Check it Out: ‘Nurse’ has warm tales of cold days

As I write this column, it is bright and sunny outside, but, oh so chilly. A warm cup of tea, a fuzzy, black cat, and a very satisfying book are all helping to keep me warm. Tea, cats — these are classic wintertime hand and heart warmers. But the book I just finished reading — “Call the Nurse” by Mary J. MacLeod — might not, at first glance, appear either warm or fuzzy. Don’t worry; this memoir, which takes place on several of the Hebrides Islands (found off the coast of Scotland), may “feel” bitterly cold and blustery at times when the author describes the islands’ harsh climate, but the stories she relates are imbued with warmth and charm.

In 1969, Mary MacLeod, her husband and their children moved to a remote island located in the Hebrides archipelago. The reason for making such a drastic move (having previously resided in the south of England) is one that is common to many who seek a change of scenery: they were tired of “their frenetic lifestyle” wanting “something gentler, uncluttered.”

It doesn’t take long for the reader to question whether their new home provides the “gentler” touch they desire. After all, it’s a remote island sitting off the west coast of Scotland. A tropical island might have afforded warm, gentle breezes, but the Hebrides have the Atlantic Ocean pounding against their rocky shores. One has to remember, too, that in the early 1970s, telephones, electricity, even indoor plumbing in some cases, were certainly not commonplace on a remote island. Yet, despite the harsh surroundings, and the less than luxurious accommodations, Mary and her family had many wonderful experiences living in the Hebrides.

Mary was one of the few nurses in the area, and because medical services were fairly scarce, she was called to many a cottage and farm nestled among the grouping of islands. She and her family lived on an island she calls Papavray (not the island’s real name in hopes of discouraging tourists from popping up all over the place), but her job required her to travel literally over hill and dale — and across the sea — to whatever illness or emergency needed attention.

One of the things I enjoyed the most while reading this week’s book was the author’s descriptions of her interactions with patients and neighbors. The islands’ inhabitants may have been disconnected from the modern world in many ways, but the camaraderie among friends and neighbors meant that no one was a stranger, and no one had to struggle alone. Of course, living on a remote island can be difficult, and not everyone who the author encountered was friendly or even approachable. Irascible, stubborn, sometimes crazy, sometimes violent characters appear now and again in her reminiscences of island life. But grim stories are a part of reality, especially in the medical profession, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that death is as much a part of the author’s experiences as life.

For a look at a truly unique place and time, please consider checking out “Call the Nurse.” It’s a good read for a chilly day … just don’t forget your tea and cat.

Related Stories