April 16, 2019 When a song ends--or does it?
Yesterday evening an elderly neighbor lady came to visit. She left her rollator outside saying it was hard for her to negotiate through the doorway. Two steps in and suddenly she was flinging her arms about, grabbing for something which was not there. She fell face first into my rocking chair. Her arm protected her face from making contact, but her knees hit the floor HARD. The floor here is a thin carpet over a cement slab. When she caught her breath, she got up unaided. I got an ice pack and applied to her banged knee. The worst damage done was to her self esteem. This is a woman who
had a farm, who carried 100 lb. bags of grain on her shoulder from truck to barn, who leaped up on
a horse bare-back and galloped across a field, who raised a family and faced a not always friendly
world with strength and courage. She could not understand how it was that she could fall. She wondered aloud why we exist when our usefulness is over. "Why", she whispered, " can't we be let go to another world in the same way we are able to let our pets go when they are no longer happy?"
Right now in this community we are in conflict with the management of this facility. They are attempting to remove the few things that have given residents some sense of purpose-a reason for being. Until recently, we have been allowed bird feeders, both seed and Hummingbird feeders. We
were able to plant the mini flower beds in front of our units with the flowers we loved most. (Yes,
there were guidelines, but nothing truly restrictive). To those who have lost so much of self -
their individuality and purpose, the loss of these few freedoms is a death sentence! That may
sound dramatic to outsiders. I am not being dramatic. In the past week I have heard more than one
say "What is left? If I had a gun I would end it." End it because you cannot plant a flower or feed
that chickadee? You have to live here to understand the despair.
So many lovely people live here. They have stories to tell, good advice to be offered. They have
songs with many verses yet to be sung.
Young people--some day you will be here too. I wish better for you in your golden years.
My dear elderly friends--keep on singing. We have not come to the final note yet.
Yesterday evening an elderly neighbor lady came to visit. She left her rollator outside saying it was hard for her to negotiate through the doorway. Two steps in and suddenly she was flinging her arms about, grabbing for something which was not there. She fell face first into my rocking chair. Her arm protected her face from making contact, but her knees hit the floor HARD. The floor here is a thin carpet over a cement slab. When she caught her breath, she got up unaided. I got an ice pack and applied to her banged knee. The worst damage done was to her self esteem. This is a woman who
had a farm, who carried 100 lb. bags of grain on her shoulder from truck to barn, who leaped up on
a horse bare-back and galloped across a field, who raised a family and faced a not always friendly
world with strength and courage. She could not understand how it was that she could fall. She wondered aloud why we exist when our usefulness is over. "Why", she whispered, " can't we be let go to another world in the same way we are able to let our pets go when they are no longer happy?"
Right now in this community we are in conflict with the management of this facility. They are attempting to remove the few things that have given residents some sense of purpose-a reason for being. Until recently, we have been allowed bird feeders, both seed and Hummingbird feeders. We
were able to plant the mini flower beds in front of our units with the flowers we loved most. (Yes,
there were guidelines, but nothing truly restrictive). To those who have lost so much of self -
their individuality and purpose, the loss of these few freedoms is a death sentence! That may
sound dramatic to outsiders. I am not being dramatic. In the past week I have heard more than one
say "What is left? If I had a gun I would end it." End it because you cannot plant a flower or feed
that chickadee? You have to live here to understand the despair.
So many lovely people live here. They have stories to tell, good advice to be offered. They have
songs with many verses yet to be sung.
Young people--some day you will be here too. I wish better for you in your golden years.
My dear elderly friends--keep on singing. We have not come to the final note yet.
Cynthia your writings are wonderfully enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI must tell you this entry spoke to me deeply, on numerous levels. In particular your statement "We have not come to the final note yet" is hauntingly beautiful.....
Continue encouraging those around you to keep 'singing' (and if not sing then to at least continue to hum their life-songs).
I'm so looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Warm wishes
Faye