The Rain

 

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.'

We are all getting Older

Tomorrow may be our turn.