I wrote this poem long ago before the time with Corona.
And especially the bits about a touch, have given my heart ♥ pain, but above all homesick!

To the beach

Carefully I roll up your trouser legs, you want to dance your bare feet in the salty water and you want to walk through the mullet sand.
You went with Ten Anker, all the way to the North Sea beach.

I see two compression stockings and I look at you in terror and questionable
You laugh and say, “Pull them out, so you can go.”

I think, “Take them out, it's not that easy anyway?”
They are frighteningly tight, but well your will be done.

So I am not a sister, but I am more or less forced to learn.
The activity supervisors of the past have long ceased to exist.

'Half sisters', that's what I call my kind.
Because a nursing act is just part of it these days.

You give me a quick instruction: “Steef trekke, you can!
Carefully I take your leg in my hands, pull with all my strength and scare off your skin.

So incredibly thin! I'm afraid to touch you.
I'm startled by your bones, your veins and all bruises, are they the witnesses of your daily burdens?

You break my mind and say, “Don't be so bland.”
I laugh and say, “I think you're a very tough woman.

You're 84 and you're still enjoying life, may I give you a hug?”
Your smile magnifies and the corners of your mouth are now almost over your ears.

I put my arms around you, we shut up
and get lost in our own thoughts for a moment.

A fleeting encounter of our eyes,
betrays that we were mutually moved.

It surprises me every time that a 'simple' touch,
even if she is only so small yet so intense and therefore even very big.

Anyway, the support stockings are off and I'll take you on my arm.
We walk through the sand together and it feels very satisfying and wonderfully warm.

I look around I see the volunteers and my (former) colleagues at work.
It reminded me of the phrase: “Together we are strong.”

Without really agreeing, everything runs like a lubricated train.
It was a wonderful day; we enjoyed, laughed, talked, it was' simply 'in one word; FINE.

A picnic on the beach with all kinds of sandwiches and even a hard-boiled egg.
Juices, grapes and yes yes, of course the 'currant loaf with suuker' was also there.

Special beach wheelchairs were rented,
we can definitely thank P for that.
We crost with the 'oldies' through the surf and I will spare you the deafening, but moving, joy sounds.

Have you ever heard an 84-year-old woman scream out of joy?
Well trust me, you really wouldn't want that.

No, weirdness, it's a sound I would never want to forget!
It is up to a lost child who sees his mother to measure again.

So intense, so full of enthusiasm, so FULL OF LIFE.
Gosh, you'd like to give this to everyone.

I don't know if I'm allowed to grow old, but if I may, I want to be like them.
That beautiful, lovely woman of 84 years Yes, that makes me happy.

We dry our feet and we head to the terrace.
Of course, also by the toilet for a stopped puddle.

What an adventure and again I have to name Perry's B,
because I like to praise them for customer friendliness.

Over 80 people with wide wheelchairs is not exactly a daily thing for them, but you know we were treated like a king and we really have nothing to 'whine' at all.

We were allowed right through the kitchen and then even through the warehouse.
The public toilets were too small.

Perry's B thought along with us out loud
and let us use their own staff toilet.

On the terrace all the brakes were released, what a pleasure we had.
Lawyer, red wine, bitterballs and even beer.

Because of the webcam, we were even in the picture on the internet
We really haven't been bored for a moment.

Oh yeah, one more thing, that was actually a bit weird.
We also had a special 'guest', my guitar.

First he was in the car, shortly afterwards on a walker
and once arrived at the beach.
We also put him in a cart,
but in the end it ended up on the bus unused.

No tools were needed to successfully occupy this day.
It all went naturally and everyone was satisfied.

On the return trip, the satisfaction was absolutely noticeable
and days like this reinforce my professional attitude even more.

You know a piece of theory in itself isn't that hard to take in,
but how do you use your heart, eyes, arms and legs in practice.

Ooh sorry, I digress again.
So we are on our way back to Tholen
and enjoy the Zeeland nature.
A day at the beach man, man what an adventure.

What an experience, I am thankful and happy that I was able to experience this.
It has not only given me joy, but also some wisdom.

Enjoying like a child, equally uninhibited,
how often does that still occur in your life?
Do you sometimes hear this profound joy?

We arrived at Ten Anker and I take care of the 84 year old,
compression stockings wearing woman.
I want to end the way I started: namely with you!

I take you home for a moment and just like with our embrace, we experience emotion without words and out of your eye spontaneously rolls a tear out of your eye out of gratitude.
And you know, dear readers: “THAT'S WHAT WE DID IT FOR.”

by: a Voice of Thoughts
wwwangelienahuisnl

#summerwritingchallenge2022