Needy Seniors
"It's a beautiful day today, isn't it Ma? Looks like winter is finally over", said Debbie.
"Finally is right"...I paused, "but.."
"BUT?" interrupted Debbie, "isn't this what you have been talking about ...for months?"
She was rolling her eyes. I didn't see it because we talking on the telephone but I knew it.
"And we have 'sunshine' today, you love that!"
I nodded.
"Well,?" she said
"Well, I'm nodding."
"Then why aren't you happier? You always made it sound like if you had 'sunshine' and
'sunlight' that was the be-all and end-all for you. Why are you complaining?"
"Because it's still a little chilly, by now it really should be warmer..." I heard the
anger in my own voice.
"Ma, you have to stop taking it personally when God doesn't give you exactly the
weather you want.!"
"Do I?"
"Yes, you may not say it, but you're thinking it."
"You're right" I said, and I thought, I am a horrible person!
"You're so needy" she mumbled, "Are all your friends so needy?"
Hmmpf, are yours? I wanted to say, but didn't.
We agreed that she'd pick me up at 11:30, my appointment with the realtor was at 1.
I was thinking about moving to Long Beach, to an apartment with a window looking
out to the ocean and the boardwalk. We'd have brunch first at the Diner, their
French Toast was well known and scrumptous!
As we were seated an infant was wailing at the table next to us. I love babies, but please,
don't have your tantrum here, now...so close to us. The woman with her, obviously
her grandmother, was apologetic; "She needs her Mommy," she explained.
I smiled, trying to be nice, yeah,we need her Mommy too I said to myself while it all
came back to me, that stage when the infant/ toddler gets the 'separation anxiety' even
if the parent is only in another room.
The subject of 'neediness' was busying itself in my mind. I needed my sugar fix right
now (unpopular though it currently is.). And it seemed to me that Debbie needed
her caffeine dose and food in her belly, right now. But these were physical needs, what
about the others, like the baby next to us?
We had time before our appontment so we decided to take a walk on the boardwalk,
apparently sharing the idea with many others, some jogging, strolling with baby
carriages, bicycling, and seniors seated on the benches, looking out to the
blue blue sea, glistening in the sun.
Everybody needed something today, I thought. If there was a contest of who
needed what the most, there 'd be no winners.
.
I didn't know what I was more entranced with ...the sea or the people. An elderly
couple strolled by, holding hands. Did they know how fortunate they were? I think so.
Down on the sand a young twenty-something girl sat staring at the ocean. Her
demeanor showed her neediness, for someone to love, who would love her in return.
Her soulmate. And he was out there somewhere needing her!
Then that song popped into my head;" People, people who need people... are the luckiest
people in the world..." I like Barbra, she has an exquisite voice, and the best thing...she is
a Brooklyn girl! But.that song lyric baffles me, WHY, are people who need
people the luckiest people in the world? Sure, they could be lucky but only if their
needs are met by other people who need them in return! I guess the lyricist couldn't be
bothered explaining it. His need was to fit his words into the tempo of the music.
So there it is. From infancy to old age and everyone in between, all of us are 'needy.'
THE END
P.S. Be kind to one another.
."
