re-embarked and continued driving north on Orchard Road. The victimized Amish mother was admitted to the local hospital where she received stitches in the back of her head and neck area. She was detained overnight before being released the next day. Her children were not hurt but no doubt suffered from witnessing such a shocking event. Pennsylvania state police interviewed all residents in the area but failed to locate any witnesses. Describing the man further as being 5-feet-8 inches tall, of a stocky build and wearing a white T-shirt and jeans would not give the average citizen much hope of ever seeing the criminal apprehended. And so with the story of Ada's ill-fated journey filed in the memories of both the Amish and their "English" neighbors, this peaceful rural countryside has lost some measure of its innocence. Postscript In a surprising twist of circumstance, the man state police intended to charge in the attack committed suicide two days after the event. Mark McManus, aged 31, failed to appear in Mercer County court on Tuesday on drunken driving charges. Mrs. Byler and her three children were separately shown by the police a photo line-up that included McManus. All four immediately identified Mark as their assailant. With this tragic conclusion to the case, people of the locality will certainly feel a bit more relaxed as they go about their daily lives.

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