It rained during Bible Study today. I’m not normally one to carry an umbrella and Mitzi is never really worried about melting. Today, though, I didn’t want Mitzi to get wet and be cold during lunch, so I brought it. At the end of Bible Study, she went over and talked to one of the younger gals. I don’t know what all they talked about and I’m pretty sure Mitzi did a lot of listening because she’s great at that…sometimes she feels like she isn’t contributing much by just listening, but I remind her that a trusting ear is a wonderful gift. Sometimes we don’t want people to fix things or give advice, but rather, we just need them to listen. She seemed very grateful for the opportunity to connect with this younger woman, and I was glad to see her feel useful.
We walked outside and it was still raining, so I handed her the umbrella. With our significant difference in height, it was silly to try and get us both under it, so I let her hold it. She thought that wasn’t fair, so she just held it out to the side, almost indignantly. Now no one was using it and we were both getting wet. What else could I do but burst into song?! And what better song than the iconic “Singing In The Rain!” Of course Mitzi, named straight after Mitzi Gaynor (the dancer), had to start twirling and tapping through the puddles, laughing the whole time. I’m sure we were quite a sight.
As I smiled and watched her, my very visual mind couldn’t help but resurrect the image from Mitzi’s mother’s memorial service 3.5 years ago. At the entrance to the sanctuary was a beautiful picture of her mother and this wonderful quote, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
In the midst of this very real storm called Alzheimer’s, I am so grateful for a friend who teaches me by living out her ability to dance in its rain…????
