Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go. Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air con worked in his car so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air con kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day.
When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grand parents and your parents and how pissed you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you.
Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, they were able.... Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people gave a sh*t about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence and geez I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me.
Credit: Adele Barbaro
OPEN FORUM. This is a new concept in blogging.
In future ALL posts on this Site will have a section to be known as 'OPEN FORUM. this is to be introduced as from now and a reminder of this promulgated at each time a new post arrives. Open Forum comments are not restricted to the current post, however, it would be advisable not to retro too far into the archives. When referring to comments in archives, you will be advised to mention the post and it's date. Open forum comments Shall Not relate to the current posts, and must be headed 'Open Forum. Open talk opens the way to further talk, as does wine or love, and a little bit of gossip is good for the soul, another good thing about gossip is that it is within every ones reach. The more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm of conversation.
Comments
Now that is strange, I also know a local tribe who are saddled with a perfectly miserable twit similar to your son, the pair should live together, the result would be hilarious.