Four years ago, I began working in my areas local nursing homes...I wanted to give a little something back...Within the first two weeks, I discovered the travesty of elder care in this country...Inferior care, neglect, abuse....It was heartbreaking and it made me feel ashamed...It made me angry....I soon began advocating for these wonderful elderly men and woman who are responsible for many of the comforts and the luxuries we enjoy today....They deserve nothing but the best care...They deserve to be treated with dignity....They have always given me back so much more then I give them...They teach me about life and living...This is one "very special" woman's story...A woman I loved, a woman who loved me...


"Invisible"

When our first baby came, I was young,
I was strong.....beautiful too.
We only made it then because
you had me and I had you.

Remember how easy we thought our life would be?
You, our baby boy, and me?
Oh how innocent we were then,
Only faith to guide us, no crystal ball to look in.

Somehow, through hard work and love
we made it , didn't we,
And when our second child arrived,
learned just what life would be.

Up at dawn to see you off,
your tattered jacket made me cry.
I knew that you would toil for us
until your time on high.

For nearly twenty years,
you labored in that mine
While I cooked and cleaned and loved our kids,
I knew we would be fine.

The day you came home early, I thought
surely somethings wrong,
but you greeted me with flowers, a kiss,
and then a song!

I got that new position, better hours and
good pay.
Dear wife our years of sacrifice end
right now, today!

The next twenty years were happy, we
traveled just a bit.
I enrolled in college, you became
Vice President!

I thought the night they voted you
"Achiever of the Year",
my heart would burst with pride
for you husband dear.

The day our Lord took you home
came so suddenly.
I thought my pain would never end,
I wanted you here with me.

So many people from near and far
came to pay respect.
They spoke about your kindness,
they spoke of your success.

Some of them I did not know
but they knew me through you.
They said you sang my praises,
they said your love was true.

And so my dear departed,
as I lie here in this bed
I hold you close remembering
everything they said.

I have so many hours to think,
so much time to pass,
as strangers try to tend to me,
so fast, so fast, so fast!

Sometime they hurt me in their haste,
sometime they make me cry.
Dear God, I'm so ashamed, sometimes
I wish to die!

Too often I am thirsty, but
the water I can't reach.
I call for help and no one comes,
I feel my anger peak!

Everyday I wonder why most
don't understand
I want to do more for myself
and with their help I can.

So husband, as I lie here with
nothing else to do,
I wonder, have I become "invisible"?
I know you wonder too…..