The Cranky Old Man Poem

..I have seen this from facebook and it did, touch my heart.. 


When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet. 

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM (originally by Phyllis McCormack; adapted by Dave Griffith)

The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

How to Refresh Your Brain?

1. Your brain loves color. Use colored pens – good quality, not gel pens – or use colored paper. Color helps memory.

2. Your brain can effectively focus and concentrate for up to 25 minutes (adults). Take a 10-minute break after every 20-30 minutes of studying. Go do some chores: rake the lawn, iron a shirt, vacuum. Come back after 10 minutes and do another focused, intense session.

3. Your brain needs to be rested to learn fast and remember best. If you are tired take a 20-minute nap first otherwise you are wasting your study time.

4. Your brain is like a motor: it needs fuel. You wouldn’t put dirty fuel in your Lamborghini (if you had one) or you wouldn’t put low quality fuel in a rocket, would you? Well, your brain is a much more valuable, intricate machine than either of those so feed it properly. Junk food and imitation food and all the chemicals and preservatives weaken both your body and your mind. In fact, a recent study in England showed that your IQ is affected by your diet.

5. Your brain is like a sea of an electro-chemical activity. And both electricity and chemicals flow better in water. If you are dehydrated you just don’t focus as well. Drink enough water (colored liquids – pop, juice, coffee, etc. – are not the same). Often times headaches are connected to dehydration, too.

6. Your brain loves questions. When you come up with questions in class or when reading a book, your brain automatically searches for answers, making the learning faster. A good question has more than one answer.

7. Your brain and body have their own rhythm cycles: there are times during the day when you are more alert than others. You will save time learning if you study during your peak periods. If you have a part-time job that happens during your peak period you may wan to reconsider if it is wise to be giving your employer your best learning time.

8. Your brain and body communicate constantly. If your body is slouched down, the message the brain gets is that “this is not important” and so it doesn’t pay as close attention. In any learning situation, sit up and lean forward to help keep your mind alert. Buy a good quality, adjustable office chair.

9. Your brain is affected by smells. Use aromatherapy to keep your brain alert. Peppermint, lemon and cinnamon are good ones to experiment with.

10. Your brain needs oxygen. Get out there and exercise.

11. Your brain needs space. Be sure that you are not trying to study in a small cramped area.

12. Your brain needs your space to be organized. One recent study showed that kids who grow up in tidy, organized homes do better academically. Why? Because by being trained to organize the outside environment, the brain learns to organize the internal knowledge…which makes recall faster. Buy a 4-drawer legal-sized filing cabinet.

13. Your brain cells in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that deals with putting information from short-term to long-term memory, are destroyed by cortisol, which is created when you are stressed. So, yes, stress affects memory. How do you get rid of cortisol? Exercise.

14. Your brain doesn’t know what you can’t do until you tell it.
What are you telling it? Listen to your self-talk. Stop the negativity. Replace it with more positive, encouraging talk.

15. Your brain is like a muscle: it can be trained and strengthened, at any age. No excuses. Stop being a mental couch potato. Professional athletes practice every day; you can practice homework everyday. If “you don’t have any”, make some up for yourself. Read ahead, review…do SOMETHING.

16. Your brain needs repetition. It is better to do short frequent reviews than one long review because what counts is how many times your brain sees something, not how long is sees it in one sitting.

17. Your brain can understand faster than you can read. Use a pencil or finger to “lead” your eyes. By doing so you help your eyes move more quickly.

18. Your brain needs movement, especially if you are mostly a kinesthetic (body movement) learner instead of a visual or auditory learner. You might find your productivity go up if you have a standing desk. Buy one or make one by raising your desk/table on blocks. This allows you to move more easily and stay more alert.

19. Your brain seeks patterns and connections. When you are learning something, ask yourself, “What does this remind me of?” This will also help your memory because it connects the new knowledge to something you already know.

20. Your brain loves fun. We learn in direct proportion to how much fun we are having. Learning is life. Live it up!

Source: www.world-mysteries.com

2/24/12 12:50am

to ♥:

 imissyou..

i don't know why.. but i just do.. 

i wish i could turn back time and treasure all the moments with you..


i wish you're still here..


