WOW! That was special!
It doesn't take much for HUH? What's up with that? to become a WOW! Did you see that? moment!
So many slights, rebuffs, or rude actions towards senior citizens catch my attention, but just as many wonderful displays of respect are shown too! I would be remiss in my reporting if I didn't take the time to tell you about a few select happenings. Let's begin where it would be so easy to neglect or be rude to older people, a nursing home.
My mother is the oldest person in her current residence in Indianapolis. By any other name, a nursing home is still a nursing home, but to me it's a staging area. However, the people who work in places such as nursing homes, hospitals and other care-giving jobs are exceptional human beings.
If I had to guess, I'd say Roberta is 28-30 years old. We had not met until a week ago when I last visited my mom. Roberta came up to my mother, smiled at her and asked how she was feeling. They talked for a minute or so and all the while, Roberta was holding my mom's hand. Before she left, she asked her if she wanted to join the card game with other residents at 1:30. I thought about how nice it was for a nurse to take a moment to make this wheelchair-bound senior citizen feel special. A little while later, I found out Roberta is not a nurse, but, one of a number of orderlies. For all I know, she could be in medical school, or living paycheck to paycheck. Her manner, genuine warmth, and gentleness told me this woman was where she wanted to be right now. As she left my mom and caught up with another resident down the hall, I was reminded of another touching moment the previous week.
23 year old Nick is a part-time clerk in the supermarket I most often frequent. He also has another week to go as a student teacher. I retired from education, so he and I have often discussed different aspects of his chosen profession. As I approached the Customer Service desk, an elderly gentleman in a motorized cart was trying to navigate his way past an extended rope to position himself in front of Nick. By the look of agitation on his face, clearly the customer had a grievance to discuss. Compounding the apparent problem, the man drove the cart on top of the base holding a stanchion and crashed the cart into the desk. I couldn't tell if the driver's lack of driving ability or his discomposure caused the one-vehicle accident. At the same time, whether out of embarrassment
or anger, the gentleman let out a string of expletives half the store heard! Very calmly and without hesitation, Nick said, Sir, you don't really want to talk that way because I've seen you in here before and you are a very courteous man. Can I get you a glass of water and then you can tell me what's going on? It was one of those moments when you absolutely knew the dynamics of the situation had reversed. The man looked at Nick, broke out in a smile and replied, You are going to do okay in this life, my friend. It was the cause of a WOW moment and as I turned around to share a smile with the person behind me, I saw an elderly lady I recognized at the back of the line.
I have seen Emma in the same store many times and talked to her just as often. She is severely stooped over and I imagine it's from a degenerative bone disease. In fact, she is so bent over, her normal view is the floor. From time to time, I have offered my assistance to reach an item on a high shelf or to help her find a bench to sit and rest. I asked her if she wanted to take my place in line and she declined, so, I relinquished my place and moved to where she was standing. Emma was telling me she was waiting on a bus and it would be an hour to an hour and a half before one arrived. The self-serve checkout was just a few feet from us and I noticed a young woman with two small kids who appeared to be listening to our conversation. At first, the thought crossed my mind that the woman knew Emma or me and couldn't figure out the logistics. After completing her transaction, she wheeled her cart to where we were standing. She extended her hand to Emma and said, Hi, my name is Kayla and I heard what you were saying about a bus. If you can stand riding with a 4 year old and a 6 year old, I'd be glad to give you a ride home. It was a truly stunning moment. But, even as wonderful as each of those moments were, none of them match the feeling I had after Tim left my office for the last time before my retirement.
Tim is a Social Science teacher located up a flight of stairs outside my classroom. I was sitting in my office when he walked in and sat down. He was in his mid-20s and had come downstairs to discuss many issues over the few years we worked together. He worked hard, put in lots of hours, helped our Riley Children's Hospital Fund Drive succeed, and was senior class sponsor. On this my last day, Tim walked in and proceeded to tell me how my mentorship had helped him grow as a teacher and as a person. He said, Thank you for all you've done for me. I've learned a lot from you, and I will pay it back by helping new teachers. Admittedly, I was surprised by his kind words and became quite flustered. I know I said something totally inane back to him. After he left, I sat in my chair and thought about the years spent in education and found myself thinking of lots of great memories. Collectively, the years flew by, but Tim left me thinking, WOW! That was special!
