I promised to share the experiences in my life that have taught me to "Be Prepared" throughout the month of September. Here is the earliest I can remember:
As I've mentioned in other posts, I grew up (age 3-12) in a home that didn't have running water. Our house had a well on a back porch. The hand pump handle was broken so the only way to get the water out was to drop a bucket down and then pull it up, hand over hand. So, we did have a constant supply. But that water was deemed unsafe to drink by the Health Department. While we could haul in buckets to heat for bathing and cleaning, our drinking water was off site.
My grandparents lived about 3 miles away so once or twice a week my dad would drive to their home and fill up a five gallon bucket with drinking water. It sat on the kitchen floor with a dipper in it and we used it for drinking, cooking, and teeth brushing. We only had one bucket so he would take it when it got empty and refill it, leaving us with none until he returned. He did this rain or shine, freezing weather or warm.
I have a vivid memory of one Sunday, late morning time, when my mom was cooking lunch and she emptied the bucket. My dad had to leave right away to get more water before my mom could finish the meal preparation. My sister and I were excited at the chance to see our grandparents so we went along for the ride. It was a nice sunny day and we were having a good time. Unfortunately, on the way home, our car broke down. We were able to walk the rest of the way but guess what didn't make it home- the water! Since we only had the one vehicle, my dad had to hunt someone up to help him get the car (and the water) home. My mom managed to get us fed for that meal but, from that time forward, I've known the importance of knowing how much water I have and how to get more if I need it!
