STORYTELLER

The hospice nurse and I met ninety-eight year old, “Jim” today to admit him to hospice. Jim was diagnosed with stomach cancer just three weeks ago. There is no treatment options for him at this time. Jim has accepted his status and poor prognosis with ease.

Jim immediately started to share his amazing life stories. He has had a very interesting life with historic value. Jim put such a positive spin on every aspect of his life; whether good or bad. Jim always focused on the positives in his life. So wonderfully, he also had an amazing sense of humor.

He has two adult children and several grandchildren. He is deeply loved by all of them. The nurse and I immediately fell in love with him. His positive attitude about life was so engaging. He saw life as positive and would not accept any other philosophy. He was an inspiration. I felt honored to have met him, if only for this one short visit.


STORYTELLER
　

Hitting ninety-eight years a few months back,
he tells wonderful stories about his long life.
Although, sadly, a recent cancer diagnosis,
may impede him from ever seeing ninety-nine.

He has no fears about dying.
He sees it like he sees all other of his life events.
Whether good or bad, his philosophy is the same;
"Always stay positive at what life may suddenly bring."

He was born in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era;
being number eleven of the twelve children born.
He spoke about poverty during the Deep Depression.
How they grew vegetables and beef just to survive.

He joined the military during World War II
transporting thousands of injured soldiers
across the Pacific Ocean on the Queen Mary;
sharing stories of courage and escapades too.

He married his sweetheart right after the war.
Not surprising, he shared wonderful stories about their life.
His goal is to live to see March 10th of this year;
to celebrate the 75 years of their marriage together.

He loves talking about his life while telling his stories,
always seeing the positive in every tale.
After he turned ninety, a friend wrote his stories down.
He cleverly titled it, “Nine Decades and Counting.”

When asked about his secret to living a long life,
his answer was simple and to the point,
"Live each day; one at a time."
It is so obvious that he has done this
for over ninety-eight of his glorious years.