Those People: The Gold-Timers

Mister Unlocked Heart

A few friends and I go to the nursing home every Tuesday night. This Tuesday, we turned down the middle hall and saw a man in a wheelchair in front of his room. My friend, Mimi, walked on but Sydney and I stopped and said hello to the man in the wheelchair. His name is Mr. Lockhart. He's as sharp as a tack and can tell you anything about his life growing up. What he likes to talk about most is his children and grandchildren.

He asked if we wanted to see his bulletin board plastered with pictures. We walked on in and he told us about every single person in the photos--what they were doing, when they went to school, where they live now, and even what year his granddaughter was Homecoming Queen. He would even repeat facts a hand full of times. Maybe not because he's old and forgot that he already mentioned it, but because he's so enamored with the ones he's talking about.

I pointed to a picture of a man with his wife and asked who it was.

"That's my son. My oldest son." He shared about him before the sentimental comment, "I'm... I'm really proud of him. I'm proud of my son." I noticed his eyes were watery.

He gathered himself again and offered to give me one of his novels stacked high on the bedside. I picked one out. It's called Spies Among Us. I expressed my gratitude and said goodbye. He wants us to come back next week.

The Silent-Life-Celebrator

Another resident we visit weekly is Ms. Mary Beth. She's the exact opposite of her outspoken and (slightly) rambunctious roommate. This week her roommate was asleep so we talked to Mary Beth the whole time we were in the room.

It seems like every time we ask her about her day, she gives a delightful explanation of her ordinary activities and always ends with a genuine, "Yes, it was a good day." I don't know many people who enjoy life as much as she does. Her spirit is very content and peaceful--not very common in a nursing home.

We usually pray for both of them and this time we prayed for her specifically. She has cataracts and wants Jesus to heal her eyes. We promised we would pray for her throughout the week. As we were leaving she said warmly, "I'm so glad y'all came tonight," and was happy to hear we would come back next Tuesday.

The Vitamin C Man

My Papaw.

He's a character.

Eighty-seven years old going on twenty-eight.

You could probably drive a Mac truck through his arteries, but you couldn't convince him to take a plane after his Air Force experience during WWII.

He remembers when the Stock Market crashed in '29. He was six-years-old and, after hearing that "the bank done busted", ran down town to see what happened to it.

He's a health nut if you haven't figured. He did some hard persuasion when he found out that I wrote a chemistry paper on the "ineffectiveness" of Vitamin C. He used about four health books and a couple of articles from his personal library to convince me that it was "a miracle drug!"My friend started referring to him as "The Vitamin C Man" after I told her about it.

Every time my brother, cousins, and I would stay the night at his house, he would serve his signature breakfast: cornmeal pancakes, vanilla ice cream, frozen strawberries, and a boiled egg.

He's a huge fan of the Atlanta Braves and wants to carpet his backyard so he won't have to mow around his fish pond and various assortments of plant patches (including the bamboo that lines his fence).

I remember riding with him in his small pick up truck and we'd listen to country gospel music. I didn't like it too much, but he would just drive and softly sing along. He's an extremely faithful member of his church, delivers Meals-on-Wheels (at least he used to), and is a hilarious giver to mission-based organizations and events.

Once I heard my aunt say, "He's got more money than all his (6) children put together." I believe it. When you're frugal with spending money on yourself and pour it all out on family and missions, the return is amazing. It's Biblical and I think he believes in that principle. Whenever the rest of the family talks about him, there are comments such as, "Papaw. The man, the myth, the legend..." and,"He's my hero."