Waffles

An elderly gentleman teetering on the precipice of dementia

Was wandering around the hotel lobby

Unintentionally causing a roadblock in the traffic of the morning

Tripping up hotel guests as they were trying to depart

Or get breakfast at the buffet

I nearly bumped into him several times

As he unpredictably and aimlessly stumbled through the room

And I felt annoyance

I felt a lot of annoyance

I was in a hurry

I was hungry

I wanted to get my bags in my car

And get some breakfast

I wanted to go back to my room for a few minutes more rest

But he kept getting in everyone’s way

Clearly confused and maybe a little scared

But I didn’t care

I was annoyed

And I wondered “where are your people, old man?”

Why are you alone here?

He followed me to the breakfast buffet

And he stood very close to me

And as I was making my waffle

Getting in my space, not keeping six feet away

And then he said to me, “I just want half a waffle.”

“What?”

I looked at him and said,

“I do not work here.”

And that seemed to confuse him even more

He clearly wanted my waffle

MY WAFFLE

He thought I was the cook

And I felt indignation and a bit of exasperation

This should not be my problem, I thought

Someone should be here with him

Someone needs to guide him

I showed him where the batter was

And where the measuring cup was

And explained he had to make the waffle himself.

And clearly, he was incapable and embarrassed

By his aged inability

Twenty years earlier, it would have been an easy task for him

But he just was no longer able to do this simple thing for himself

I left him to his own devices, and I went to my room

And sat at the desk in my room to enjoy my breakfast

When waves of remorse and sadness washed over me

What if that had been my precious Cosmo?

Who suffered so much confusion during the last months of his life

As the insatiable cancer that invaded his body

Devoured his brain and abilities to

Do things that were never a difficult before

What if someone had been rude to him like I just was

I realized I had been called to be of service

I was given a test

And I let my ego, pride and impatience get in the way

Of being a good human being

I missed the opportunity to give back and be kind

I should have gently led this precious gentleman to a table,

I should have served him

I should have made a damn waffle for him

I could have made a plate for him with

Eggs, sausage and some fruit and yogurt

I could have gotten him some coffee and orange juice

I could have served

I could have served him and the Divine

I could have brought him joy

And loving human interaction

I should have cared

That was my test

And I failed to do the right thing.

I should have made the damn fucking waffle

For this lost soul

Always make the waffle.

- Julie O'Hara

If you like this article, please consider tipping (below) or even becoming a patron. My books can be found on my website www.sacredsloth.net or online at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles under the name of Julie O’Hara Thank you very much and blessings on your journey.