(free
patterns coming soon)
It
was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in
his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He
said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I
took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would
be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw
him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with
another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it
was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed
supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking
care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment
this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me
no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast
with his wife.
I inquired
as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while
and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked,
I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late He replied that
she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him
in five years now.
I
was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning,
even though she doesn't know who you are?"
He smiled as
he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I
still know who she is."
I had to hold
back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That
is the kind of love I want in my life."
True love is
neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all
that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
The happiest
people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just
make the best of everything they have.
"Life
isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain." |