http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybeke7_d1zE
Things are busy. Lately, I’ve split my time between my jobs, the pending move, my family and friends, my running schedule, my social life, souping, our youth group, and with the time I’ve got left- my writing. The days go by so quickly. There never is a moment to spare.
Sundays are always the most intense. By Sunday afternoon, I get a burst of reality that Monday is coming and I need to get all those last minute things done before the start of the week. This Sunday was no different. The plan was made- church in the morning then over to see Joe’s grandmother in her assisted living home. Then we were going to take a load of boxes over to our new house, then some painting and unpacking. Then back down to church to run the youth group. Back to the house for more unpacking and then sometime (hopefully before midnight, get to bed.) Our day was not only planned, but everything had a time.
As we arrived at the assisted living facility, we walked in to find a resident of the home, we’ve gotten to know. Our friend is small in stature and he always lurks around the front of the building keeping tabs on others watching them coming and going. He has a gentle nature and every time we have visited, he is alone. We always make a point to say hello to him. Although hello is never where he wants it to stop.
In our comings and goings over the past couple years, he’s shared stories about the war, his best friend Elvis Presley, and his wife who he fondly referred to as “his life.”
Unfortunately, like other residents, he has some form of dementia and we’ve watched him slip. Now whenever we walk in, he is sure that he knows us from somewhere, but has no idea where. He always asks, “Do I know you from Maywood or Manhattan?”
Whenever we tell him neither, the glimmer in his eye dies down a bit. One of the saddest days was a day we arrived to find him wandering around. His daughter was there talking to the woman at the front desk making arrangements to take him out for her mother’s funeral. Although I never met this woman, I had to hold the tears back when I learned of her passing. I knew how fondly he spoke of his wife how she had saved his life from addiction and other bad influences. She was his life and now she was gone.
As we walked in yesterday, we saw him. I looked at my watch and realized that if we started talking with him, we were definitely going to get off our schedule. I thought for a second to avoid eye contact, but then I heard his famous words, “Excuse me, do I know you from somewhere?”
And I couldn’t. We went through all of the usual conversation then he shock my hand. He said, “It’s very nice to meet you, you know what they say cold hands warm heart.”
I smiled and we exchanged cordial conversation. We then left and greeted Joe’s grandmother, but I could tell our friend still wasn’t done talking. He approached us and he sang “Sunshine On My Shoulders” by John Denver.
Although this definitely was biting into our time and could have been viewed as an intrusion, it really wasn’t. Even in his off key pitch, it was lovely. He made me stop and think without looking at the clock. What is really important? Is it that I check off all of my to do’s today? Or is it that I am happy in the present moment regardless? I challenge you to do the same.
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Source:
http://www.mariacpalmer.com/sunshine-shoulders/