yesterday i went to do my service hours with amy and august at a convalescent home in Norwalk. i have to say it was quite an experience; it breaks your heart to see these people and not know what their situation is and if their family's ever come and visit them. most of them are not coherent enough to have an intelligent conversation with you, but just the same are beautiful in their own way and still can give a smile or a hug. at one point i was in the activities room with some of the elders and they were making ghosts to hang up for halloween (it's like preschool, but on the opposite end). one lady, Beverly that i was helping just kept repeating over and over that she couldn't do it or "i give up". i kept encouraging her, telling her that it looked good and then asked her if she would like some help. at those words she sort of lit up and you could tell she just loved watching me paint the ghost for her. it was just really cute. another lady, who was struggling with her's as well, asked me if i wanted to finish it for her. i gladly went over and helped her and she kept telling me that she wasn't feeling well today. then her husband came in to visit her and her attitude completely changed. it was amazing! she perked up and delighted in showing him the pumpkin she had colored. he had the biggest smile on his face and i could tell that he was just so happy to be with her. it really touches your heart and opens your eyes to the fact that life really never does change. just as a preschooler is excited to show thier parent their picture, this woman was excited to show her husband the creation she had made. that is one moment i hope i never forget as long as i live.
another lady, Alice, we visited her in her room and talked to her for maybe an hour. she just LOVED having someone to talk to. she has some type of brain cancer or something, but her mind is completely there, although she did tell us several stories several times. i didn't mind and actually i'm glad she did. i think her meaning had much more effect after repetition. she was a feisty little old woman! it was amazing! she was very firm about the fact that she wanted her old diet back and did not like the tasteless mush they gave her for lunch. she told us about her daughter, who visits her and about all the books she likes to read and asked us what we all wanted to do after school. one thing that really stuck with me was that she kept repeating "i bet you girls are learning so much". at first i didn't really know what she meant, but then as i thought about it, i did learn so much and not nearly enough from these people, who all have stories and feelings and something to bring to this world no matter their age.
i don't really even know how to explain all the things that i felt and have become aware of, but i guess the best thing i can relate it to is that after we left august amy and i hung out at amy's house for a while and just sat on her bed talking about things, listening to music and having fun. it occurs to me now that almost everyone of them did that back when they were young and look where they are now. why is it fair that the younger generation can just think they have the right to put them in a place where they are taken care of and forget about the fact that they are people. just think about it. and i'm not saying that it is wrong to put a family member in a convalescent home by any means; i know that many of them have no choice. all i'm saying is being there they don't get to experience the same type of social life and it is our obligation and duty to remember them for who they are and what they do for this world, cause although elderly, they bring so much to this world. we can't think of them as "on their way out". and also not that all their families do forget them, like the man who came to visit his wife and Alice said her daughter , but i'm sure it is true of some.
well, i'll leave my thoughts here. it was a very good weekend, full of learning experiences :)
i'll get those pics up at some point...
night!
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