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
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