I stumbled upon the video that’s at the bottom of this article and was so moved that I knew I had to share it with Liberal America. In the video, a daughter is lying in bed with her 87-year-old mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Their interchange is so precious that it may bring tears to your eyes, unless you’re a tough old broad like me. I didn’t have tears. I just smiled and remembered my grandmother and an experience that she and I had together towards the end of her life, and I remembered some of the many family scenes that I witnessed in my time working with old people.
My first job as a teenager was working as a nurse’s aide at a small rural hospital. Urgent and critical?medical cases were generally sent to a bigger hospital 45 minutes away, and many of the patients at our small hospital were elderly patients. Some years later, I also worked as an activity director at a nursing home. Working with old people wasn’t my life’s passion (working with at-risk teens was) — at that time, I was way too hyperactive to be the world’s best skilled nursing activity director — but I did it to the best of my ability, the old people liked me, and I feel blessed to have had?the opportunity to work with?these beautiful old people.
I learned a lot. About life…love…family…relationships…regrets. In short: “I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention” seemed to be the general consensus. My experiences with them enriched my life beyond measure.
My much beloved grandmother, Gladys, spent the last years of her life in a nursing home. There came a time when she no longer remembered my name. It wasn’t devastating to me. It was bittersweet. We want them to remember us. Over and over we asked our aged friends and family members “do you remember my name” and “do you know who I am.” Does it matter so much when they don’t? Not really. On one of my last visits with my grandmother, I asked her “do you know who I am?” She replied, with a smile:
“No, but I know I used to like you.”
There has never been, at any time in my life, a greater compliment paid me. I touched a person’s heart. It meant everything to me. I have many beautiful memories of my time with my Grandma, but?few are sweeter than that one.
This video shows a moment between a mother and daughter that reminds me of my experience with my grandmother. It’s beautiful. This is what it means to be human. So incredible that it was caught on camera. Enjoy.
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Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
