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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