I Saw The Elephant

07-2022
D. Vautier

An interesting English phrase appeared in our lexicon during the early 1800s which completely changed meanings several times during that century and then the phrase--just simply disappeared as many others did.  When circuses began visiting larger towns on the east coast in the early 1800s there were no railroads yet. Instead long trains of big Conestoga wagons came lumbering into town pulled by teams of struggling oxen carrying the usual assortment of gigantic tents, jugglers, acrobats, high wire and trapeze artists, midgets, caged lions and, of course, the usual sleek plumed horses.  Then came the lumbering elephants.  Wide eye kids anxiously watched it all and when the circus parade marched down Main Street, every eye was glued on the event, especially the elephants with their big floppy ears and huge trunks. “Did you see the elephant?” 

Some historians  say the expression “I saw the elephant” came from the story of a farmer making his way to market who met a circus train going the other way.  His horse got spooked by an elephant, bolted, overturned the cart and ran away.  The discouraged farmer returned home and, when asked about what happened he replied, "I saw the elephant".

“Seeing the elephant” was no less to experience something transcendental, magic, transformational and extremely unforgettable.  It was the accomplishment of a great and difficult adventure, an odyssey, a life-shaping event. The meaning soon evolved to represent craziness, foolhardiness, recklessness, carelessness.  As soon as interest picked up in “doing” the Oregon Trail, the expression applied to this venture because it was extremely hazardous, and conjured up pictures of disease, drowning, constant Indian attacks, accidents, starvation, destitution and eventually death.

As America was thrown into its great civil war the expression then came to mean “Have you met the enemy?  Have you experienced true combat? Have you seen the trauma of mangled corpses, and wreathing wounded men, screaming in pain and suffering?  Have you seen lines of men mowed down like so much standing corn before the plow?  Have you been put through long dusty forced marches only to die of exhaustion and thirst? Have you participated in face to face death struggles against tens of thousands or your own brothers?  Have you seen the elephant?

The Oregon Trail starts from St. Joseph or Independence Missouri and ends at Oregon City.  It was a rut filled, river crossed, parching, burning, freezing 2100 mile long path (or multiple paths) where pioneers got lost, starved to death, were killed by accidents or sometimes Indians, and often succumbed to cholera or any one of hundreds other diseases. Most of the deaths were through accidents.  The bureau of land management (BLM) estimates that 10 percent of all pioneers perished based on graves and personal accounts.  Only a few died by Indians.  The optimum wagon train size was probably 30 wagons.  A smaller number may not have the depth to overcome difficulties whereas a larger group may not be able to stay together or travel as fast.  Some wagon trains numbered over 100.  From 1840 to 1860 more that 400,000 people took the trail in 60,000 wagons which the average occupancy per wagon being 6.6 people, suggesting that entire families made the journey (Buck, 65).  This does not count all the pigs, cows, horses, mules, oxen, chickens and goats, coffee and kitchenware they brought.

I saw the elephant

On May 28^th 2021 I got the COVID.  How I got it was interesting.  I went to the hospital to get some stitches removed and noticed it immediately afterwards.  In fact the whole family got it but my case was worse because of my age (I’m 81), even though I was loaded up with vitamin B, C, D. quercetin and zinc.  It acted totally like the flu; high temp, extreme tiredness, aching muscles, diarrhea but no breathing issues.  Unfortunately I was in complete denial and was convinced it was just another everyday flu.  But after several days I slowly began to realize that this was not your everyday flu and I started getting some very weird symptoms like brain fog and serious loss of balance.  My wife also began to realize it was serious and took me into emergency (day 6).  I had a 102 fever and 92 oxy-sat, severe dehydration, and tested positive for COVID. The hospital had no protocol. Now that’s really weird!! I was on my own.

My wife and daughter sprang into action.  They immediately got me Ivermectin (day 7) then brought in a private nurse to administer two bags of fluid to get my hydration up.  I began the recommended regimen which included hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), azithromycin, zinc and D along with daily nebulizer treatments for my lungs.  My fever gradually went down over the next two weeks and I was able to eat.  My oxy-sat also began to slowly climb.  Two weeks later I tested COVID negative.  The effects of this awful flu however can last a long time.  My oxy-sat is now at 99 and I have a lot more energy. l was afraid of lung injury or long-haul but I think I’m OK.  WOW! What a weird trip!

So two weeks later I was feeling fine. I was eating well and able to do a lot of normal things.  Then on July 4^th I was struck down with some kind of incredible fatigue.  There was little I could do except eat and take care of basic bodily functions.  I slept solidly 14 hours a day. I could not even hold a notepad or read a book.  Then suddenly, a weak later, the exhaustion was gone.  That was the extent of my “long haul”.  My Covid antibody count is 784 U/mL which is good for life.  I had seen the elephant.

Before the whole crazy Covid thing happened our family was well aware of the dangers of the untested experimental injections that the government was pushing so hard and instead we wisely used procedures that worked.