"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. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over in an hour. I saw him looking at his watch and decided I would evaluate his wound. It was well healed, so I got the needed supplies to remove his stitches. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment, as he was in such a hurry. He told me no, but he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired of her health. He said she had been there for a while & 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, & 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 was holding back my tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, & thought,'That is the kind of love I want in my life'"... True love is neither physical, nor romantic. It is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be...