In high school I used to volunteer at a Nursing Home and what the residents taught me about life was far better then any book learning would have ever taught me.
It all began with one grouching old lady who sat at her wheelchair, being angry at everything around her. The nurses all felt agitated by her, and simply ignored her. We were setting up for dinner and she decided she didn't want to stay in the Nursing home any longer. She wheeled herself out of the dining room area, only to be wheeled back in by another staff member. I went up to her and asked her what she would like to eat, and she told me to go away. So I went and continued to distribute the other meals to the other residents. I was just being myself with all f them, but I actually treated them, like they had sense. I came back to the little grouchy woman, and brought her the plate. I just looked into her misty eyes and said, "Here is your dinner, ma'm. I hope you enjoy it." And what happened next, I will never forget. She picked up her napkin, looked at her plate, then looked at me, smiled and said, "Thank you." Two words and my entire perspective of life changed. I was thirteen at the time. That one moment was one of the happiest moments of my life. Two words were enough to teach me to love hope. Two words that changed everything, and you know what is funny?I still to this day, do not know what the lady's name was.
Dream Lady
I saw her in a dream
The feeble old lady with the dress of cream
And she looked at me
Just as quiet as she could be
And in those eyes I saw it all
The endless tales full of her life?s rise and falls
And with one quick instant and one gentle stroke
She opened her mouth and spoke.
She told me so many stories
About her defeats and glories
About the days of her youth
And how those memories are too precious to lose.
She told me about the many things she did
Like the time she broke her mother?s mirror when she was a kid
And how her mother forgave her and gave her a kiss
And how she ran out to play when she was dismissed.
She told me about the best times she had
But she also told me about the times that were really sad.
About the time her brother was killed
And about the time she couldn?t have her house rebuilt
And about the time she lived on the street
And how she faced total defeat.
I saw so many things in those eyes
And I longed to be that wise
To be able to understand the lessons of life
And how it continues even when stabbed by the knife.
She smiled at me and said good-bye
And she vanished without a cry.
Who was this dream-lady that stood before me today?
That stopped me while I was on my way
Where I do not know, for I like to roam
And as I looked about I saw the nursing home.
She wasn't a dream! She was real!
I said with an emotion I never knew I could feel.
And she is not alone
There are others who sit and moan
Who wait for me to come
And uncover the notes of their songs
They wait there
For me to fulfill a mission
To go and see,
And...listen.
July 1994
Age 15