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 are 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;

I just did.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.'