posted 12-22-2007 07:10 PM                  

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.

With all the jokes and fun that is in e-mails, sometimes there is one that
comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share
with you.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just
make the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.