the conversation went like this...
him: "how do you know the (insert name of long-time family friend i had just ran into in the cafeteria)?"
me: "i'm from lathrop."
him: "you are? what year did you graduate?"
me: "yes. 1995. why?
him: "me too. class of '82. what's your maiden name?"
me: "canaday."
him: "wait...do you know the brothers...the canaday brothers?"
me: "yes...that's my dad. jack's my dad..."
him: "i took care of your grandmother...i was in home health/hospice before employee health and she was my patient. the boys were so good to her, her sons...your dad."
at this point i was beside myself. speechless. this man who had given me a tb test, who i said hello to in the halls numerous times, who was just another employee...had taken care of gran...spent those last couple months visiting her, caring for her. and, in that moment a little piece of me broke. yet, at the same time, i felt almost like she was in the room with us and i didn't want the moment to end.
me: "you knew her...my gran? you were there, with her...?"
him: "yes...she was always standing in the kitchen cooking something. always in that same spot. she had such a laugh and her eyes twinkled."
me: (trying desperately to keep it together) "she did. she was amazing."
him: "yes, she was. the world just got a whole lot smaller, in a good way."
he could tell i was close to tears and apologized for upsetting me. i told him that, no, i wasn't sad...it was a good moment and i was happy to know that such a kind person had helped care for her. it was a brief conversation. a couple minutes at most. but, i left that room knowing that she had been there with us. and, tonight, i miss her so much.
No comments:
Post a Comment