[Ayla]

Hmmm...I don't know what the kindest thing I've done for someone else is. That's a hard thing to judge...as it's based on their perspective.

I used to work in a nursing home and there was a little blind lady who either laid in bed or sat in a chair all day. One day she asked me how the weather was and I was telling her how nice it was. It was a perfect fall day. 70 degrees and a slight breeze. She sighed and said how she used to love the fall but since she'd lost her sight she had only been outside a handful of times, and that was only going to or from a vehicle.

As I finished my round, what she had said stayed with me. I kept thinking how'd I hate to be in her place. About 3 in the afternoon, close to my quitting time that day, I got permission from the charge nurse and I went in and bundled that little old lady up and put some real shoes (not house shoes) on her and took her for a walk. It was slow going, as she did little more than shuffle.

We headed down toward the creek. As we walked in the dappled sunlight on the bank she stopped. She just stood there for a minute with her head back. I was still in caretaker mode, and had gotten special permission to take her out, so I asked if anything was wrong. She said to me..."Honey, nothin's wrong...As a matter of fact...everything is just right..."

I stood there and let her enjoy the sound of the flowing water, the breeze across her face, and the crisp smell of fall on the air. As a matter of fact, I threw my head back and joined her.