Three minutes of heaven
In they came, bent over, shuffling slowly but with gleeful anticipation in their eyes. Sore knees, aching backs and the effects of years of toil would soon be lifted. Excitement filled the room.
Up on stage, a man nearing his 80's was arranging trumpets, a saxophone and other assorted instruments. Occasionally he would stop to visit with a passerby. One lady stopped to tell him that he had played at her wedding thirty six years earlier. "You married me." she said. "Yeah, I've got a lot of wives out there." he retorted. Then he would go back to his work. Everything had to be just right.
Then, finally the moment came. The music started and the crowd grew quiet. The first song was a Polka and a stampede of people filled the dance floor in the center of the room. They came for the three minutes of heaven each song would give them. Just like in the Bible where it says there will be no more tears, every pain and every problem would disappear for the three minutes each song lasted.
One man wore a shirt echoing the sentiments of them all: "No Nursing Home--I'll die dancing!"
Then came the moment that brought me to tears. My 86 year old mother with Alzheimer's shuffled out to the floor with her young husband of 85 and the rhythm of the music made them young again - three minutes at a time.
Up on stage, a man nearing his 80's was arranging trumpets, a saxophone and other assorted instruments. Occasionally he would stop to visit with a passerby. One lady stopped to tell him that he had played at her wedding thirty six years earlier. "You married me." she said. "Yeah, I've got a lot of wives out there." he retorted. Then he would go back to his work. Everything had to be just right.
Then, finally the moment came. The music started and the crowd grew quiet. The first song was a Polka and a stampede of people filled the dance floor in the center of the room. They came for the three minutes of heaven each song would give them. Just like in the Bible where it says there will be no more tears, every pain and every problem would disappear for the three minutes each song lasted.
One man wore a shirt echoing the sentiments of them all: "No Nursing Home--I'll die dancing!"
Then came the moment that brought me to tears. My 86 year old mother with Alzheimer's shuffled out to the floor with her young husband of 85 and the rhythm of the music made them young again - three minutes at a time.
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