Dancing In The Rain

Dancing In The Rain

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.'