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We were talking about when you know it's tume to put your parents into a home and received this poem.

When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was wrongly assumed that she had nothing left of any value.
But later, when the nurses were going through her meagre possessions, they found this poem.
Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?

A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice the things that you do, and
Forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....

who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....

Is that what you're thinking?
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten ....with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.

A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.

A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.

At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again, my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.

I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!

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17/12/2009

Hi Everyone,
 
Firstly thanks very much for all your kind wishes about the wedding, it's been so nice hearing from you.
 
Only two more sleeps to go and in truth i'm in a high state of panic not least because of the snow, don't know what's more worrying that i'm gonna freeze or that people won't be able to get here!
 
The children are being baptised the same day, I reckon it'd be wise to go out and buy them all thermals!
 
Hope you're all ready for Christmas, I have to say i'm not, I figure that's what next week is for!
 
It's my birthday Tuesday and the children have decided that the perfect present would be a trip to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor, bless, they do spoil me!!!
 
Whilst i'm on here I just want to say another thank you to you all for your support with The Sanctuary, it's gone better than I could have dreamt and it's all down to you.  We've talked about some really touching issues and the stories you come on and share with us are incredible, I find it humbling that you open up the way you do, in some cases it's the first time you've ever talked about it or the first time you've ever called into  a radio station.  I think some of the things we talk about really help some people.  Of course it's not all serious, the laughs are good too!!
 
Now remember, if anything happens to you over Christmas or the New Year and you come out with any good tales and you think to yourself "Oh I must tell so & so about this" make me that person, I may not be in work but you can still face book me, if you haven't yet found the show it's "caroline sanctuary martin."
 
Right, i'm off to check the weather again, speak to you soon.
 
Caroline.xx