Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sunday 160 - Alone at the end

Machines whirred and beeped
as fluids dripped into his body.
Groggy and alone
with no one to advocate on his behalf,
he was a very frightened 79-year-old child.
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If you wish to take the Sunday 160 challenge, here are the rules:

1. The Sunday 160 only uses EXACTLY 160 characters (including spaces).
2. Keep on schedule - post Sunday.
3. Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.
(Be sure to mention you have posted a 160. Provide a link if you can)
4. Visit at least one other Sunday 160 writer.
____________________

28 comments:

Enchanted Oak said...

Oh, this one is a sad one, MM. There's my heart, splat on the floor.

Deborah said...

I do feel strongly about this ... so very sad, well written.

Jinksy said...

I've been cheeky and tied a 160 into the bumper of my Poetry Bus poem this week, as it matched the subject matter!

Jinksy said...

Of course, a LINK would have helped!! LOL

Brian Miller said...

we come full circle dont we...esp when faced with the prospext of dying. back again...

and mine is up

the walking man said...

I say if it were me...pull the plug give me some good, nay great pain meds and let me go.

Me said...

Heartbreaking 160, MM. I bet I'm not the only one that sees a family member's face on the man in your story...
-C

PS - I'm in the game this week, my 160 is up.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

poor bugger.

Possum said...

Well that's just outed one of my big fears...*sniff*

Mine is here

Anonymous said...

That's how a hospital feels, all right. Been there recently myself.

Mine is up.

G-Man said...

And the best that you could hope for is to die in your sleep....

I Played....:-)

Pheromone Girl said...

This has happened to you too often this year. So I left you something soft and fuzzy.

Amore

Monkey Man said...

Back story: Friend of mine is in the hospital. Estranged from family, he has few to turn to and is in a hospital that offers no advocate to the elderly and alone. It is both sad and angering. The good news is, we connected him to a nephew in hopes of opening the door to help. Godspeed, my friend.

Evalinn said...

Scary on! I´m also up this week. Hope you´ve had a good weekend! :-)

Julie Ferguson said...

Makes me think of my Dad. Thank goodness he wasn't alone.

nitewrit said...

Monkey Man,

I am sorry to hear about your friend's situation. Yes, we have been through that, too.

Here is my contribution, a bit on the more comic side.

"Best Laid Plans of Mice and Fathers" at

http://lemoldman.blogspot.com

Larry

Sharon Day said...

Reminds me of my mom when she was dying. We did home hospice and she was comatose, but at one point she looked at me and I don't know why, but I started to sing a song she sang to me when I was a baby. It seemed strangely natural to comfort her when she had comforted me, both of us at the most helpless times of our lives. That was beautiful, MM. You are so deeply insightful.

Anonymous said...

Geez. You don't skirt around the issue. You use each of the 160 characters to strike a nerve.

I played.

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh... such a plight is unimaginably sad..
Pain and loneliness can make anyone feel like a vulnerable little child...
Very nicely captured, MM...

Here is my 160 for today.. (it's better late than never.. isn't it?)

Anonymous said...

It was only after i posted my comment did I realize that you were talking about your own friend..
My prayers are with him, MM... it's a good thing he has you...

(hugs)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

Late?

I posted mine, thanks for the platform..

here is My 160

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

79 year old is a lovely age..blessings for him...

Thanks for the highlight.

Katherine Krige said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katherine Krige said...

You are a good friend to be there for him in his time of need MM. Peace to you in this difficult time. I was out playing in the sunshine this aft and share some with you today.

Unknown said...

Oh, man, RIP MY HEART OUT! That describes many people right now. Thank you for making us remember them.

Margaret said...

...not the way I want to go. Very sad.

Marla said...

This is just how I see the elderly. As children. It's also how I love them at the end. How can we do any less?

budh.aaah said...

My papa went this same way and he was 79 just six months ago. This has touched a space in the heart that I had closed and sealed away or tried to at least..way too heartbreaking MM...