"I've been affiliated with U-M Health System since my first breath. I was the first baby girl born in the brand new Women's Hospital Maternity Ward in 1950.

Fast-forward to 1974 when I became an employee in Old Main. Those were the days of standing in line to pick up your paycheck, Employee Health's Dr. Shoemaker and his red cough syrup, free outpatient care for employees, and the cafeteria's homemade everything from butterscotch pudding, chocolate brownies with nuts, to salad dressings and soups.

Peanut Butter Soup

Does anyone remember the peanut butter soup? Probably not-I'm not sure it was a hit.

I think the most memorable experience for me was witnessing the bringing down of Old Main Hospital.

At the time, my office was up on the third floor of the Med Inn Building - the perfect vantage point. The monster trucks and equipment looked like Tonka toys busily weaving their way in and out of the area. The floors would come crashing down tiny bits at a time. One day, thanks to a miscalculation or perhaps only an unexpected gust of wind, the giant wrecking ball hit wrong and brought down nearly an entire wing of the floor they had been concentrating on for weeks. The workers, who looked like ants, ran in every direction. It was clear something happened that wasn't supposed to happen. For over a year we watched in awe and amazement.

It was strangely sad as the last loaded truck left the site.

When it was all over, we walked away from the window, one co-worker calmly stated 'well, you don't see that every day.'

It was clearly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Story submitted by Nancy Frost, Senior Administrative Assistant in the Department of Emergency Medicine. A 40-year staff member, Nancy spent 20 years in the Department of Ambulatory Care Social Work, and 13 years in the Bone Marrow Transplant Program.