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ENTRANCE

The entrance you have just passed through is the equivalent to my old front door The family pictures that were proudly hung on display, aren’t hanging there anymore Once inside you will meet, a young lady who will ask you to sign your name in a big book I’d like to see who was remembered today, but I don’t think that I’m allowed to look Sometimes those around me act hopeless and lost while searching for something to attend Trying to find someone to take them back home, though that will never happen again Inside of these walls is where I remain but my mind goes out into the world everyday I visit my family and all the places so dear, I talk to all those who have since passed away All of these people you see sitting around are my new friends that I see every day Like me they all live in this new home, what their feelings are about this I can’t really say I’ve been told that some just sit, all day in their chairs, remembering the times gone by But these people could do so much more for themselves, if they only had the will to try I believe it was just yesterday when my duties once easy, were becoming much harder to do The cooking and cleaning and simply shopping for food were getting so difficult for me, too My family would help whenever they possibly could, but I saw everyone becoming more upset As I constantly and always kept running out of things, and I no longer could just simply go get I was increasingly unable to care for myself; at first everyone thought this was just an act No one could see what was happening to me; perhaps did not want to see would be more exact But the falls in my home brought the reality to light, for me the reality was so very cold For the first time in my life I could totally understand the true meaning of growing old Growing old shouldn’t mean that your life is now over, that you cannot enjoy another day Yes there’s have been changes but that’s always been present, isn’t that a part of life anyway? Your body might have weakened, your strength has too, but your desire for living should be strong Remember that each day is a gift from God; with that thought you cannot go wrong Each night before bed while I’m washing myself, I look in the mirror at my wrinkled face Those lines are a symbol of all the history I hold; they represent a time and a place And when I am troubled by my life as it now is, I smile to make all my wrinkles go away I realize then there is still a purpose for me and a reason to carry on another day

Submitted by Roger Renik