If I had to guess, I'd say Roberta is 28-30 years old. We had not met until a week ago when I last visited my mom. Roberta came up to my mother, smiled at her and asked how she was feeling. They talked for a minute or so and all the while, Roberta was holding my mom's hand. Before she left, she asked her if she wanted to join the card game with other residents at 1:30. I thought about how nice it was for a nurse to take a moment to make this wheelchair-bound senior citizen feel special. A little while later, I found out Roberta is not a nurse, but, one of a number of orderlies. For all I know, she could be in medical school, or living paycheck to paycheck. Her manner, genuine warmth, and gentleness told me this woman was where she wanted to be right now. As she left my mom and caught up with another resident down the hall, I was reminded of another touching moment the previous week.
23 year old Nick is a part-time clerk in the supermarket I most often frequent. He also has another week to go as a student teacher. I retired from education, so he and I have often discussed different aspects of his chosen profession. As I approached the Customer Service desk, an elderly gentleman in a motorized cart was trying to navigate his way past an extended rope to position himself in front of Nick. By the look of agitation on his face, clearly the customer had a grievance to discuss. Compounding the apparent problem, the man drove the cart on top of the base holding a stanchion and crashed the cart into the desk. I couldn't tell if the driver's lack of driving ability or his discomposure caused the one-vehicle accident. At the same time, whether out of embarrassment
or anger, the gentleman let out a string of expletives half the store heard! Very calmly and without hesitation, Nick said, Sir, you don't really want to talk that way because I've seen you in here before and you are a very courteous man. Can I get you a glass of water and then you can tell me what's going on? It was one of those moments when you absolutely knew the dynamics of the situation had reversed. The man looked at Nick, broke out in a smile and replied, You are going to do okay in this life, my friend. It was the cause of a WOW moment and as I turned around to share a smile with the person behind me, I saw an elderly lady I recognized at the back of the line.
I have seen Emma in the same store many times and talked to her just as often. She is severely stooped over and I imagine it's from a degenerative bone disease. In fact, she is so bent over, her normal view is the floor. From time to time, I have offered my assistance to reach an item on a high shelf or to help her find a bench to sit and rest. I asked her if she wanted to take my place in line and she declined, so, I relinquished my place and moved to where she was standing. Emma was telling me she was waiting on a bus and it would be an hour to an hour and a half before one arrived. The self-serve checkout was just a few feet from us and I noticed a young woman with two small kids who appeared to be listening to our conversation. At first, the thought crossed my mind that the woman knew Emma or me and couldn't figure out the logistics. After completing her transaction, she wheeled her cart to where we were standing. She extended her hand to Emma and said, Hi, my name is Kayla and I heard what you were saying about a bus. If you can stand riding with a 4 year old and a 6 year old, I'd be glad to give you a ride home. It was a truly stunning moment. But, even as wonderful as each of those moments were, none of them match the feeling I had after Tim left my office for the last time before my retirement.
Tim is a Social Science teacher located up a flight of stairs outside my classroom. I was sitting in my office when he walked in and sat down. He was in his mid-20s and had come downstairs to discuss many issues over the few years we worked together. He worked hard, put in lots of hours, helped our Riley Children's Hospital Fund Drive succeed, and was senior class sponsor. On this my last day, Tim walked in and proceeded to tell me how my mentorship had helped him grow as a teacher and as a person. He said, Thank you for all you've done for me. I've learned a lot from you, and I will pay it back by helping new teachers. Admittedly, I was surprised by his kind words and became quite flustered. I know I said something totally inane back to him. After he left, I sat in my chair and thought about the years spent in education and found myself thinking of lots of great memories. Collectively, the years flew by, but Tim left me thinking, WOW! That was special!
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