HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN

June 9, 2008

Posted by: " sk afridi " afridisk afridisk

Sat Jun 7, 2008 5:33 pm (PDT)

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.

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