:'(

'till we meet again


i love you and i will forever do..




love,

D.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this is the usual time that we have long-hour conversation over the phone and i just can't get in to sleep because i simply miss talking to you before i end up the day :( sorry for this so-emotional post . i just want to cry my heart out..

task force dengue

--The Provincial Health Team Office recorded 2,293 dengue cases in Ilocos Sur as of 5 pm of August 18. This data was presented by Benjamin Castillo, Provincial Health Team Leader during the Provincial Consultative Meeting against Dengue held in this city on August 19. Cases this year is up by 370% compared to cases recorded last year. (Around Ilocandia Channel)

The outbreak is a major problem on public hospitals here in ilocos... including, of course, Sinait District Hospital where I am currently working in. In a day, at least 5 are admitted who are suspected with dengue fever.. The provincial government gave their full support to all the needs of the dengue patients forming the Task Force Dengue program but still stocks of medicine, IV fluids, foods and laboratory materials are easily "wiped out" (my term.. haha) due to high demands.. even the bed spaces is a problem.. no more rooms for patients!!! 


you may always see this set-up in public hospitals on TV, newspapers, documentary photographs.. but for me, I can't believe that its actually happening in our hospital..

the 25-bed capacity hospital accomodated more or less 75 patients

southern alley (OB to DR area) NOTE: the patients are not "in labor", they "in dengue" :)

northern alley (pedia/female/medical ward area) usually, this is the widest alley in the hospital.. it is where we wheel the patients from ER to be admitted.. but well no more space for these patients so the COH has no choice but to provide the place for them.. NOTE: the patients also brought their own beds :(

In front of Medical Records Office

we even transformed the benches into beds

GOd is with us.. That's why we always have something to provide...

my co-nurses during a tiresome-so-toxic night duty (11-7)

and yes! this is the thrill!! to add spice on our duty there was a sudden brown out!! and oops there is no utility/IW on duty that time so no one can turn on the generator.. we were afraid naman to do it bcause it was extremely dark outside so we just use candles while we wrote the charts, praying there would be no DR/ER/OR cases or else someone brave enough (or maybe would be no choice) will turn on the generator.. anyway the brown out lasted only for 45 minutes,.. thank God within that time, we didn't have an urgent need of any electric device..

As of Aug.18, 89 cases of dengue were recorded at Sinait and thank God (again) we have no mortality records...

july surprises

thank You God for the blessings:

> july 1: casual nurse na ako (yey!)
> july 2: mom's 51st bday
> july8: chicken all you can @Max's with SDH friends..
>july 9: IV insertion at a month old baby (yes!!)
>july10: new LCD TV...

..........looking forward for more ... :))

Licensed to Drive my Life

on this stage of my life, where i was so stagnant, i felt like yesterday was my most fulfilling day.. i finally got my NP DRIVER'S LICENCE.. to some, it's just so ordinary , but u don't know how this means a lot to me.

when i was still in grade 6 my tito ferdie started to teach me driving. way back then, i have dreamed to become the best driver in the world with the most expensive car.. WOW! so kiddy dream.. but my driving skills doesn't end up the way i want it to be.. for 8-9years of having the knowledge on how to operate the engine and 2-3 years of having just a Student Permit on my hand, Mama doesn't trust my abilities. So, rarely do i have the opportunity to step on the accelerator..

while we were having our vacay at saudi, Papa would allow me to drive his Toyota Land Cruiser but my mom always have to disagree because she thinks i might end up to an accident. Being a mother, i understand her. But when my little brother (though he's a big boy now) already know how to drive she would allow him to bring out the car, alone.

When i have complained about it, she gave me a condition...

"You can use the car anytime you want but someone should drive for you."

SO UNFAIR.. I already know how to drive, why do i still need a driver?

This is always our problem. This is always MY problem.

I want to become independent. I don't want my life to be entrusted to somebody's hands always.
I want to prove that i can do things for myself. Sometimes my Mama scolds me for being so dependent to others, even my friends observes it.My boyfriend totally knows this, that's why he spoils me. And i hate it.

Often times, I blame my mom for this. I grew up with a yaya plus my three aunts who would always lend me everything I need. I have a yaya until I was in college. After our last maid, thtt was when i was in 2nd year college, my mama didn't hire anymore, kasi daw malalaki na kami. It is a big adjustment for us. My brother and I made a schedule in doing the dishes. It is the only chore that we know. All the rest are for my mom. But she too is not comfortable. She can't do everything, of course, so she would then again scold me for being so lazy, the fact that I am already a lady now.

She would always tell me "Dalaga ka pa naman, ni hindi mo alam maglinis."

"You never trained me." on my mind. but of course i won't tell her, it would surely cause an argument. Well, thank God I grew up in a public school, at least i have practiced on how to sweep, clean, mop, etc. And thanks to GSP for making me more responsible.


Even during my examinations (big exams, not to include school quizes), I always want my Mama to be with me. Knowing that she's outside the examination room, waiting for me decreases my anxiety.

When i took the NLE last July 2010, she was there. It was even her birthday the day before the exams, but
instead of celebrating, she was on her way to La Union to support me. The latest was, when I took the NMAT last December. I convinced her to come with me to Baguio. My little brother was taking his college admission test during that day at Baguio also but he didn't want mama to be with him on his exams. They both laugh at me for i was just like a kindergarten with my mama with me. Again, it is because I am used to having the exams with her. During my elementary and high school years, every time I join, Journalism, Spelling bee or Math and Science quiz bee she is always present. She is my lucky charm.


