Day 977

Ranger and I were with some of our favorite seniors today. Starting in Memory Care, and then paying visits to those in Assisted Living, we seemed to bring smiles to everyone…even Ranger!

One of our most special ladies had had a scare the other night. She was unable to rouse someone when she was in need. As her story progressed, we learned that it had turned out alright and there was a collective sigh of relief from her audience. As the visit continued, she talked about how tough she was. I then inquired if there was ANYTHING she was afraid of in this world. She answered almost immediately, “Being alone.” I knew what she was referring to and realized how her scare had affected her life in general. Sweet lady…

With our Goldens near, and always ready to share their love, we do not find ourselves alone very often. Having said that, there are times when I have found myself alone in this life. Mostly, I relish a few moments, but soon feel loneliness creeping in. Suddenly, a solitary life loses its luster and I quickly connect with loved ones by phone, text, FaceTime or email. I thrive on human contact!

Unfortunately, I saw more than a couple viscerally lonely seniors today. We did our best, but I could have spent hours there while holding hands, hugging or simply breathing the same air. It chips away at my heart. Trying to do our part, but feeling like it’s not enough.

As humans, with hearts that care, perhaps connecting with one lonely person during a given week, might keep that loneliness at bay. It’s a gift we can all afford because it costs nothing… only our time.