Gubni
07-12-2007, 05:16 PM
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was
> allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the
> fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other
> man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on
> end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their
> involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would
> pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see
> outside the window.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his
> world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the
> world outside.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on
> the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm
> in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline
> could be seen in the distance.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on
> the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque
> scene.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind
> s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Days and weeks passed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to
> find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in
> his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the
> body away.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved
> next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making
> sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look
> at the real world outside.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his
> deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this
> window
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Epilogue:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own
> situations.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can
> t buy.
> allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the
> fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other
> man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on
> end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their
> involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would
> pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see
> outside the window.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his
> world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the
> world outside.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on
> the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm
> in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline
> could be seen in the distance.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on
> the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque
> scene.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind
> s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Days and weeks passed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to
> find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in
> his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the
> body away.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved
> next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making
> sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look
> at the real world outside.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his
> deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this
> window
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Epilogue:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own
> situations.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can
> t buy.