Respect Your Elders

For those who don't know, I work at Dixie Regional Medical Center as an Exercise Therapist. One of the best parts of my job are the wonderful people I get to meet. Well, most are wonderful. There's always that one patient who seems pissed off and gives you dirty looks and couldn't care less about what you have to say. Regardless, most patients are very nice and have great stories to tell. Being an avid fly fisherman, I of course casually talk fly fishing with those I find out who do share my interest. For the more serious fisherman I come in contact with, casual turns deep and I find myself desperately seeking stories from the old yet sophisticated minds.

Recently, I came in contact with an elderly gentleman from Boulder Utah. You can guess, as soon as I heard those words from his wrinkly mouth a light went off in my mind. "You ever fished boulder mountain?" The patient smiled, "oh yes, I have fished the boulders." I smiled, and questions began flooding through my mind. It's not everyday you come in contact with someone who has fished one of your favorite mountains for most of their life. Thoughts eventually turned into words and for the following few days I worked with this patient, I picked his brain and learned some good information. We talked about certain lakes that we had both fished, and what it was like on the mountain in the older days. It was fun to hear him talk about how much has changed, both the good and the bad. I had fun telling him some of my stories from the mountain, I could tell it eased the pains and frustrations that were inflicting him. On one particular morning, I returned to his room to find his wife sitting there with him. She seemed upset, and eventually told me that "he wants to die." Being an already emotional person, this was hard for me to hear. I had come to really like working with this patient, and respected him. I, of course, wanted him to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, it had seemed that he had given up, telling me "this disease just may be too much for my old body." I tried to ignore the statement, and kept telling him that he is strong and will make it through. Upon leaving the room for what would be the last time I was assigned to work with him, I told him that I better see him someday out on one of the Boulder lakes casting a line. He smiled, and said "I sure hope so too".

I guess I am writing this so I will not forget this great man  He left an impression on me that I will not forget. Elderly people, such as this man are full of knowledge and touching stories, If you respect these wise souls, and give them your time, they will enrich your life in more ways than one.