Sunday, March 20, 2011

Fifty-Five Years And Counting

My step-father was in the hospital last week...an unexpected episode involving his heart and a case of pneumonia; neither scenario good for an 89-year-old man. He's home now, and doing better. While he was in the hospital, his friend of 55 years, stopped by to see him every day. On one of those days, he helped shave my step-father. My mother caught this picture with her camera phone.My eyes welled up when I saw the photo; emotions flooding through me. First, this was probably one of the only times my step-father looked really old to me. Second, I felt a strong tug of sadness seeing that he needed help shaving; even though it's likely he didn't request it. And last, I was extremely touched seeing the gentleness of the act; which came through very clearly to me, in the picture.

They didn't know they were being photographed, and even though it's a cell phone picture, there's just something so wonderful about it. The light coming in above their heads. The shades of blue in Billy's shirt, Frank's hospital robe and the curtains on the window. The silver and white of their hair. The blur of my mother's thumb in the foreground. Kidding on that last part.

Seriously though, I think it's one of the finest examples of friendship I've ever seen. And to me, this photo says what a thousand words cannot.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Humor That Needs A Humidifier
2 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Is He Wearing Trousers?? Friday
3 YEARS AGO:
Soon To Be Yummy Snack Food
4 YEARS AGO:
This Is What I’ve Been Doing Lately
5 YEARS AGO:
1-800-PRODUCT SATISFACTION

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, that is beautiful. 55 years of friendship is beautiful too.

Roberta Warshaw said...

Yes, that is a really touching image.

all things bradbury said...

made my eyes tear up..... friendship like that is a beautiful thing...prayers for a full recovery for your step-dad...

Anonymous said...

That's my Billy-the ultimate caregiver! We've loved Frank for many years and he's been a great friend to us also. They don't make men like this anymore (well, not many anyway)
Love ya, Judy

Gil said...

Sorry to hear that your step father ended up so sick that he had to be hospitalized. Great picture, it really shows true friendship.

Geggie said...

That is just lovely. I hope I have my best friend in 55 years!