HER DREAMS

I met ninety-nine year old "Margaret" today. She touched me from the start. She sat so upright in her recliner chair as we walked into her home; looking regal while sitting up so straight. Her humor immediately shown through. She'd laugh so hard at herself. Her laugh was contagious which made us all laugh as well. She was such a delight.

Margaret earned her bachelors degree from Stanford University in 1942. She had no fears of not completing her goal of a teaching degree. She taught the prisoners in the Internment Camps during WWII. She never had doubts of not achieving her goals.

She took a break from teaching while raising her five children. She set the same high standards for them while giving them the same courage she had for her success; embracing them with love and maintainable goals.

All of her children graduated from college. Three are College Professors; following their mother's path; while the other two created their own personal paths of success. Margaret amazed me as doubts and not succeeding were never in her thoughts. Now that she is dying, she wants to be able to manage that as well. This may be the first time she will learn to just let go and allow her life to flow its natural path. I wish her well.

 HER DREAMS　

She'll be ninety-nine in a few weeks.
She's had a long, amazing life.
A trail blazer from the beginning.
Nothing has ever stopped her
          from following her dreams.

She attended college in the 1940's
where few other women ever dared.
Earning a teaching degree; making a difference.
Her strong ambition easing her way.

She taught high school for years
while raising her five children her way.
She was strict with high expectations
teaching them to follow their special dreams.

Somehow she always knew how to succeed.
She naturally understood which way to turn.
It never mattered what society expected;
nothing ever stopped her from reaching her goal.

Now her heart is failing.
She is slowly winding down.
She is weak, having trouble walking;
spending her days quietly in her chair.

Throughout her life, the answers came easy.
She always knew which way to turn.
Now, for the first time, there is no solution in sight.
          "I just don't know how to die."