A visit with my Grandmother

I went to visit my Grandmother Sunday. She's in a nursing home. I think she's going to be 95 in December. I walked into her room which is much like a double occupancy hospital room. She's so frail these days. I'm not sure if or when she is even able to get out of her bed. She recognized me a first, by my voice. I got her glasses for her but I'm not sure even then if she could see me. It wasn't long before our conversation started getting a little fuzzy. I realized after a couple more comments that she thought I was my aunt's son and had to remind her who I was. It was but a brief moment of reality until she got me confused again with my cousin.

My aunts and uncles had recently put her house up for rent. She was lucid enough to know about that (as she brought it up). I think it made her sad. We reminisced about some of the fun times we had there. She smiled as we spoke about times on her patio in the summer and family gatherings.

I was thinking about my visit with her today. I have to be honest in saying that I don't go visit her very often. I should be a better grandson than I am. I'm hopeful that the visit was helpful to her. My thoughts of our visit reminded me of a song by Richard Marx called "Silent Scream".

Twenty four and he believes for sure he's got it made
Fame is here for good and looks will never fade
He doesn't knowThe game is never over 'till the cards have all been played

Eighty three and still he feels his best is yet to come
He believes that youth is wasted on the young
He's alone
The only dream he ever has is being with someone

Love you when you're standing tall,
But nobody knows when you when you're falling
All you have to do is call,
But nobody ever hears the silent scream

Christmas came and went again but still nobody came
Staring at her wedding photo in a frame
She's alone
We should hope the loss of memory helps to ease the pain

Love you when you're standing tall,
But nobody knows when you when you're falling
All you have to do is call
But nobody ever hears the silent scream

Memories, moments you recall
We should be remembered for the greatest of them all
You can't begin to live someone else's life
Or you're own will pass you by

Oh, who's to know
Maybe we can learn a thing or two from everyone

Love you when you're standing tall,
But nobody knows when you when you're falling
All you have to do is call,
But nobody ever hears the silent scream

Richard Marx

Lonliness can paralyze anyone. My Grandmother has no phone. She didnt even have a television. Her visitors are few. Nobody ever hears the silent scream.