remember me

Remember me

Let us all pretend this is a fiction story without any truth what so ever. It will make this easier to read. This story takes place in any city or state in America and perhaps the world. We open at a nursing home somewhere in America where the elderly are placed by loved ones because they can no longer take care of themselves. All names have been changed.

The elderly come out of there rooms and stand at there doorways with sadness in their hearts. They stand in silence to say good by to Hattie who at 89 died alone in her sleep last night sometime. Hattie was very active for a woman her age and all ways had something nice or helpful to say to everyone at the home. She loved to talk about her two kids and four grandkids and even carried pictures with her everyday of her life. She loved them dearly. She perked right up when showing off her pictures and talking about her family. Her husband died when he was only fifty years old and she never remarried. Hattie lived at the home for nine years and the other guest at the home only saw Hattie children three or four times when they found the time to visit her.

Roy a man about seventy three only lost his wife two years before and his children not wanting him to be alone placed him at the nursing home. He has made some friends at the home but he still sits alone most of the time by the front door waiting for the time when his four sons might come for a visit. They all promised to show up last Christmas but things came up I guess and Roy just sat by the door all Christmas day and even refused to eat. It was sad to watch him as he kept a look out in the front room for someone to come and visit with him. If the door began to open he sat up so straight in the chair only to slump back down when it was not his sons. He thought for sure at least one of his sons would make it, after all its Christmas the time of great joy. Roy’s joy was his children.

Melba is clearly the ring leader at the home. She all ways dose her best to visit everyone at the home and encourage them all not to give up. Melba is witty and loves to joke around. She knows all to well how lonely a nursing home can be. Her daughter dose come for a visit once a week but seems not to have too much to say too Melba when she is there. Come on let’s get up and do something Melba will yell. We can go out to the garden and see the flowers she cries. Many of the guests at the home get up and follow Melba to the garden. It helps fight the loneliness of a very long day. Melba a small woman argues with the director of the home daily for better food and get some good movies for them to watch. Were old but still kicking she screams to anyone who will listen to her. She knows many of the elderly just sit and wait to die and dose her best to cheer them all up in any way she can think of. However most feel unloved and forgotten and that is so hard to except at any age.

Nobody really knows much about Nancy but there is a rumor that she was a very rich woman. Her children thought she was acting forgetful and a bit crazy so they put her in the home so she can be well taken care of. Nancy talks to no one but she dose cry a lot at night. All the elderly hear her sobbing and some have even knocked on her door but she dose not let them in. she is so sad. Melba once told the others she had lost the will to live. Once Nancy was talking to a social worker and all Nancy said was I just want to die, I have nothing left to live for. She is really not that old yet without her loved ones around she just dose not want to go on living. She sits in a chair by the window in her bedroom holding a picture of her family that was taken one thanksgiving.

Old man carter is the oldest at the home. Someone said he is very near the 100 mark. He is a sweet old guy but believes his children are coming to take him home. Everyday he packs his clothes in an old brown suitcase and waits in his room. The aids have started making jokes about him and even laugh at him when he tells them no dinner for me tonight I am going home again. He has only been hear for a year now and it is doubtful anyone is coming to take him home. He has only had one visitor in the whole year. Maybe his family has all died because you would think someone would come and look in on him by now. He is so alone. He was a school teacher most of his life yet none of his students even came to say hello.

Today the guest are really worried about Jane she has been ill for sometime. They fear that she too will pass a way in the night and all alone. Her daughters do come to see her once in a while but they all ways seem to be annoyed with her while they are there. Stop complaining mom they tell her sternly, I have a job and can’t stay home and take care of you. You have to come to terms with this because this is where you live now. Jane cries and her daughters just walk out of the room and stand in the hallway talking on the cell phone. Jane has said many times I am scared and I just want to go home, I don’t want to be hear. Most of the guests believe when Jane dies it won’t be because of an illness as much as from a broken heart.

The people in this story could be any ones mother or father even grandparents. It is happening every day in homes for the elderly across the nation. Human being who still need love and affection as well as to know that somebody cares about them. They wait each and every day for any family member to come for even a short visit and sadly most are disappointed as they sit alone. Are we all so busy today that we can’t take time out of our day to cheer up a family member who needs us desperately? Are we all to be tossed a way and forgotten because we dared to age over time? They walk the hallways searching for a familiar face, stare out the window filled with hope as they keep a watch for family and friends. They pray at night just to be remembered.


Judy Ann eichstedt
7144 east Newton Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74115
www.2012thelastentries.com a book you need to read
Co author 2012 the last entries
Whispers of truth a book about poverty and homelessness