Small Wonders Of The Elderly
A young person of only 50 year’s age, today I am compelled not to share a story of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains but a story of one of its residents.
Small wonders of the elderly, how small our world can become when we take the time to share with the elderly surrounding us. A young man of 50, my life has been filled with journeys. The Navy kept true to its word and took me places I never would have traveled and what a blessing.
The other day a friend introduced me to his mother over the phone for business reasons. Soon the conversation switched to more personal travels and life’s experiences. The wonderful woman shared stories of her and her husband’s journeys before his passing. The stories where so interesting, they spelled of struggles from meager beginnings to great successes, the willingness to embrace small things into happy memorable events, and with each word spelled one adventure after the other. The outcome, two people shared love, raised a family, and seemingly made others lives along the way better.
As I listened I also found our lives, though years apart, journeyed the same paths. Not only in struggles and triumphs but actual points on the globe. We had been to Alaska, traveled the Alcan Highway to many of the same towns in Alaska, been to New Orleans and countless other state side and abroad destinations. Most interesting was their having worked a schooner (ship) made at Mystic Seaport, from where I visited only last year.
Mystic Seaport Connecticut is a great seaport town steeped in seamanship, whaling, and naval history. Mystic Seaport is home to the last seaworthy wooden whale ship in the world, the Charles W Morgan! If that were not interesting enough, most people never see one of the most advanced seafaring mission control facilities. This facility, hidden in a blending seaport structure, has played a key role in the discovery and retrieval of historic and treasure laden ships sunk all over the world. Most notably, the discovery, study, and retrieval of artifacts from the Titanic. Pigeon Forge is host to the permanent Titanic Museum, opening April 8th, 2010, housing not only the history of Titanic’s crew and passengers, but actual artifacts from many of the families having sailed aboard her that faithful April 14th, 1912.
It was a shame to have to end the call, but in that short of time I had met a woman who cherished life, love and family. She spoke well of her journeys and those met along the way. She reminded me of how precious are those small wonders of the elderly, how valuable each memory can touch and share in the lives of others not yet met.
