A wonderful ICU/trama nurse, and volunter Paramedic, Tom Cooper sent me
this, and I would like to share it with you.


>>
>> > >>>> Just take 30 seconds to read this.  It's really something!
>> > >>>> Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.
One
>> > >>>> man
>> > >>>> was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to

help
>> > >>>> drain the fluid from his lungs.  His bed was next to the
room's
>> only
>> > >>>> window.
>> > >>>> The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
>> > >>>> The men talked for hours on end.  They spoke of their wives
and
>> > >families,
>> > >>>> their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military
service,
>> > >where
>> > >>>> they had been on vacation.
>> > >>>> And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window
could
sit
>> > >>>> up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all
the
>> things
>> > >>>> he
>> > >>>> could see outside the window.  The man in the other bed began
to
>> live
>> > >for
>> > >>>> those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and
>> enlivened
>> > >>>> by
>> > >>>> all the activity and color of the world outside as described
by
his
>> > >>>> roommate.
>> > >>>> The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.  Ducks and
swans
>> > >>>> played on the water while children sailed their model boats.
Young
>> > >>>> lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the
>> rainbow.
>> > >>>> Grand
>> > >>>> old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city
skyline
>> > >could
>> > >>>> be
>> > >>>> seen in the distance.
>> > >>>> As the man by the window described all this in exquisite
detail,
>> the
>> > man
>> > >>>> on
>> > >>>> the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine
the
>> > >>>> picturesque
>> > >>>> scene.
>> > >>>> One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade
passing
>> > >>>> by.
>> > >>>> Although the other man couldn't hear the band-he could see it
in
>> his
>> > >>>> mind's
>> > >>>> eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with
descriptive
>> words.
>> > >>>> Days and weeks passed.
>> > >>>> One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their
baths
>> only
>> > >to
>> > >>>> find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died
>> > peacefully
>> > >>>> in
>> > >>>> his sleep.  She was saddened and called the hospital
attendants to
>> take
>> > >>>> the
>> > >>>> body away.  As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man
asked
>> if
>> he
>> > >>>> could be moved next to the window.  The nurse was happy to
make
the
>> > >>>> switch,
>> > >>>> and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
>> Slowly,
>> > >>>> painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his
first
>> look
>> at
>> > >>>> the
>> > >>>> world outside.
>> > >>>> Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself.  He
>> strained
>> > to
>> > >>>> slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.  It faced a

>> blank
>> > >>>> wall.
>> > >>>> The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased

>> roommate
>> > >>>> who
>> > >>>> had described such wonderful things outside this window.  The
nurse
>> > >>>> responded that the man was blind and could not even see the
wall.
>> She
>> > >>>> said,
>> > >>>> "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you." Epilogue. . .
.There is
>> > >>>> tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own
>> > situations.
>> > >>>> Shared grief is half the sorrow,  but happiness when shared,
is
>> > doubled.
>> > >>>> If
>> > >>>> you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have
that
>> money
>> > >>>> can't buy.  "Today is a gift, that's why it is called the
present."

Let's not forget to count our many blessings , this and everyday.

Charles Black
Amerian Society of Lighting Designers