Attended a 40 year reunion event this weekend with the girls I started my nurse training with in 1978. We were all 18 years old and very timid but a lot has changed since then. Had a great time with them and wrote this poem to celebrate the event.
We came to London all naïve, 40 years ago
We learnt about life together amongst the ebb and flow
Where once we were so shy and quiet we soon saw all of life
And soon had much experience of gore and pain and strife
We worked so hard as nurses and tried our very best
We saw some sights and learnt some facts and put them to the test
The hours were long and arduous, we didn’t shirk you know
We all were very dedicated but often tears would flow
It was so very different to what most had known before
We grew up very quickly amongst the blood and gore
But in amongst the hard work and toil we found the time to laugh
And most of us enjoyed ourselves as we walked along our path
Back then it was a calling, a need to help the sick
We went to make a difference, compassion made us tick
We worked so hard for all those years and finally made the grade
We qualified and moved away and only few have stayed
A few still practice nursing but most do other things
Our time together is so much fun and laughter soars on wings
But one thing still unites us all and each had stuff to say
About their loving families and how that shows the way
We came to London all naïve, 40 years ago
We learnt about life together amongst the ebb and flow
We’re now all grown and experienced in all that’s gone before
But still have things in common and strive to learn some more
Suzi Magic 