Not prog but read it anyway.

Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.


The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased room-mate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations..

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

In view of recent happenings here on The Moon maybe this could help to put it into some perspective.

I hope no-one is offended by my posting this........that was never my intention.

[Ted]

Keithie,

I have been away for a while, so am not sure about what all is going on about "sensitivity" and all, but I was very touched by your "story". I have heard it before and hearing it again, reminded me of the need to always try to leave this place a better place than it was. Any place I am in.

Aural Moon has been a GREAT place to meet people who share similar interests - especially PROG - and I have been blessed by getting to know you all.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and stories - YOU have always tried to make AM a better place.

Have a GREAT day!
Ted

[OverHillandDale(Admin)]

KW - are you trying to say the Moon is just 'another brick in the wall.'

All kidding aside - that is an excellent parable, and I too am touched by it. Quite often we find all we can see from a window is what others tell us. Keeping it positive is always the best way.

Thanks Keith.

[marquer]

Thank you for that, Keithie.

Namaste,

marquer

[RogorMortis]

Yes it does enlighten things and puts life in a perspective, but it doesn't tell us what happened to the poor sod who only saw a blank wall and now had no one's imagination to help him. Experience would tell me he died soon after as there is no " they lived happily ever after" ending in reality. For me it puts Camel's song For Today in the same light......

Originally Posted by RogorMortis

Yes it does enlighten things and puts life in a perspective, but it doesn't tell us what happened to the poor sod who only saw a blank wall and now had no one's imagination to help him. Experience would tell me he died soon after as there is no " they lived happily ever after" ending in reality. For me it puts Camel's song For Today in the same light......

Perhaps he made a full recovery...got out of his bed and walked again, went home to his family, saw the fields, heard the birds song and enjoyed the rest of his life.

You say he died soon after and that there is no "happy ever after" in reality. I say we make our own "happy ending". Look at the recently deceased Jane Tomlinson. She was diagnosed as terminal. Made something extra of her life and raised millions for cancer sufferers. Her family were proud of her, people admired her.

Your glass is definitely half empty. I like to think of mine as half full. An old cliché but one that stands up every time.

[marquer]

Here is another story I find inspiring. It also fits today's theme (Back to School) a bit...

Two Glasses of Wine

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses
of wine...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between
the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of
course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty
space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided,"I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends,
and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and
only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,
and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first, "he continued, "There is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play
with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner
out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the
house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls First; the
things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine
represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you
that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a
couple of glasses of wine with a friend.

So true marquer, so true.

That is why The Moon is a golf ball and the sand represents the trivialities that take us away from what this place is about.

[NorCalKurt]

I'm moved.

[OverHillandDale(Admin)]

You bring the bottle, I've got the glasses. Let's proverbially share a glass each and every day, my friends.

[marquer]

Cheers!

[spewie]

that was wonderful, thank you keithie

[Kintail5]

Originally Posted by KeithieW

Your glass is definitely half empty. I like to think of mine as half full. An old cliché but one that stands up every time.

To cite George Carlin, maybe the glass is just too damn big...

K5

[podakayne]

"half empty...half full"... i still say "what glass?"
welcome new ones, hello veteran lunites.


podakayne

[julieval]

Thanks for sharing those stories. They are both wonderful.

The world is a better place when we share a little kindness.