no more mice. no more bears.

********

sunday night a very dear friend breathed his last breaths, 

left behind his earthly shell, gave up his spirit to his maker. 

he was a gentle soul. 

every night we would hold hands and talk of the day. 

we would share stories of bears tracks around the sawmill,

of mice running in the woodlands, and of the weather. 

his view was limited by the restraints and limitations placed on him by his failing body. 

every night, i would bring the world to him. 

as we parted, he said to me:
no more mice.
no more bears.

people declare to me 

"that must be a very difficult job to do, to work with the old and infirmed 

and the dying."

i never think of my job as a difficult thing. 

it's my job to nurse the elderly. 

it's my calling to minister to the soul and spirit of these folks who can no longer walk,

who cannot shift their body position, 

who cannot walk to the fridge for a glass of ice water,

who cannot lift a fork to their mouths for their sustenance.


i am blessed. 
life is good.

********

simply, the thing i am shall make me live.

****