The look of the cake...old, wrinkled, sagging skin, muscle weakness, hard of hearing, wheelchair bound, tortuously slow-shuffling gaits, diapers, food spilled down their fronts, uncomfortable and frustrated. This describes only a few of the people I have transported in the past few weeks.
It ain't always the taste...mostly, I've been fortunate enough to be in the company of people genuinely happy...to get outside and have someone they can depend on to get them where they need to go, to be picked up on time, to be going by wheelchair instead of stretcher, to have someone to talk to, to be smiled at, to be looked into the eyes with sincerity, and to have their hand held in greeting and goodbyes.
Driving the wheelchair van, a.k.a. Para-Transit, the past 3 weeks has given me a unique perspective on the lives and personalities of the older generations. I've been graced with the presence of beautiful people who have experienced so much more than I have and all of whom have amazing stories to share if given the chance or right circumstance.
Following are some of the things I've been told while transporting my elders:
"You look so healthy!"
"I knew you did something outside, like run. You looks so tan."
"The pretty woman's gonna drive you."
"What's that...a skull on that car? I guess people like that sort of thing these days."
"You know, I was still driving my car before I got hurt. I only drive during the day. Not at night. I can't wait to get better so I can drive myself to the grocery store."
"I'm so pleased you're here. I had to come by stretcher. I'm so glad I can go in my wheelchair!"
"I hope it's you who comes and takes me the next time I have to go."
"Oh! They've never been on time before! You know what it is? It's because they sent a woman this time!"
"I immigrated here with my husband during WWII. I have such fond memories of Germany...and sad ones, too. I used to swim in the Rhine River."
"Is there a back door you can you take me through? I don't want my friends to see me like this."
"You know that song, Dust in the Wind? Well, that's what I think of when I see the Rocky Mountains looming in my backyard. They make me feel small. It's good to feel small. Things change, moments pass, nothing lasts forever. I don't need a kidney transplant. I've lived a good life. I'm satisfied."
Some of the people I've transported have not been able to talk to me for various reasons.
I knew that my patient with Parkinson's understood me as I squeezed his hand and looked into his beautiful, clear, blue eyes to say goodbye. With his gaze deeply fixed upon mine and my hand held tightly in his, I like to think that he would not let go because he didn't want me to leave. In reality, his Parkinson's made his muscles stiff. Oh well, I'm still gonna think that he wanted me to stick around.
My patient who was deaf had to be transported by stretcher. I sat in the back with him while my partner drove. He could read lips so we were able to communicate a little. We also used hand gestures to communicate...I wished so badly that I could remember what I had learned from my ASL class. He was tired and really wanted to rest on the way to his nursing home. At one point, during the drive, he needed help moving so he was not lying on his decubitus ulcer which was on his bottom. I held his hand to help him and then he didn't want to let go. So, I gladly held his hand while he slept. It made me sad to think that he might be going someplace where he would spend his days alone, with little human contact. As I was leaving him in his room, he smiled at me, looked into my eyes, and said goodbye like someone does when they can't hear how they sound. I hope I was able to provide him with a little comfort and company, even if for a short time.
I look forward to the new people I get to meet each day. My greatest desire is to share a little brightness...sunshine...smiles...sparkle...into their lives as they progress on their journey of healing and rehabilitation.
*Lyrics from the Black Keys: "Next Girl"
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