THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT down2basics: THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT
It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that 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, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had a 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 then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease. As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried 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.
Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. "The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along their way."
Re:THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT enganada: Reminds me of a patient I had once. Her husband came faithfully every day for years ( alzheimers too) and thru every pitfall he came and would sit and ask her about her day and order clothing off catalogs with her.
One day while in the dining room she said in the midst of what everyone thought would be a quiet day "where is your wife? He looked at her and said YOU ARE MY WIFE! she then said why? He said because even though your body is deteriorating day by day and to hear a word from you that makes sense at time is better than winning a milion dollars to me. my heart was yours the day i saw you getting off the train 50 years ago and you will be to me the greatest thing in the world till death do us part. For years of knowing this patient she rarely smiled and that day she smiled and smiled all day. I think God gave her the sense to understand his loving words and she died shortly after. At the funeral (Iam told) he read her a love letter of how they met and all the joy that she brought to him!! I was told that the notebook he kept in his pocket was where for years he was composing this love letter to his wife!!
I pray daily that my love will change and love me the way he loved his wife..like you said..that is what love is really all about. :'(
