^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) Ivan Suzman 49/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 70 deg. F :-) ******************************************************************** --------- Forwarded message ---------- >Subject: Two men in a hospital room > > >>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 colour of the world outside. >> >>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 colour 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." _____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Free instant messaging and more at http://messenger.yahoo.com Maine GayNet Events Calendar http://www.huntcal.com/cgi-local/calview.cgi/GayNet/Events