Aunt Kay

I got up this morning to my phone ringing. It was my dad to to inform me that my Aunt Kay had passed away in the night. She is my dad’s brother’s wife. She is David’s mom.  She has been ill for quite some time.

Yesterday I was coming home from having lunch with JP and was driving by her house, so I stopped in and was able to tell her I love her.

I am so grateful that I did that. I have wonderful memories of her and she was always so good to me and I always knew she loved me. I have always been so close to David. He graduated with me and he calls me several times a week to get updates about my family. He has a very special spot in my heart reserved just for him.

At Aunt Bonnie’s 80th Birthday

Uncle Jack and Aunt Kay 4th of July 2007

4th of July 2009

 

So I got on my email today and I thought this was so appropriate for today.

It marvels me to watch these LIFELONG PARTNERS love and take care of their sick spouses. Uncle Jack has loved and cared for Aunt Kay for several years.  I have watched my dad and it makes me want to cry as I saw the love he had for mom. He took such good care of her. It is such a great example to me.

How to Dance 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.'