Room With A View -Story Hour

[Guest guest]

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man

was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help

drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only

window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

 

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and

families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military

service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when

the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time

by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the

window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour

periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the

activity and color of the outside world.

 

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man said. Ducks

and swans played on the water while children sailed their model

boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the

rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the

city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window

described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of

the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

 

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing

by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band, he could see it in

his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with

descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head:

 

Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I

never get to see anything ?

 

It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented the man felt ashamed at

first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his

envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to

brood and he found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that

window - that thought now controlled his life.

 

Late one night as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the

window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The

other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the

window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across

the room he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have

brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes the coughing and

choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now there was

only silence ----- deathly silence.

 

The following morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their

baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she

was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take it away -- no

works, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked

if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make

the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him

alone.

 

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his

first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

 

It faced a blank wall.

[Guest guest]

, "Joyce Short" <insight@s...> wrote:

>

>

> Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One

man

> was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help

> drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only

> window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

>

> The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and

> families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military

> service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when

> the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the

time

> by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside

the

> window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour

> periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the

> activity and color of the outside world.

 

Namaste All,

 

Yes I've read this one before in a sales manual somewhere.

 

Do you not think it is a great tragedy to be thinking of attachments

on one's death bed?

 

Of course one was keeping the other happy and that is 'nice', but it

is hardly a story for gaining enlightenment or is it?..ONS..Tony.

[Guest guest]

'Enlightenment' cannot be gained (or lost, for that matter).

 

Namaste,

 

Tim

 

, "Tony O'Clery" <aoclery> wrote:

> Of course one was keeping the other happy and that is 'nice', but

> it is hardly a story for gaining enlightenment or is it?..ONS..Tony.

[Guest guest]

One thing about Tony is that he is 100 percent predictable. I thought

the story was very moving and sent it to all on my list and made a

copy for Lee's daughter who is a nurse is a long term car facility.

 

Love to Tony and all,

Alton

 

 

 

, "Tony O'Clery" <aoclery> wrote:

> , "Joyce Short" <insight@s...> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One

> man

> > was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to

help

> > drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's

only

> > window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

> >

> > The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and

> > families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the

military

> > service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when

> > the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the

> time

> > by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside

> the

> > window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour

> > periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all

the

> > activity and color of the outside world.

>

> Namaste All,

>

> Yes I've read this one before in a sales manual somewhere.

>

> Do you not think it is a great tragedy to be thinking of

attachments

> on one's death bed?

>

> Of course one was keeping the other happy and that is 'nice', but

it

> is hardly a story for gaining enlightenment or is it?..ONS..Tony.