Someday

It's 3 PM as I walk into A Child's Place to begin my job as a daycare aid. Immediately upon walking in the door I am bombarded with hugs, urgent news, and a barrage of questions from my class of four-year olds.

"Miss Caitlin, guess what? I didn't wet myself during nap today!"
"Miss Caitlin, I hafta tell you something. How long is an hour?"

No matter that this was a question rather than a statement, I answer, "As long as an episode of Sesame Street."

"Oh. I like hours," comes the response.

Entering the classroom everyday is an adventure.

At recess, little Annabelle is clinging to me-her face buried in my chest, her tears soaking my shirt, and a look of fear and betrayel reflected in her eyes. Her best friend has snatched her toy and pushed her. This is the first of many heartbreaks to come today, but I am here to appease her, to punish the oppressor, to be her comfort and safety.

Saturday morning comes and I find myself calling BINGO at the Barbara Egens Nursing and Rehab Center.

"B-4," I yell as loudly as I can to the room of elderly residents sitting before me. Suddenly, the man seated next to me is awakened and yells, "Before what?"

I try to stifle a laugh as I lean over to him and sort out his card. Volunteering most Saturdays since my freshman year of high school, I have grown to have a great respect for the elderly. There is the man who insists on speaking to me in Japanese because he wants me to learn the language that he learned fighting in World War II, while another shares his wisdom by informing me step by step the proper way to behead and prepare a chicken. Then there are others who cannot speak, but their gratitude for my just sitting with them is reflected in their eyes. I love listening to stories of their past or of their children, and though most of them are bedridden, there is still a strong willingness to learn and be heard.

Having the opportunity to work with both of these age groups has brought me insight and valuable experience. From being with the preschoolers I am reminded that the simple aspects in life are to be noticed and celebrated. Children have a way of finding excitement and wonder in the everyday; I want to live and seek out the same enthusiasm in life.

The elderly have ultimately taught me to live life to its fullest and take chances. I have learned that true love really can last a lifetime, which is evident in the couple that still holds hands at BINGO, and if one should fall asleep, the other plays his or her card. But mostly I have learned that thought these people have grown and matured and experienced many things both joyous and heartbreaking, they have the same soul they did at 17. We are all not that different.

These are my middle years and experiences with both ends of the cycle of life have helped me make decisions in how I want to live these days with passion and constant questions. No matter our age, as humans we have the same desires to have close interaction with others and to continue to grow everyday as people. It has been a great joy for me to be apart of all these peoples' lives. I am happy to be a form of comfort to them and to learn through them. My hope is that someday there will be someone listening to the stories of my life. From my days of pretending to be "Harriet the Spy" at the age of 7 to swimming under the Pont du Gard in Nimes at age 17, and all the memories I create, I hope to share my wisdom and tales as well. Someday.