Saints I know

I've got a friend who spends virtually all of her time taking care of the dying husband that she is estranged from. She understands why nursing homes sell like they do and says she'll never complain again when visiting one. Like with most deaths, there is no firm timeline so she repeats the same routine every day of washing him, changing the sheets, feeding him, cleaning up again and then finally gets around to taking a shower for herself.

The afternoon is a repeat of the morning.

She waits for the day when she is finally free to chase her dreams.

Another friends Mother just died. She's been infirmed for years and when he wasn't at work teaching, he was taking care of her. There was no one else to do it. He gave his life for the woman who gave him his. He kept her company, prepared her meals and even wiped her ass just as she had once wiped his.

There were no tears when she died.

Just a sense of peace for both of them.

Another who is one year older than me, married to his wife of 31 years, is constantly on the phone with her caregiver. Confined to a bed or strapped into a wheelchair, his High School Sweetheart is a strong willed woman who demands to do things she isn't capable of doing. His life is a constant battle of willpower. Good times are hard to come by and he longs for the day when he can simply go out to dinner at night.

That would be joy.

While he considers life without her, it's just something to think about sometimes.

I marvel at these people.

Day in and day out, as the years roll by, they remain the constant to someone needy, ever demanding and often ungrateful. I've never been in their position so I don't know what I would do. No one's ever accused me of being a Saint though these friends of mine border on Sainthood.

Today I send them all a prayer of Good Karma for liberation and fulfillment.

They've done their time, or will be done with it soon, then God, let their good times begin.