Change Your Stars!
Defining Moments
  
Home   |   Today's Star!   |   Archive of Stars!   |   Up Close and Personal   |   Defining Moments
Subscribe   |   Quak Trax   |   History   |   Links   |   About   |   Contact   |   Guest Book
The Quest!   |   The Star Thrower
We do not remember days ... we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
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 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 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'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.

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.

Contributed
by
Dorian Bell

Defining Moments Archives

Copyright © 2006, Jace Carlton.  All International Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2005-2013, Jace Carlton.  All International Rights Reserved.