How to Dance in the Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly
gentleman in his 80s 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.