The helicopter flew over the mountains embracing the mining camp school grounds. Helicopters flew in with some frequency in the 1950s. In the early part of the decade, they would bring the payroll, which in the 40s, was carried on a treacherous journey by foot, vehicle, and canoe from Ciudad Bolivar. That’s a subject for another post. I’ll only mention that my father often had that duty back then. He slept under trees along the way, the entire month’s payroll at his side. Never worried about theft. Or worse.

Helicopters would also bring in the movies played weekly in the camp club. Relatively current movies were shown twice a week at first, later, thrice per week. They’d also be flown in from Ciudad Bolivar, formerly Angostura, on the shores of the Orinoco.

The helicopter would seem to hover a bit but would actually be flying in an oblong circle above the clearing next to the club grounds, just beyond the swimming pools. Then it would descend onto the field, creating its own whirlwind. Boys sprinted to the clearing to gawk at the descending contraption. 

On this occasion the helicopter was bringing some new wonder medicine and all parents were anxious that it be administered to their children. “There’s a cure for polio. Finally!”

We lined up as mini-regiments on the school grounds, as the nurses came to each of us and administered this “cure for polio.” The urgency on the part of parents is embedded in my psyche to this day.

You will find the following links to be of great interest, hence I’ll keep this post short. Read them and remember. 

Read them and rejoice.

Culture shock: Why poliovirus had to live before it could die

https://people.com/health/polio-survivor-last-3-people-use-iron-lung/