About Me

My photo
Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

How To Dance in the Rain


This was sent to me today by a good friend and I'm supposed to forward it to my friends. I started to do that, but then decided that it's too important a message and I'd like to get it "out there" where everyone possible can read it. It touched my heart and I hope it touches yours, too.

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.

19 comments:

Country Girl said...

With tears in my eyes, I agree. True love is the acceptance of all that has been, all that will be and all that will not be.

And life is about dancing in the rain of the storm.

Thanks, Leslie.

MedStudentWife said...

Thanks Leslie... I needed this at this moment :D

nancygrayce said...

Oh, what wisdom! I have an aunt who sometimes knows me and sometimes doesn't, but she knows I'm somebody she's supposed to know!

Russell said...

No truer words were ever spoken. Love is about acceptance - unconditional acceptance of another person without judgment.

Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

It's a cruel illness but it is a lovely story about unconditional love. I'd cry but my wife is watching. :)

Jo said...

Leslie, truer words were never spoken. I have said those words myself.

"True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be."

Smalltown RN said...

That is a very touching story...and you are so right....it truly is learning about dancing in the rain.....slow down and enjoy the finer moments of life....

peppylady (Dora) said...

This sure is a beautiful posting.

Cath said...

Love it.

And I love dancing in the rain.

What a wonderful piece. So glad you blogged it. So glad I came over today.

Michele said...

Truly a perfect post... thank you.

Liz Hinds said...

I can't believe it's been this long since I visited! Many apologies. Last week was ridiculously hectic!

Great posts though. Glad Jamie enjoyed Madonna. I like a lot of her music too.

sally in norfolk said...

very touching and for the first time in my life i feel that way about someone too....and my one wish in life would be for everyone to find a love like that :-)

Maggie May said...

Exactly!
I was very moved by that post!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Very touching tale..the ending brought tears!

I must learn to dance in the rain :-)


You have been tagged by me.

Reader Wil said...

This story brings tears to my eyes. It's such a touching story, Leslie. Thank you so much!

Ruth L.~ said...

Tears . . .

Beautiful love story . . .

Louis la Vache said...

AMEN, Leslie!

CherryPie said...

That really is beautiful, it made me cry too. I think we could all do with remembering that :-)

Blu-I'd-Blonde said...

My father went to feed my mother 2-3 times a day for the three years she was in a nursing home with Alzheimers. This reminded me of how he loved her. Thanks, Jan