CAT'S IN THE CRADLE.....
Monday night. 6/27/2005
My heart is broken………..I spoke to an elderly man today, who called upon me for help. He lives with his wife, just the two of them, alone. His wife has Alzheimer’s disease. They have 2 children, who live in another state, and rarely do they come to visit. He is a proud old man, and he does not tell his children how bad things are. And, being that the father doesn’t complain, the children think that all is well, and so they do not think twice about it. After all, the children have their own lives, their own problems, their own families, jobs, whatever………..
And the old man and his wife are alone. Dependant on social security and a tiny monthly check that the children send (to ease their conscience, I’m sure) I’m trying to get some help for this elderly couple and I am in touch with them by phone to see how they are managing. During the year, the organizations that I am involved with, have volunteers who cook and deliver to the homebound. During the summer months, these volunteers are away in the country, and it’s hard to continue the program in July and August. I made calls to other organizations, and services for the elderly. I called a group that helps specifically Holocaust survivors. I called women who routinely are happy to help a person in need. I was ready to start cooking meals for them myself and delivering to them daily……….
Wednesday, 6/29/2005
Finally – I’m able to help this old couple. I went to see them, and I brought dinner for them. I spoke to the husband. The wife is totally not able to communicate clearly, and she does have a caregiver from the city through medicare, ( thank G-D for that). After I left them, I was in touch with someone that I got ahold of through someone else, and someone else, and I went through a whole routine….but I DID manage to arrange for help. Fresh meals will be delivered every 2 days, each delivery will have meals for both of them for every day of the week. On Friday, for the shabbos food, I committed myself to bringing over the entire shabbos meals, from grape juice, and challa, to soup, chicken, side dishes etc. I just got off the phone with Mr………...…, such a nice person, and he kept apologizing to me, for taking up my time. HE was apologizing to ME……......I’m happy that I’m able to help, yet at the same time, I’m so sad that there are so many people who are utterly ALONE!!
The Boy and the Apple Tree (adapted from a story by Shel Silverstein)
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and play around the tree. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat her apples. And when he was tired he would sleep in her shade.
My heart is broken………..I spoke to an elderly man today, who called upon me for help. He lives with his wife, just the two of them, alone. His wife has Alzheimer’s disease. They have 2 children, who live in another state, and rarely do they come to visit. He is a proud old man, and he does not tell his children how bad things are. And, being that the father doesn’t complain, the children think that all is well, and so they do not think twice about it. After all, the children have their own lives, their own problems, their own families, jobs, whatever………..
And the old man and his wife are alone. Dependant on social security and a tiny monthly check that the children send (to ease their conscience, I’m sure) I’m trying to get some help for this elderly couple and I am in touch with them by phone to see how they are managing. During the year, the organizations that I am involved with, have volunteers who cook and deliver to the homebound. During the summer months, these volunteers are away in the country, and it’s hard to continue the program in July and August. I made calls to other organizations, and services for the elderly. I called a group that helps specifically Holocaust survivors. I called women who routinely are happy to help a person in need. I was ready to start cooking meals for them myself and delivering to them daily……….
Wednesday, 6/29/2005
Finally – I’m able to help this old couple. I went to see them, and I brought dinner for them. I spoke to the husband. The wife is totally not able to communicate clearly, and she does have a caregiver from the city through medicare, ( thank G-D for that). After I left them, I was in touch with someone that I got ahold of through someone else, and someone else, and I went through a whole routine….but I DID manage to arrange for help. Fresh meals will be delivered every 2 days, each delivery will have meals for both of them for every day of the week. On Friday, for the shabbos food, I committed myself to bringing over the entire shabbos meals, from grape juice, and challa, to soup, chicken, side dishes etc. I just got off the phone with Mr………...…, such a nice person, and he kept apologizing to me, for taking up my time. HE was apologizing to ME……......I’m happy that I’m able to help, yet at the same time, I’m so sad that there are so many people who are utterly ALONE!!
The Boy and the Apple Tree (adapted from a story by Shel Silverstein)
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and play around the tree. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat her apples. And when he was tired he would sleep in her shade.
He loved the tree and the tree was happy.
Time went by.
The little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.
The tree was lonely.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. “Come and play with me” the tree said. “I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more,” the boy replied. “I want toys. I need money to buy them. Can you give me some money?” “Sorry, but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy.” The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and carried them away. And the tree was happy. The boy did not come back. He stayed away for a long time….
Time went by.
The little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.
The tree was lonely.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. “Come and play with me” the tree said. “I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more,” the boy replied. “I want toys. I need money to buy them. Can you give me some money?” “Sorry, but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy.” The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and carried them away. And the tree was happy. The boy did not come back. He stayed away for a long time….
..........and the tree was sad.
One day, the boy who was now a grown up man, returned to the tree, and the tree shook with joy. “Come and play with me” the tree said. “I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you give me a house?” “I have no house said the tree. But you may chop off my branches to build your house.” So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man stayed away for a long time.