But, yesterday was different. I had my driver's written and actual exams without my Mama around. I just went to the LTO with my boyfriend but he too just let me do all things. He and a friend, just waited for me at the canteen, until the releasing of the licence. I got high grades on the written exam and all good comments during the actual driving. It felt so gooood. So good to hold the licence knowing I get it on my own efforts, no suhol/lagay, no singit, no help from others, no back ups... it's just me and my own ability. It's just me, finally driving my own life!! :)

it's SERVICE, u know..

i woke up this morning with the sounds of rain.. "what a lovely morning!" on my mind.. im the type of person who is so inlove with the rain.. yes, i love the rain more than the sun shine.. i love cuddling up with my pillows, under my blanket, sleeping on my bed with the cold weather outside...  it gives me peace of mind... so relaxing..

"deedee, anak bangon ka muna", the tranquility was cut. when i opened my eyes i saw Mama beside me.. "punta tau ng hospital, d raw makakapagreport si gracia, walang magpapakain sa mga pasyente."

My Mama is a Nutritionist-Dietitian in a District Hospital in our town where I am currently a volunteer nurse there too.

"Pero Ma, ang lakas ng ulan." I complained.. with no words she left me..

since i was already awakened and i can't go back to my blissful moment again, i decided to get out of my bed.. while i was going down the stairs I saw mama busy txting with cellphones on her both hands.. Both are busy receiving messages..

"asan si raprap ma?"
"pumasok pa din, ROTC daw nila"
"ah"
"Malapit nang umapaw ang kanal sa labas.."
"tuloy tuloy po ba ang ulan mula kagabi"
"oo, di nga ako nakatulog ng maayos eh, tinitignan tignan ko kau ng kapatid mo bka nakabukas ang mga bintana nyo"

I just smiled.. she's always like that.. everytime there's a forecast of a storm, even though we are in a comfortable shelter, she just can't calm herself.. maybe that's one of the unique qualities of a mother.

"kain ka na"
"opo ma", then she went to the garage.

After i finished my breakfast, i went outside to check for Mama, she's at the laundry, trying to pull the washing machine.
"halika, buhatin natin 'to, isampa natin sa may sink" then we did. we also check for the things at the garden.

when the rain had started falling harder, we went back inside...

my Mama took a shower while i make my coffee.. while drinking, i checked her cellphone, reading the messages of her cooks, all of them can't report early due to the heavy rain. They are all from barrios (we live at the poblacion) and can't find a good way to the town proper.

When my Mama went out the bathroom,

"Tawagan mo nga kung sino volunteer doon, tanungin mo kung kumain na ung mga pasyente"

I called..

"Wala pa daw nagpakain ma"

"tanongin mo kung ilan ang pasyente"

"27 daw po"

"naku, kawawa naman cla"

then she txted somebody.. I can feel she's stressed,she can't put down her cellphones.. maybe, she's asking someone to go to the hospital, or maybe she's asking someone to pick her up for her to be the one who will feed the patients (though it is not her duty).. then i have remembered I am a nurse, i had oath that i will choose to do my duty over my personal needs..

"ma, ganito na ako, di na ako maliligo"

she smiled..

"magbihis ka na ma,tawagan ko na si pete (my boyfriend) para ihatid tayo"

"thank you baby"

While on our way, I have seen the garbage collectors clearing a canal that is full of leaves and trash for the water to flow, others are putting sandbags near the bridge so that if in case the river will be overflowed, the water will not submerge the houses near the area, and a group of  highway patrol are roaming around the town  (i don't know if its for safety and security purposes) while another group was in front of the National High School at the end of the bridge, maybe they are monitoring the water level so they could warn the traffic if in case the highway will be flooded.

All of them are out of their own houses, doing their duty for their town. All of them are out of the comfort of their beds, suffering from cold and getting soaked under the rain for the sake of other people. And us, 27 ill people are waiting for us to feed their hungry stomachs..

When we reached the hospital, only 7 nurses, 2 doctors (one is on call for an operation), and 3 IWs are able to attend their duty. They too get out from the feeling of cuddling in their beds, from the comfort of their homes and from their blissful sleep for them to be able to take care for other people.

As we distributed the foods (only breads and coffee, we don't have time to cook), the "thank you"s from the patients beat the coldness of the rain.. it is very warm at heart that inspite the hard weather, we have made something good for other people.. Thanks to the rain, it reminded me that I and my mom are public servants... we have the duty to SERVE, rain or shine... :))