Saturday, February 12, 2011

Blueberries

Glimmers
February 11, 2011

"Can you stop and get soft taco shells?" she asked. I had called my wife as I do almost every day as I head home from work. Our grandson, Christian, won't eat hard taco shells so a trip to Publix was required.
I was passing by the dairy case, headed to the back of the store when I saw a distinguished-looking gentleman and recognized him as one whose mother had recently been in our hospital. I asked how she was doing and he told me the latest news. She is in a local rehab center and doing well and he hoped she could stay out of the hospital for a while. He thanked me for my interest and I proceeded in my aisle-wandering looking for soft taco shells, lost in the grocery store wilderness.

I turned down the back aisle of the store and headed toward produce, looking down each aisle as I went, looking for a clue to their location. In produce, an older woman with a kindly face was offering sample cups of blueberries to passing shoppers. “Would you like to try some blueberries?” she asked. Intent on my mission, I declined and quickly asked about soft taco shells. Before answering, she said, “I remember you.” “You stopped and sat down beside me at the hospital and asked me if I was ok.” I did remember. A few days earlier I was coming back from a walk through the Emergency Department and saw her sitting on the bench in front of the Diagnostic Imaging desk. Her eyes were red and she appeared worried. Her husband was back in CT scan she said and she was anxiously waiting for him. “I’m OK, really.” “Thanks for asking.”

“He has cancer,” she said, standing behind the little cups of blueberries. It saddened me to hear it and I told her so. We talked a bit more about her husband and then she called out to the tall man dressed in a Publix-green apron who was re-stocking packages of spring mix salads. He knew exactly where the soft taco shells were-aisle three, on the left.

What a weight to be carrying! Offering blueberries with a smile and at the same time her world was in such upheaval. I know there are more like her. All around us, patients and co-workers move through their day, crossing our paths. Some of them say “I’m fine” and they really are…today. And sometimes in the tone of voice or by a subtle facial expression they tell you a different truth. I know that I don’t always pick up on each one and you don’t either. The sweet lady behind the blueberries reminds me that when we do, they remember.
Blessings to you all,
Jerald
(Note: Though patient and wife are not named, I was given permission to share this story.)