One day, the boy who was now a grown up man, returned to the tree, and the tree shook with joy. “Come and play with me” the tree said. “I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you give me a house?” “I have no house said the tree. But you may chop off my branches to build your house.” So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back, the tree was so happy, she could hardly speak. “Come, boy,” she whispered, come and play.” “I am too old and sad to play. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?” said the man. “Cut down my trunk to build your boat, You can sail far away and be happy.” So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and the tree was happy…….but not really.
Finally, the man returned after many years. “Sorry my boy. But I do not have anything left to give you. “No more apples for you,” the tree said. “ I do not have any teeth to bite with,” the man replied. “No more branches for you to climb on” the tree said. “I am too old for that now” the man said. “I really cannot give you anything. I am just an old stump. I wish I could give you something,” the tree said tearfully. “I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years,” the man replied. “Well," said the tree, "an old stump is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, come sit down with me and rest.”
The old man sat down, and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.
This is the story of everyone.
The tree is like our parents.
When we were young, we loved to play with our Mom and Dad.
When we grow up, we leave them and only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble.
No matter what………
Parents will always be there and give everything they can just to make you happy.
We take our parents for granted and don’t appreciate all they do for us until it’s too late.
We want our children to be there for us in our old age – Let’s remember to honor our father and mother and be there for them………..They did so much for us.........
This is the story of everyone.
The tree is like our parents.
When we were young, we loved to play with our Mom and Dad.
When we grow up, we leave them and only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble.
No matter what………
Parents will always be there and give everything they can just to make you happy.
We take our parents for granted and don’t appreciate all they do for us until it’s too late.
We want our children to be there for us in our old age – Let’s remember to honor our father and mother and be there for them………..They did so much for us.........
posted by Margaritagirrl @ 6:28 PM
16 comments
16 Comments:
is it time for the elul zman shmmoze? nice story im glad you could help these people.
Kvech,
I'll accept anything over another shovavim drashe or hespid.
hoezy i missed you when are doing lunch?
Kvetch,
Am I depressing you?
Sorry, but it really got to me!
I literally could not stop thinking about it......until I was able to do a little something........
Sorry kvech,but you ain't getin another chance.
u have done a tremendous chesed.
giving up your time to help a fellow human.taking the effort to visit and to speak to this couple meant as much as preparing the food.
we need more people like u who feel the pain and provide the remedy.
mg; you are loosing your touch. go dig up some dirt from willi again. right about your in between husband days.
MG,
You have such a kind and good heart to help these people, and they are most lucky to have found you. I wish I could help from Ca., and if you can think of anything, do not hesitate to ask me.
kvetch, you are going down the rabbit's hole once more. That picture will have to stay up for some more time if this keeps going. You have heard the saying, you are what you eat, no? Well, is there one that says, you are what you see?
(just joking, but food for thought)
Thank you Barbara, for your comments and your offer of help. I'm filing it away, in case......
Me, Uncensored.....thank you too.
The truth is, I could and should do a lot more. I know from previous times with other people, that they appreciate a call, a visit, so, so much. To us it's just another errand, but to them it could be the only time of the day when they spoke to another human being.
I used to visit an old lady. On my way home from work, I would stop in to see her about 2 or 3 times a week. She lived alone, her husband had died years earlier. She had one son. Not in Boro Park. She told me more than once, that by knowing that I was coming that day, she felt there was a reason to get up and get dressed. She told me many stories about her life, before the holocaust with her first husband and 2 children. They were all killed. A farmer hid her in the back of his barn in a little cubicle, she had to sit hunched up all day, at night she stretched a little. since then, she has a terrible back condition. Anyway, she talked, I listened, I bought some soup, the newspapers. I bought her flowers for Shevuos. Once I bought her a new nightgown....little things like that. Once or twice I picked her up and took her to the movies. You should have seen the expression on her face! Like a little child - she was in another world!
She died a few months ago. The last time I saw her she was having an MRI done.
After she died, to this day, I tell myself, "you should have gone more to her, you should have called more"
Now, of course, it's too late - I can't go visit her anymore
Kvetch writes to me;
"mg; you are loosing your touch. go dig up some dirt from willi again."
KVETCH - WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO POST ABOUT??
KOSHER SEX? WILLIAMSBURG SEX? FORBIDDEN SEX??
HMMM....I SEE A PATTERN HERE..THE MAIN THING IS S. E. X.
RIGHT?
please dont say sex again i can't contain myself.
cynic say two hail marys and call me in the morning.
Cynic says,
"because frankly scarlet i dont give a "
DAMN?? Cynic?
You do give a damn and who can blame you?
But anyway.............live and let live......we are all entitled to our own view, opinions and feelings.
Have a good Shabbos, everyone!
Wow how very nice of you to do all that and I must say that I admired the way you are feeling proud with what you are doing but with out crossing the fine line of boosting. I loved the story and the mussier to be got out of it; how very true.
WannaEnjoyLifeYid, you write
אל תשליכינו לעת זקנה
if we could always keep that in mind, if we worry so much for our own old age, we should all try to understand the pain and lonliness of those who are old and alone now. The truth is, I find plenty of excuses many times, to put off a visit...I'm too busy, it can wait....sometimes it CAN'T wait and tomorrow may be too late to do something kind for another.
do you have compassion for the jews in gush katif as well?
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