MEANT TO MEET

Three of my friends have birthdays in a few weeks.  I went into the Dollar Store to purchase birthday cards for them.  I met this amazing woman in the greeting card aisle.  She shared her beliefs about life, which so matched mine.  I totally understood her; and she me.  We did not even exchange names, but I so feel we were meant to meet. 

MEANT TO MEET 

 

I walked into the store 

to buy a few greeting cards. 

Upon locating the birthday aisle, 

I saw her searching too. 

 

She immediately started to talk; 

sharing how the birthdays were all in a row. 

Wanting to find the perfect card for each, 

she had been searching for a while. 

 

She then told me about her son. 

He was just diagnosed with liver cancer. 

“He is only forty-five; way too young. 

I am trying to accept what is happening.” 

 

I then replied, “Embrace what naturally comes. 

There are no rules for how one must feel. 

Allow your emotions to be what they are. 

This is a huge loss for any parent.” 

 

She then calmly told me about her husband; 

who is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease; adding; 

‘It is okay as we all have good and bad times. 

One must remember to embrace it all”. 

 

She was such a strong reminder to me 

about what is most important in life; as then said, 

“The important gift is who is in one’s life; 

as life truly is all about loss, but more importantly; 

                     it is also about love.” 

 

We were so meant to talk to each other. 

 We were so meant  

                              to meet. 

SIMILARITIES

I meet so many people in my role as a hospice admission Social Worker.  Yes, there are similarities now and then, as all are coping with a terminal diagnosis.  We all cope individually as what works for one, may not help another.  

The two patients and families I met today so amazed me with the number of similarities.  It gave me goosebumps as it felt like such a connection between two families.  So amazingly, during the first admission, her husband was born in Canada and came to America at age five.  The second patient was also born in Canada and came to America at the same age.  In the end, I felt such strong love between the patient and their family.  In the end, that is the best similarity of all. 

SIMILARITIES 

 

I did two hospice admissions today; 

noting that both suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. 

We can, now and then, be surprised by the coincidence, 

but then, similarities do happen occasionally. 

 

He was diagnosed at age sixty, but then, so was she. 

Both have birthdays in February; born four years apart. 

Surprisingly, both were diagnosed at age sixty; 

while coming onto hospice three hours apart. 

 

She was a Special Education teacher; 

with a Danish married last name. 

Amazingly, his wife currently teaches special ed; 

with a maiden name being that same Danish name. 

 

Both can slowly ambulate without devices, 

but need someone nearby as are a bit unsteady. 

Neither can communicate very much 

as can only mumble just a few words. 

 

Both families were receptive to a hospice volunteer. 

When asked about what a volunteer could help with; 

I, by then, not surprisingly, heard the same thing. 

“Oh, they love the 60’s and 70’s Rock & Roll.” 

 

Coincidences; parallels, connections; 

but most of all; 

                   profound similarities.