A trim 77-year old woman named Barbara joined rehab. She had a fungus in her lungs and her doctor felt that exercise might help her situation. She had been a PE teacher, lived on a golf coarse and was spunky. She fit right in with us from the very start. She teased Sherman and she gave it back as good as she got from Dick. I thought she was great.
Sherman asked me if Barbara was married. Barbara asked me if Sherman was married. Interest blossomed. They would greet each other with a little kiss on the cheek. I suggested that maybe Sherman should meet her for some coffee….
It was so much fun to watch their friendship grow before our eyes.
Then she disappeared. We heard that she was ill. The rehab personnel, by law, could not give us any information or phone numbers. We waited. After about six months, she came back to rehab. She looked horrible. The spunk was gone. She told me that she never weighed more than 124 pounds in her life but now, due to the prednisone, she was 176 pounds and feeling miserable.
She only came to rehab a few times then stopped coming all together.
Two weeks ago, one of the rehab nurses heard us outside the gym door in the lobby and came out with a letter addressed to:
Sherman (no last name)
C/O Pulmonary Rehab
He let us read it. She said she missed him and was told she was too ill to be in rehab. She also sounded very depressed and lonely. She was reaching out.
We all agreed that Sherman must send her a card with a note saying he would like to meet her for coffee. He followed though and sent a card.
Nothing.
Last week he sent another card and said that he would pick her up so they could have coffee and a chat together.
We are all waiting.
Next: Social Scene
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