True love

It was a hectic morning, about 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to see me. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before I would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and felt bit bad about it. If I was not busy with another appointment, I would have spent time with him.

While I was checking what he had written (he required me to read his article before sending it to the newspaper), we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired about her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease (a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities).

As we talked, and I finished reading his story, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. He smiled as he patted my hand and said. "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life." True love is neither physical nor intellectual.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.