i went to cleveland this weekend. i went to see poppa.






i took these photos of him over memorial day...last time i was there to see him. this time things were finally changing. finally getting better for him, though perhaps harder for others. he spent 5 days in hospice for a respite stay. one moment stands out for me from the weekend, and it had little to do with my grandpa.

i had stepped out into the hallway. while i was there, a young man was wheeling down the lane in his wheelchair. not being able to take my therapist/work pants off, i struck up a conversation with this man. in addition to being in his 30's and in a wheelchair, he was experiencing other effects of whatever was ailing him...drooling, paralyzed hand, and impaired vision.

me: what's your name?
him: johnny, what's yours?
me: kaye. where are you headed?
johnny: back to my floor. i just came up here to pray for all of these people. i will pray for you too, kaye.
me: thank you, johnny. i will do the same.

[exit johnny]

i don't have too much else to say about this, except i am sure that every moment in life happens for a reason. i can't even say that i am religious...but what i can say is this is not an experience that i will forget. poppa moved into a nursing home today and now i can finally breathe a sigh of relief. but, i can't tell you how challenging it is to have my professional and personal life coincide. in one life i get paid to deal with it, and in the other, i can't pay people to listen.