Mary Says

A tribute to those who care for others in the hospital. The soft pad of hallway feet stops outside the door chocked open to offer a breath of light. The nights turn round to days, as the days plod slowly forward into night, onward, always getting better; a respite doze between the ticks and tocks. Voices of care and understanding, sometimes harsh and bright as the morning thrown through the window, presently aware, are heard through the gossamer veil of a dull, pulsating aura, a halo round the swift movements so well trained, so familiar, yet still a stranger. These nurses ... they do not know me, yet they know my needs. A shift here, a pillow there, a sip of water, a kind word, sometimes not a word, sensitive to the breaking of night's healing embrace. And then a farewell until, again, the day turns into night turns into day. The skill of caring for others is engrained at birth, maybe learned through an empathetic observation, perhaps chosen as a vocation worthy of humanitarian impulses. Either way, any way, caring comes to those who listen, and see, and know, that life's road can be frought with stumbling blocks, and falls, and catching one's breath, and taking the time to regroup, and so many paths to understanding the frailty of our days here. The few hours we have, the many days we have, the multitude of experiences we look forward to over the years will never be enough time to say 'Thank you. Thank you for caring.' I wrote 'Mary Says' with those who care for others in mind. It is a brief and unworthy recognition in 2 1/2 minutes of those who truly care and give a lifetime of care. Thank you.