COWBOY

"Mike," ninety-eight years old, came onto hospice today due to weakness and multiple falls. Mike lives alone in a Residential Care Facility. He loves it there and has been very active until one week ago when he ended up twice in the Emergency Room after two separate falls. Since then, Mike has lost weight and is eating poorly.

The hospice nurse and I met Mike and his son, "Buddy", in Mike's apartment. Mike initially appeared very frail, thin and weak. Once we walked up to him sitting in his recliner, he showed us the biggest smile. Mike has such a positive outlook on life and laughed so easily.

Mike and Buddy started to share family stories about Mike's past of being a cowboy. Buddy stated that this past week has been such a dramatic decline for his father. Eight months ago, Mike was riding his bicycle thirty to forty miles several days each week. Currently he struggles when using his walker. He is at high risk for falling.

Mike started sharing many stories about his life. He was so engaging in his positive attitude. On our way out the door, after an hour of Mike's amazing stories, we saw him tough and rugged; the true him.

Every experience each of us has had, makes us who we are today. It doesn't get much better than that.


COWBOY

Looking at him,
one would never guess;
his rugged life;
his exciting past.

He's frail, he's thin.
Wobbly on his feet.
What most of us would expect
after ninety-eight years of life.

He will talk about his wife.
He is so proud of his son.
His family has always come first.
He feels blessed for it to be so.

He was in the Cavalry in the 1930s.
Riding his horse throughout the US.
He then became a cowboy for years.
A drover on the plains.

While sharing his stories
you begin to see the true him.
His spirit shines brightly
sharing his soul: exposing his truth;
          big, strong,
                   tough, rugged.

Forevermore;
          The Cowboy.