Tweet
My oldest son works for the Citizen's Advice Bureau. They deal with all sorts of things, but this morning was a 'drop-in' session for anyone with quick problems.
#1 Son had already helped quite a few people, and was going off for his 15 min break, when the receptionist asked if he could help a very elderly man who was in the waiting area. He was smartly dressed, but #1 said there was an air of slight neglect about him.
So the son took him into an empty office and asked him to take a seat. The gentleman began to explain his problem, producing from his overcoat pocket a small alarm clock.
Three weeks ago his wife had died. She had looked after him for the past sixty years. Every morning the alarm clock went off at 5.30am, and the old man would get up and make himself a cup of tea. This was something his wife used to do every morning - get up and make them both tea at 5.30am.
He needed #1 Son to show him how to turn the alarm off - his wife had always been in charge of the clock, it sat on her bedside table - and he had no idea how to work it. He didn't want to take the batteries out or throw it away, because it reminded him of his wife. And he didn't want to ask his son or daughter to sort out the clock because he was afraid they would suggest putting him into a home.
Poor soul. I was nearly in tears.....
#1 Son had already helped quite a few people, and was going off for his 15 min break, when the receptionist asked if he could help a very elderly man who was in the waiting area. He was smartly dressed, but #1 said there was an air of slight neglect about him.
So the son took him into an empty office and asked him to take a seat. The gentleman began to explain his problem, producing from his overcoat pocket a small alarm clock.
Three weeks ago his wife had died. She had looked after him for the past sixty years. Every morning the alarm clock went off at 5.30am, and the old man would get up and make himself a cup of tea. This was something his wife used to do every morning - get up and make them both tea at 5.30am.
He needed #1 Son to show him how to turn the alarm off - his wife had always been in charge of the clock, it sat on her bedside table - and he had no idea how to work it. He didn't want to take the batteries out or throw it away, because it reminded him of his wife. And he didn't want to ask his son or daughter to sort out the clock because he was afraid they would suggest putting him into a home.
Poor soul. I was nearly in tears.....
Comment