This week, when taking care of a woman who was dying, I asked her if she could do anything she wanted in the next few days before she died what it would be. She looked me straight in the eye, smiled, and said "well I would go down to Joplin because there is lady there who has the best recipe for pancakes. They are dollar sized and you can get all you want". "Boy are they good."
Everybody has a story. A story about the beginning, the middle, or the end of their life. I have heard stories that are amazing, tragic, courageous, heartwarming, incredibly sad, and totally unbelievable. My very favorite stories, the ones that I will remember for ever and ever and ever, are the plain-old ordinary stories. Like the lady who wanted to get home so she could see the first snowfall out of her picture window in the living room, and road trips to Joplin for dollar sized pancakes.
Before Loretta got too sleepy to talk anymore, we discussed packing our overnight bags, getting in the car, and heading south. We decided when we got there we would sit at the counter instead of a booth and order bacon on the side. I told her I would let the waitress know that we both like lots of syrup so we would need extra... and to keep the coffee coming. Then we smiled at each other and she closed her eyes and I carried on with my day.
The end.
Lovely, Carol! ;o)
Posted by: jacki long | 08/26/2017 at 12:10 PM
What a lovely post!
Posted by: Maureen | 08/26/2017 at 12:56 PM
You are so beautiful.
Posted by: Geraldine | 08/26/2017 at 01:04 PM
Thank you, Carol, for chosing the career you have and sharing your wisdom with us.
Posted by: Amy in Texas | 08/26/2017 at 02:39 PM
How lucky she was to have you to share some time with, discussing pancakes, syrup, sitting at the counter, and other important matters.
Posted by: Vicki in Michigan | 08/26/2017 at 02:47 PM
I hope when my time comes I am lucky enough to have a courageous and loving person like you by my side.
Posted by: Chris | 08/27/2017 at 10:23 AM
I always love your posts about your experiences doing the work you have chosen to do. Bless you!
Posted by: barbara | 08/27/2017 at 05:20 PM
Now that is a conversation to be treasured.
Posted by: Linda Watson | 08/27/2017 at 09:18 PM
Bless your beautiful heart!
Posted by: kath | 08/28/2017 at 09:30 AM
You are amazing.
Posted by: Sharon | 08/29/2017 at 05:05 AM
thank God for you and the way you do the work you do. God bless Loretta too.
Posted by: stacey | 08/31/2017 at 06:24 AM
Loretta lives on....thanks.
Posted by: Missy | 08/31/2017 at 08:34 AM
what a beautiful thing you did this day
Posted by: SusanS | 09/02/2017 at 10:18 PM