Dilemma of getting old....

It is around 4 o'clock in the evening today and the weather is quite pleasent, I am on my way to work as usual. The distance is 2 miles and I have to work on foot as I left my bicycle yesterday in my workplace. When I am few blocks away from my destination I see an old lady standing on sidewalk pavement with two small bags and holding a nearby railing trying to catch her breath. It is rare in United States to see such a scene. I am few metres behind her but she suddenly turns and smiles at me. She is such a beauty even her age couldn't conquer it and she suddenly reminds me of my grandmother.

I walk upto her and offer to carry her bags. At that moment I can see the relief in her face which makes really me happy. Before I realise we are on our way together, with me holding one of her bags and she my hand. We make a funny pair walking at snail speed and every passerby turns to have a look. I found out on the way that she is on her way to Walgreens store because every Saturday there is a discount coupons faciliity there. On the way she keeps on talking about all her medical problems after she found out that I am also a doctor. Inspite of her being 81 years old she is very informative of all her drugs and also all the medical terms. And so, I can see the real difference in awareness between developed and developing countries because even my mother doesn't even know the name of her medicines she takes for her heart problem.

When we are about to reach she informs me that her children are talking about shifting her from her apartment to a nursing home. And the next question she asks me is "It is the end of road in life right". The suddenness and the unexpectedness of the question makes me out of speech for a while which I cover it with my smile. After a few moment I answer her no it is not but I can sense that she is not satisfied with my answer even though she doesn't press it further for which I feel grateful to her. Because I have never imagine of a life in nursing home. I make a mental node to myself to think about it later.

We reach the store, introduce each other and I bade goodbye and head towards my destination. But half way through, I start thinking how is she going to go back with all the stuffs she will be buying when she is even having problem walking alone. When I come to my sense I realise that I am already heading back to the store. I find her reading the coupons ad. which is a very cute site. But I can't just tell her that I come back to take you back as it will sound very funny, so I end up window shopping inside the store. When I have enough of strolling I finally decide to wait for her outside but she sees me and seems to be genuinely happy to see me again. I just lie to her that I have to go to my workplace for just half an hour before she asks me any further question.

Then we both check out of the store and head our way back together as if we know each other for a lifetime and its our daily routine with me holding her bag and she my hand. On the way she advises me to be careful of walking alone and teaches me what to do if anything happens. And also she pours out all her medical history. She specially mentions her vertigo and deep vein thrombosis and also urinary problems whick makes her wake up every 2 hours at night to go to the restroom. I can imagine how tiring it must be. She also tells me I am her sister Teresa. When I ask what about mother Teresa, she smiles and reply that since I am still young, sister fits better. So, I end up being sister Teresa for one day, hope Mother Teresa who is in heaven is ok with it.

Finally we reach her apartment and exchange telephone number and I head back to my place. On the way I imagine myself how I will be when I reach her age. Will I be staying alone like her? Will I be walking alone like her? Will there be somebody to help me out? Will I be scared of staying in the nursing home? All these things make me wonder whether the western culture is really good because she would never have to worry about living alone had she been in my country, India. Then I hear a car horn which suddenly bring me to my sense and I am standing right in front of my place.

This inspiring experience makes my resolve stronger and I promise to myself that I will never leave my parents alone when they are old like Eleanor.

Ila....