Shirley

Every day for the last two years, a good will emissary has stationed herself in front of The Lieberman Center's main entrance for a good part of the day. Outside on good days, just inside the front door on inclement days. 

With a somewhat raspy "Hello," or "How ya doing'?" she greets the comers and goers. Often the conversation will drift into the inevitable discussion of the weather: too cold, too hot, too much sun, rainy, etc. As she gets to know you she will add a personal comment line: "How's your friend doing?" Or "Nice haircut."

Once in a while I would offer and get accepted to administer a loving kiss, usually with a "scratchy beard" comment. She was grateful when I remembered her birthday (which is on Vetran's Day) with a flag.

Shirley has been living on the sixth floor nursing care unit but in her wheel chair is fairly active, very alert, intelligent, and wise!

This is what life at Lieberman Center is like. So many "friends" and family of friends, and nurses, and CNA's, and workers of all kinds. Loving, happy to see you, usually smiling.

As of today, there is only sunshine at Lieberman's front door. Shirley left us this morning unexpectedly. She had not been ill that I know of.  Having passed herself, she will be missed by her many passers by.

Martha and Others

Martha thanked me again for her ring and shyly asked if she could have another one to put on top of the first one I gave her. I told her I will see what I can do.

Minnie, who sits in the fifth floor lobby, always asks this sequence of questions when I step off the elevator.
"Who are you?"
"Michael."
"Why are you here?"
"I am a visitor."
"Where were you born?"
"In Chicago."
Today, looking at my stomach, she added, "Are you pregnant?
In reply to where "Where you born?" I answered, "In a hospital."
"A wise guy, huh?" she replied.


Morris always goes out of his way to wish me a "Shabbat Shalom" which is a greeting used to one a happy Sabbath. In Judaism the Sabbath begins on Friday at sun down and lasts until Saturday at sun down. No matter the day; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; no matter the time of day; Morris wishes me "Shabbat Shalom."

Shirley sits by the front door to the Lieberman Center and whenever possible likes to sit in the sun outside the front door. This is how I cam to meet her with my making comments like, "How is the sun today?" "What did you do with the sun today?" "Maybe there will be sun tomorrow." etc. On November 11th, Shirley turned 96. I brought her a card and in the hopes she was not diabetic, a chocolate bar. You would have thought I gave her the world!