"YEAH"

Eighty-eight year old “Lucy” suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. She resides in the Memory Care Unit of a large senior complex. Her husband, “George” lives in the same complex, although in the assisted living section. George recently fell and injured his hip. He spent a few days in the hospital to return back home needing to use a wheelchair.

George and Lucy have eight children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family is amazing and so devoted to their parents. Family is rallying around as Lucy has had a sudden decline. She is unresponsive and her death is imminent.

I went out to do a visit to check in and give support to the family. While I was in Lucy’s room, a staff member wheeled George in to visit his wife. George typically doesn’t say much, but you can see the love in his eyes for his wife of seventy years. His daughter started to tell the story about her parents. Her mother was six and her father was three years older, when they met each other living in the same neighborhood.

She shared that ten years later when her father was in the service, her mother “went after him” as she knew he was the one for her. George filled in the story when prompted by his daughter. As the story progressed, George started talking more about that first official date.

He said they went out to dinner and then to a movie. I asked him what movie they saw and he remembered that it was called “The Four Feathers”. He added that it was a British war movie. His daughter was surprised that he remembered the name of the movie they saw.

I know that George will be sad for a while, but he has eighty-two years of amazing memories to hold on to of he and Lucy’s life together. Hopefully that, with the tremendous support from his family, will help him get through the tough days ahead.
 
“YEAH”

　
They wheeled him in to see her.
You could see the sadness in his face.
He was losing his wife of seventy years.
Not ready to say goodbye.

He spoke about how they met.
She was six, he was nine.
Neighborhood pals from the start.
Not aware of what their future would be.

Years later he joined the service
in the midst of World War II.
She knew he was the one for her,
so she went to claim her man.

They went out to dinner.
They went to see a show.
Their first official date.
His wallet now bare.

He couldn’t afford transportation.
His money had all been spent.
So he walked the seven miles home.
Thoughts of her, I’m sure, on his mind.

I asked him if it was worth the walk.
You could see him thinking back in time.
A beautiful, genuine smile crossed his face,
as he slowly replied
       “Y-e-a-h”.