I'LL BE SEEING YOU

She shuffles by with her walker, never making eye contact, an empty expression on her face--lost, confused. 

Her white hair is loosely held back from her finely lined face--the nurse's aide was in a hurry this morning.  Her flowered blouse is clean but worn at the edges.

She no longer recognizes even the most familiar--her son who visits her weekly is now a stranger.

Suddenly, from the other side of the room, piano music fills the air--the volunteer has arrived to play for the residents.

Her head perks up as something in the song catches her attention.

Drawn to the music, she slowly makes her way across the room and stops to listen..........

*"I'LL BE SEEING YOU

 IN ALL THE OLD FAMILIAR PLACES

 THAT THIS HEART OF MINE EMBRACES

 ALL DAY THROUGH......"

her features soften as a look of joy lights up her face and there is a far-away gaze in her eyes....

where is she in her mind......?

what is she seeing......?

.....she and her kid brother are walking to school on a crisp fall morning.  Her thick auburn hair lies in a braid down her back.  A smell of burning leaves fills the air as they begin to run, a crunching sound with every step....

.....her beau has brought her a small bouquet of daisies for their first date.  As she leans down to smell their fragrance, a lock of hair falls across her clear hazel eyes....

**



.....the church is humming and crowded--it's her wedding day.  Walking down the aisle, she sees him waiting at the altar, so handsome in his new black suit.  She feels butterflies in her stomach and has never been happier....

**



.....the aroma of coffee, eggs and toast fills the sunny kitchen.  Two of the children scramble down the stairs to eat breakfast before running for the bus.  Her husband sits across the table reading the morning newspaper....




"I'LL FIND YOU IN THE MORNING SUN
AND WHEN THE NIGHT IS NEW
I'LL BE LOOKING AT THE MOON
BUT I'LL BE SEEING YOU......"

The song over, she picks up her walker and heads back to her small room

unreachable...

in her own little world...

but in her mind

she dreams

she sings

she sees



(click on the link below)
I'LL BE SEEING YOU JIMMY DURANTE

*I'll Be Seeing You, SammyFain/Irving Kahal, 1938.

**Photos courtesy of Wiki Commons