《 真 愛 》
《真 愛》
這是一個忙碌的早晨，大約 8 點半，醫院來了一位 8 旬左右的老先生，要求給他的大拇指拆線。他說在趕時間，得趕赴 9 點鐘的約會。
幫他量了體溫、脈搏、血壓後，便請他坐在一旁等候。我知道在這樣忙碌的早晨，至少得等一小時才會輪到他看病。看他盯著錶看，心中便下了決定，既然我一時間沒有別的病人，那麼乾脆由我來評估他的傷勢。
檢查他的傷口發覺癒合良好，因此我自告奮勇跟醫師要了必要器材，幫他移除縫線和整理傷口。一面拆線，我一面問他今天早晨是不是還跟其他的醫師有約？不然為什麼要這麼急？老先生回說他並沒有跟其他醫師有約，他只是要趕去療養院與他的妻子共進早餐。
問及他妻子的健康狀況，他告知老伴已在療養院待了好長一段時間，老太太患有阿茲海默症。我問他如果他遲到，老太太會不會不高興。他說她已不認得他了，認不出他來已有 5 年之久。
我很驚訝，問他：「而你還是每天早晨去陪她，即便她已不知道你是誰？」 老先生微笑拍著我的手說：「她不認得我，但我認得她啊！」
當他起身離去時，我必須強忍住才不至掉淚。我微微顫抖，心想這就是我們這輩子真正想要的『 愛 』。
真正的愛並不激情，也不浪漫。真正的愛是全然地接受，對於對方過去、現在、和未來的樣子，全然地接受。
快樂的人不見得擁有全天下最好的東西，他們只是把擁有的做最好的運用。而生命也不僅僅只在求生存而已，生命是：即便在雨天，也要想法快樂地跳舞。
《English Version》
How To Dance In The Rain
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's,arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if h had another 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 inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
As we talked, I asked if she would be upset 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.
I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
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 romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message.
This one I thought I could share with you.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.
'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'
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