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“Wha’da-ya’ s’pose he’s thinkin’ about,” I heard a nurse inquire, “he sits there almost every day just gazin’ at the pond?” “Hard to say,” a laundry gal replied, “but chances are...if you could, somehow, read his mind...or wave a magic wand “And get him talkin’...I’d bet big the stories he would tell - to average teenage kids today - would sound a bit bizarre. To tell the truth, when I spend time with men whose minds are sharp...I lose track, occasionally, of just how old they are.” “The fellas tend to talk about their time spent overseas,” the nurse would add, “and whine about the girls they’d left behind. But...when it comes to reminiscing...talkin’ about their kids is somethin’ to which the fairer sex is somewhat more inclined. “Hattie Thorp and Sarah Gimble both lost sons in Laos, and Jackie Monticello lost a son in Vietnam. Mrs. Gimble, thankfully, was blessed with two more children - who always say hello when they pop in to see their mom. “But Mrs. Thorp and Mrs. Monticello...bless their hearts...haven’t any fam’ly left, and...like that guy outside... Spend a lotta time alone, and...if my guess is right...doin’ their best to - NOT forget -their cherished ones - who’ve died.” “Big ol’ Ted Delaney has a daughter and some grand-kids who come to see him Sunday evenings pretty much year ‘round, And Monday mornings - if ya’ let him - Ted ‘ll talk your ear off, but, by that night - ‘til Sunday next - he’ll scarcely make a sound. “Martin says the reason he’s reluctant to participate is functions that the home puts on is how he thinks he’ll look Tryin’ to dance or tryin’ to sing. And so, to play it safe...he’ll sit ‘n his room and either watch TV or read a book. “Given all the photos showing Teddy and his wife hangin’ on his walls and on the nightstand by his bed, And knowing she was all he had - and died five years ago - it ain’t that hard to figure out what’s goin’ on with Ted.” Listening to their conversation, I could clearly tell that working with the elderly was filled with ups and downs, Just as you’d expect with persons born that long ago, who’d come of age in fairly small and often rural towns. Strolling across the lobby to the home’s admissions desk, I quizzed the gal behind it, “Can I help in any way? It sounds as though you’re pretty swamped, and slightly short on help...based on what I overheard a few employees say.” “Yes...we are! We’re all filled up, and somewhat short on help. But even more importantly, despite we need more staff... What this place could really use...aside from greater funding...is someone who can - voluntarily - make our tenants laugh! “Your basic - ‘stand-up-comic’. A guy, or gal, who’s funny. Who’ll work, in lieu of cash, for simply - seeing people smile.” I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. Before I’d made the offer...and before she’d made the statement...I’d been thinking all the while, What a place like this could use to cheer these people up...to help them cope with issues they were facing day to day, Was someone like myself - who...as you might have heard - is funny...and satisfied to accept the listeners’ laughter as my pay. “I’d be glad to try my best to crack ‘em up,” I quipped. “I’ve written more than forty family-friendly - funny poems! The sort that senior citizens, in both assisted living as well as those residing in the many nursing homes, “Certainly would appreciate. And if you’d care to risk it...all I’ll need’s a day or two to ready for my trial. The ones I’d read - I guarantee - will make them laugh out loud, or at least... with those who don’t like verse...certainly make them smile!” PS: I've now got 4 new Audio-CDs - @ 4 1/2 hours each = (62 diversely varied pieces). They’re listed on EBAY - under - “Mark Stellinga Poetry” - or available by simply contacting me at -- mark@writerofbooks.com -- should those of you who enjoy listening to poems as well as reading them - and particularly those of you that travel - care to be so entertained. (We use safe and simple - PayPal) Cheers, Mark
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