August 31, 2007

• My Father in law sent me a poem recently to share. It was very timely as it seems to be  on a topic that I have been hearing a lot about lately. In conversations overheard and in other peoples blogs.
  
  Meadowbrook Nursing Home
  
  On our last visit, when Lucy was fifteen
  And getting creaky herself,
  One of the nurses said to me,
  “Why don’t you take the cat to Mrs. Harris’ room
  poor thing lost her leg to diabetes last fall
  she’s ninety, and blind, and no one comes to see her.”
  
  The door was open. I asked the tiny woman in the bed
  if she would like me to bring Lucy in, and she turned her head
  toward us. “Oh, yes, I want to touch her.”
  
  “I had a cat called Lily she was so pretty, all white.
  She was with me for twenty years, after my husband died too.
  She slept with me every night I loved her very much.
  It’s hard, in here, since I can’t get around.”
  
  Lucy was settling in on the bed.
  “You won’t believe it, but I used to love to dance.
  I was a fool for it! I even won contests.
  I wish I had danced more.
  It’s funny, what you miss when everything…..is gone.”
  This last was a murmur. She’d fallen asleep.
  
  I lifted the cat
  from the bed, tiptoed out, and drove home.
  I tried to do some desk work
  but couldn’t focus.
  
  I went downstairs, pulled the shades,
  put on Tina Turner
  and cranked it up loud
  and I danced.
  I danced.

  Poem: “Meadowbrook Nursing Home” by Alice N. Persons, from Don’t Be A Stranger. Sheltering Pines Press, 2007. Reprinted with permission

   

  Just one more reminder that life is precious. That we should take joy in even the smallest things. Enjoy them while they are here, while we can… someday we may have to live on the memories and I plan on having gazillions of them!

  Have a great day you guys!

   

  • 8:48 am
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