Stem van Gedachten

@stemvangedachten · 05 Oct 2025

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Nostalgia For The Touch...

To the beach

I gently roll up your legs, you want to let your bare feet dance in the salt water and you want to walk through the loose sand.
You went with Ten Anker, all the way to the North Sea beach.

I see two compression stockings and I look at you horrified and questionable
You laugh and say: “Just take them off and you can go.”

I think: “Just take them off, it's not that easy, right?”
They are frighteningly tight, but well your will is done.

So I am not a sister, but I am more or less forced to become a full apprentice.
The activity counselors of the past have long since ceased to exist.

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

You give me a quick instruction: “Tiekke, you can do that!
I take care of your leg in my hands, pull with all my strength and scare you off.

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

You break my mind and say, “Tie, don't be so cheesy.”
I laugh and say, “I think you're a really tough woman.

You're 84 and you're still enjoying life, can I give you a hug?”
Your smile is enlarged and the corners of your mouth now even reach almost over your ears.

I wrap my arms around you, we're silent
and lose a moment in our own mind.

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

It surprises me time and time again that a 'simple' touch,
even if she is 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 smooth train.
It was a lovely day; we enjoyed, laughed, talked, it was' simple 'in one word; NICE.

A picnic on the beach with all kinds of sandwiches and even a hard-boiled egg.
Juices, grapes and yes, of course, the “currant bread with sugar” was also included.

Special beach wheelchairs were rented,
we can definitely thank P for that.
We cross the surf with the 'oldies' and I'll spare you the deafening, yet 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, just kidding, it's a sound I'd never want to forget!
It's up to a lost child to measure his mother again.

So intense, so full of enthusiasm, so FULL OF LIFE.
Gee, you'd like to give this to everyone, wouldn't you.

I don't know if I can grow old, but if it's okay, I want to be like them.
That beautiful, sweet woman aged 84 Yes, that makes me happy.

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

What an adventure and I'm going to have to mention Perry's B again,
because I would like to praise them for their customer friendliness.

People over 80 with wide wheelchairs are not exactly an everyday occurrence for them, but you know we were treated like a king and we really have nothing to 'complain' about.

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

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

All the brakes came loose on the terrace, what a pleasure we had.
Lawyer, red wine, croquettes and even beer.

Through the webcam, we were even in the picture on the internet
We were really not bored for a moment.

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

First he was lying in the car, shortly afterwards on a rollator
and once you arrive at the beach.
We also put him in a cart,
but in the end, he ended up on the bus unused.

No tools were needed to successfully cover this day.
It all went by itself and everyone was satisfied.

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

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

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

What an experience, I am grateful and happy to have had the opportunity to experience this.
It has not only given me joy, but also some wisdom.

Enjoy it like a child, just as uninhibited,
how often does that still happen in your life?
Do you ever hear this profound joy?

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

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

by: a Voice of Thought

Tags: #HeimweeNaarDeAanraking #Welzijn #Ouderenzorg #Zorgmedewerker #Activiteitenbegeleiding #Aanraking #Gedicht #Inspiratie #SVRZ #TenAnkerTholen #Zeeland #SamenSterk #Vrijwilligerswerk