For nearly 40 years, Sam...
Illustration
For nearly 40 years, Sam ran the corner grocery. He knew every customer by name. He loved people and they loved him. His life was full. Then he grew old and had to close the store.
At first, he did not mind retirement. Every morning he left the house to have coffee and conversation at the local doughnut shop. He followed that with lunch at the corner cafe. He had to give up that routine a couple years ago. His worn-out knees made it impossible to get in and out of the car and up and down the stairs.
Sam, who never married and has no other family, now lives an almost reclusive life. He spends every day at home. In fact, the pain keeps him in bed most of the time.
At first, friends dropped by regularly to visit. As the months passed, their visits slowed until almost no one stops by. Sam is lonely, angry, depressed. He doesn't really care how busy other people are. He does not accept their excuses. He only knows that age and illness can be as much like leprosy and AIDS.
- Cueni
At first, he did not mind retirement. Every morning he left the house to have coffee and conversation at the local doughnut shop. He followed that with lunch at the corner cafe. He had to give up that routine a couple years ago. His worn-out knees made it impossible to get in and out of the car and up and down the stairs.
Sam, who never married and has no other family, now lives an almost reclusive life. He spends every day at home. In fact, the pain keeps him in bed most of the time.
At first, friends dropped by regularly to visit. As the months passed, their visits slowed until almost no one stops by. Sam is lonely, angry, depressed. He doesn't really care how busy other people are. He does not accept their excuses. He only knows that age and illness can be as much like leprosy and AIDS.
- Cueni
