WASHER

The hospice nurse and I went out to admit, "Betty", eighty-four, to our hospice program. Betty had suffered from lung disease for years. She was in a recent, rapid decline. We went out to meet Betty and her daughter, "Patricia". Patricia, the nurse and I sat in the living room of Betty's home to admit her to our hospice program.

During the Admission Visit, we educate patients and families about our program and the twenty-four hour support. During the course of our visit, Patricia started to share life stories about both of her parents. It was then when she shared the story about the washer. It gave Patricia peace; knowing and believing that her father placed the washer there.

I frequently hear stories from families on how a deceased loved one comes back after their death to let the family know that they are still around. Maybe not physically, but their spirit and devotion are forever with those whom they loved while on Earth. It validates to me that death may not be an ending, but a beginning. Room for thought I am sure.


WASHER　

He was an Engineer by trade.
He knew all about washers, bolts and screws.
He was totally devoted to his profession,
but his family always came first.

His focus was on his wife and children.
Their needs so important to him.
He was regularly there to fix what was broken
or to bandage up a child's skinned knee.

She was telling me about her father.
How he died five years ago from cancer.
He was buried in the local cemetery.
She revisited his gravesite the very next day.

There was just a rectangle square of smooth soil
as his tombstone was not yet placed.
Right in the middle, in the perfect center of it all
was a small, silver coated washer.

How did it land so perfectly centered?
Did her father place it there?
She then drove over to visit her mother.
She found her trying to stop a faucet leak.

She didn't know how to fix it.
She couldn't make it stop.
Her daughter then told her about the gravesite.
She immediately knew what to do.

While she replaced the worn out washer,
she felt his love; his tenderness; his devotion.
He was still caring for his family.
She then knew he would always be around.