I like Peaches too!

Nursing homes and Hospice Care have been part of my life for the last year. It has been emotional, day to day turmoil, unanswered questions, confusion, anger, disappointment, and a juggling act. The juggling act has been a daily reminder that life just happens, even when you don't want it to. It's like 6 eggs in one hand and a half a dozen in the other, and you are trying to figure out what egg is the most important, what egg do you have to hold tight, which egg to drop, what egg has already cracked and what egg can you recoup? Through it all, I'm able to hold onto to something my father shared with me, when we were talking fruit, I asked my dad, so what's your absolute favorite fruit in the world, and my father lovingly smiled and said, "peaches", my response, "I love peaches too". My father then proceeded to share with me, that he loves to eat peaches with carnation milk, which kind of grossed me out. But those are the moments that are most close to my heart. So, on the days when he can't whisper a word, I remember he said, he loves, peaches. Each day I try to remember something special about a patient, family member, colleague, or just someone passing by. It's in those moments, we see a glimpse of someone's happiness and joy, it's in those moments we are able to learn a little hidden gem about the person, and it's those moments we will one day cherish.