Good Old Days: 1926 Headaches

By Mildred Olson

1926 – It was a beautiful, warm November morning. Not a cloud in the crystal blue sky. She was a happy fourth grader on her way to school. She hopped, she skipped, she jumped-- always being careful not to come down on a crack in the sidewalk. You know, “step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back”?

She loved her school. She loved her teacher. Even though her teacher had whacked her hard across her hands, because she had snapped and clicked her fingers, being overly anxious to answer a question. The teacher had warned the class to never do that, so she did not blame her. She knew she had been wrong.

Before school ended for the day, clouds covered the sky like heavy dark drapery. The wind started to blow. And she developed a painful headache. Home seemed miles away. She was so sick, she did not care if she stepped on all the sidewalk cracks.

As soon as her mother saw her, she pulled the rocking chair close to the big kitchen stove. She tugged her shoes and socks off, and placed her feet in the warm oven. She handed her a cup of something black and smelly. She was told to drink every drop. She gulped and gagged and struggled, but her mom insisted until the cup was empty. She then helped her into bed, propped her head up, made sure she was warm, and then left her to get to sleep.

Over the years, those devastating headaches became more frequent. They turned to doctors, hoping for relief, only to be told they were migraines and there was not a great deal they could do. But imagine their surprise when more than one advised, “As soon as you feel one coming on, drink a cup of hot black coffee.”

So much for the good old days.