I was called to go out to Butte Falls to play my hospice harp. I was asked to go play for a gentleman who was dying at the age of 63. Since I’m rather close to that age, 😉 I don’t consider it particularly “old” as I might have in my youth! It hurts my heart to be playing for such young folks, and yet, it was his time.. and it was my time to be there for him and his similarly aged wife.
I phoned and made the appointment with wife, then made the hour trek to this rather remote town. When I arrived, she greeted me, led me in, then had to do something. She’d introduced me to her husband and he asked me to please come into the bedroom. I often play in bedrooms of hospice patients, but as we walked in, he took off his shirt… and I wondered what was about to take place. His wife joined him then and he said, “We want to make a memory.” Even now, several months later, that brings a tear to my eye that they were so conscious of their imminent separation.
She explained that they’d known each other way back when, gone separate ways, married others, had children, then found each other again 25 years ago. I was playing right on their 25th anniversary of coming back together!
During my time playing, they snuggled in the bed as much as they could due to his physical comfort level. I played tunes they requested and soothing songs I figured they’d know, but most of all, they appreciated the old hymns most people instantly recognize: “Old Rugged Cross,” “In the Garden,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “Amazing Grace” being the top four that are so beloved. There were many tears, signs of recognition, passing of the tissues box, and at the end…gratitude.
I would make it out there one more time before he’d be gone, and that time he’d be in a much less able to communicate state. Still, I knew the music was washing over him, strengthening him for his next journey. He passed within the week ahead and I was indeed grateful I’d been privileged to help them “make a memory.”