I met Grace at the hospital on a beautiful spring day. She was looking out the window of her Oncology unit room; wisps of hair peaking out of a colorful paisley scarf. Her eyes were brightly frosted with tears as she looked out over the...
When our kids were young, they spent each summer day outside. Our neighborhood was full of kids, and the nearby community swimming pool was the epicenter of summer activities. As soon as Memorial Day hit, the kids rode their bikes down to the pool to...
If you are about my age, you may remember the CBS TV Show “Get Smart”. The series ran in the late 60s and combined the spy genre themes of James Bond with the comedic brilliance of Mel Brooks. When Secret Agent Maxwell Smart didn’t want to...
“I must have lifted too much weight at the gym!” Bob complained to my mom. Bob was my mother’s 84-year-old husband. Every morning at 5:30am he would go to the gym, joke around with the guys, and lift weights. A bout with metastatic colon cancer...
Ruth was sitting up in her bed, quietly clapping her hands to music no one else could hear. “Isn’t this the most beautiful party?” How do you respond? Brian and Sharon have cared for Ruth in their home for the last 12 years. They have learned...
“I love my neighborhood! Lived here for 50 years, and can’t imagine living anywhere else! I’ve seen all the neighborhood kids grow up right next to my own, and now I see new little ones come trick or treating at my door. See that tree...
Nancy quietly contemplated the newly decorated Christmas tree glowing across the living room. The small white lights gave a warm and peaceful glow to her childhood home, illuminating the newly arrived hospital bed in which her mother nestled. A small smile came to Nancy’s lips...
John pulled his tired and old frame back into the airport wheelchair, his old legs nearly giving out. He wasn’t as strong as he used to be! The trip to the airport in Colorado Springs had been hard enough. The plane aisle was hard to...
Erika, an ACCfamily caregiver, came to this country from El Salvador 17 years ago. At first it was a difficult transition. Her English wasn’t good enough for many jobs, so she worked as a cleaner while she took English classes, eventually qualifying for Job Corps...
“How old are you on the inside?” If you are around 50, I’ll bet you feel like a person in their 30s. My mom is 78, but she really feels like she’s 60. Ask around, and I’ll bet you’ll find that most people feel 15-20...