They wait

They wait patiently.

With seniors in my circle and visits and time shared is most on their minds.

They wait: for us to visit, to hope things are better, that time will move more quickly.

My father was in a rest home, in limbo for nearly 10years. Waiting after a stroke.

Not here and not in heaven yet. They wait.

For a visit, for a touch of kindness or a warm memory.

Today we went to a senior center to dine with a friend. We are all friends, not family.

They wait for a hint of the life they once led.

They wait for a moment when they will. Be treated like human beings.

They wait. Unable to care for themselves. They wait mostly for care, for food, for a kind word, for a visit.

So many years away from my family. They waited for a word, a call, a visit. I waited to earn the time, the money, the privilege to visit them. The seven day work day doesn’t make sense to those because of their age and health can’t be with their families. The pressure of the modern world is hard to understand by those who wait.

Once I landed back here my career turned into a series of jobs that kept me alive but not providing the extra time or money to visit those who waited.

I saw them so infrequently it pained me but it really mattered because they waited.