Rhonda,
Thank you for sharing this with us.  It really touched me in a very special 
way.
Virgie and Hoshi
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rhonda Partain" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 4:28 PM
Subject: what real love is


> THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT
>
> It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman 
> in
> his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated  that
> he
> was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
>
> I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over 
> an
> hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at  his
> watch
> and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I  would evaluate
> his wound.
>
> On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the
> needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
>
> While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation.  I
> asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in 
> such
> hurry.
> The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the
> nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
>
> I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there  for 
> a
> while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease. As we  talked, and I
> finished
> dressing his wound, I asked if she would be
> worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he
> was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
>
> I was surprised, and asked him. "And you still go every morning, even
> though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand  and
> said. "She
> doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."
>
> I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and
> thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life." True love is 
> neither
> physical,
> nor romantic.
>
> True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will 
> not
> be.
>
> With all the jokes and fun that are in e- mails,    sometimes there are
> some that come along that have an important message, and this is one of
> those
> kinds. Just had to share it with you all.
>
> Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank.
>
> "The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; 
> they
> just make the best of everything that comes along their way."
>
> Please share this with someone you care about -
>
> I JUST DID.
>