Allow me to digress a little from the usual photographic subjects. This morning, while driving to work and almost frying my brain over somes unpleasant issues cynically awaiting for my arrival at the office, I've got an e-mail from my friend Bob Holmes. I know what you are thinking, but no, I wasn't driving and reading, just checking my e-mails while briefly stucked in traffic, I think it helps dealing with my impatience.

Last month Bob and his wife Marge, celebrated their 60th anniversary in an emotional ceremony among friends, family and some of his 98 foster children, some are no longer kids, but they still call Bob and Marge, "mom and dad". The Holmes Foundation made possible for all these kids to have an education, achieve a college degree and in the process, thanks to Bob's generosity, countless lives have been touched by him.

So, Bob's email subject was: "Once in a while between all those e-mails, comes a gem"  It made me pause... I hope you enjoy it.

Rain...

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman, probably in his 80s, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in ahurry 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; They just make the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.
'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,      
But how to dance in the rain.'We are all getting OlderMake  the  best  of  your  LIFE.