The Train

My husband works in medical supplies, focused on "elder care", meaning nursing homes and hospice. Tonight we attended a golf tournament fundraiser, hosted by a great elder care facility. We skipped the day of golfing and joined them for dinner, program & the raffle drawings. After dinner the Event Chairman got up and thanked the planning committee. He then asked two elderly women to come up and tell us what it's like being a resident in their home. Both women are wheeled up to the podium. The host crouches down near them and begins to ask them questions:

What's your favorite activity at the home?
Going outside to watch the sunset

A darling story ensues from the women, one of the woman's daughter, and the nurses who work with these ladies. One of the women can't see well - an the other woman can't get around except for her wheelchair. So the two women have worked out "The Train" in order to sit outside each evening and watch the sunset.

The women who can walk but not see very well gets OUT of her wheelchair and places it in front of the woman who can see but can't walk. She sits in her chair and pushes the other empty chair in front of her. The woman who can't see gets behind the wheelchair "train" and pushes, listening to the sitting woman for directions of where to go!

So the train is: empty wheelchair being pushed, woman in wheelchair, giving directions, and woman standing behind the "train" giving her energy and following directions!

Guess they get this little "train" going every night and navigate their way outside to watch the sunset. No matter what the weather! The nurse said they bring coats and blankets for the snowy, winter nights and light sweaters for the rest of the year!

The host thanked them for coming and said that they'd had a long day and needed to get back "home". They acted polite but you know they really wanted to get back "home" so that they could get their nightly train going and watch the end of the sunset in peace.

Loved those two - their energy, attitude, and ingenuity. I'd like to ride or push the train some night and sit outside knitting by these two, enjoying a NY sunset.