Grammy's tired.
But not too tired...
to be
a little...
Silly....
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
A Sad Day
It was an unusual day. It was a sad day.
Patient # 1
Patient #1 has been coming to us for hearing help for close to ten years. He's one of our younger patients, in his 50's. When I first met #1 he was a preacher with a promising, hopeful future. Today he is beginning to show signs of dementia and he has full blown Parkinson's disease. His sense of humor is still there... and we still laugh together when he comes in. This morning he was in to see us. It's hard to see our friend like this.
Patient # 2
Sometimes you just have to laugh so you don't cry. When patient #2 first started coming into our office, she was sharp as a tack. Then, we steadily noticed that she was forgetful and confused. One day she came in and forgot that she had her car running in the parking space in front of our office. I went out and turned it off, returning her keys to her. We laugh together and she swears that her lost hearing aid was carried away by little critters with long octopus-like arms that swooped it off of her dresser in the middle of the night. If you sit and talk to her long enough, you will forget where your keys are too.
Patient # 3
A retired pastor who would laugh hysterically at all of my jokes. I have never had more fun with a patient before! Before he would leave the office, we would join hands and he would pray for us. Just several months ago he and his son drove up and down National Hwy. looking for the big wooden deer in our yard by the road after I gave him directions over the phone on how to find our new office. They came in the office, father and son laughing together.... when they realized it was an EAR they were looking for, not a DEER. Today he shuffled into our office with his daughter. He had suffered 2 strokes not long ago. I tried not to let him see the tears that gushed from my eyes the minute he walked in. I'm sure he didn't see. His head was down and he didn't even know me. Before he left we hugged and he cried and cried as he begged me to pray for him and his wife (who is in the hospital).
Please, if you think of it... pray for my dear friends, and most especially patient #3. I don't imagine things will get better for him. His prognosis is not good.
Patient # 1
Patient #1 has been coming to us for hearing help for close to ten years. He's one of our younger patients, in his 50's. When I first met #1 he was a preacher with a promising, hopeful future. Today he is beginning to show signs of dementia and he has full blown Parkinson's disease. His sense of humor is still there... and we still laugh together when he comes in. This morning he was in to see us. It's hard to see our friend like this.
Patient # 2
Sometimes you just have to laugh so you don't cry. When patient #2 first started coming into our office, she was sharp as a tack. Then, we steadily noticed that she was forgetful and confused. One day she came in and forgot that she had her car running in the parking space in front of our office. I went out and turned it off, returning her keys to her. We laugh together and she swears that her lost hearing aid was carried away by little critters with long octopus-like arms that swooped it off of her dresser in the middle of the night. If you sit and talk to her long enough, you will forget where your keys are too.
Patient # 3
A retired pastor who would laugh hysterically at all of my jokes. I have never had more fun with a patient before! Before he would leave the office, we would join hands and he would pray for us. Just several months ago he and his son drove up and down National Hwy. looking for the big wooden deer in our yard by the road after I gave him directions over the phone on how to find our new office. They came in the office, father and son laughing together.... when they realized it was an EAR they were looking for, not a DEER. Today he shuffled into our office with his daughter. He had suffered 2 strokes not long ago. I tried not to let him see the tears that gushed from my eyes the minute he walked in. I'm sure he didn't see. His head was down and he didn't even know me. Before he left we hugged and he cried and cried as he begged me to pray for him and his wife (who is in the hospital).
Please, if you think of it... pray for my dear friends, and most especially patient #3. I don't imagine things will get better for him. His prognosis is not good.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
In Shock
An excerpt from Gracie's Diary (my memoir that will soon be finished):
Weeks later Mike came to visit en route to Pennsylvania from his Florida winter retreat and I spotted him walking toward our office wearing his infamous faded jeans and a cream colored jacket. He sported a deep healthy tan and his arms were full with a plant, a plaque that read Love One Another, a poster with ten rules for a happy marriage, and a package of multi-colored Bic cigarette lighters he’d bought for a dollar at a yard sale.
“Dad, welcome back!” Gary said, hugging him. I hugged him too and he handed me a lemon tree and a birthday card. He hadn’t told us he had lost weight.
“Happy Birthday,” he said. I examined the healthy tree, but didn’t let on that it would more than likely be in plant heaven within a matter of weeks in my care.
“Thank you!” I said. “You look great!”
He winced when he lowered himself to sit in one of the waiting room chairs, his hip still paining from the skateboarding incident. I opened the birthday card and read the heartfelt words; then tucked the $400 in my purse. Next year it would be $500. Every year he’d add another hundred dollars … it’s just something he did.
Gary's father passed away just weeks later. But his gift lives on, thanks to Gary and his green thumb.
Every spring we lug that tree outside.
Every fall we lug it back into the laundry room next door.
Mike was known for his frugal ways which included making free lemonade from his water, lemon wedges and sugar when we'd go out to a restaurant to eat.
He was also known for his positive attitude in general throughout his life. He'd take the lemons of life
and make lemonade.
This year (6 years later) we got our first lemon crop and today
his son took the lemons and made the most wonderful lemonade! Mike would be proud!
But I'm afraid our lemon tree is now in shock.
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| "How could you do this to me? You pulled me apart! I'm in shock!" |
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