The Healing Power of Picture Albums
by Morgan Hamilton
Recently, my mother was confined to bed. She had to stay off her feet to take pressure off her hip and rest for several weeks. She had had surgery on her hip so in order to be sure that the hip will heal properly she had to rest in bed. Everything was going fine but I was very concerned about something. My mother is a very active person. She simply cannot lie in bed all day long. The problem was that she could easily be bored and become depressed while lying in bed. I had to think of something that she could do to amuse herself in order to prevent depression.
I knew that my Mom just needed to do something that would make her think she is still vital. I had to think of something that I needed to be done so she would be proud she was helping me. It came to my mind that I had many photos, which I had just pushed in a drawer. They were still in envelopes. I remembered that I had purchased a number of picture albums over the years. These picture albums were still empty, as I had not had the time to fill the picture albums with pictures. I took the pictures and the picture albums and I brought them to my mother�s home.
My mom had troubles with her everyday personal needs so I had hired a nurse to help my mother while she was in bed. When I went to my mother�s home, I was astonished to see that the nurse was intending to go. I asked her what was wrong. The nurse shared with me that my mother is getting depressed. My mom had not wanted to do anything. She was not in the mood to talk; she just wanted to lie in the dark and quiet room. She had asked the nurse to keep the curtains closed. My mom didn�t even want to read a book or to watch television.
When I entered the room, she saw the box I was carrying. She asked me what is in there. I told her that there were picture albums in the box. I explained her that during the last twenty years, I have collected many pictures but I had not had the time to place them in picture albums. I told her that I needed someone to fill the pictures in the picture albums. At first, she was not very excited with the idea. She shared with me that it would be too difficult for her to spread the photos and the picture albums all over the bed.
I assured her that this was no problem at all. I rolled the bed tray over in front of her. When I helped her to sit up with her pillows, she saw she was sitting very comfortable. My mom told me that she thought I had brought too many pictures. She asked me why I needed so many picture albums.
The truth was that I had been collected these picture albums through the years. The photos were from the last twenty years that I have been married. Mom was not very curious about the picture albums and told me she would give them a look later.
I was almost sure that she would not do anything with the photos. I was very concerned about her condition. I decided to give her a phone call the next day. I was very surprised when a friend of hers picked up the phone and told me that that she was helping my mom with the picture albums. She asked me if I was able to bring more picture album so that they would be able to sort the pictures. I didn�t even expect her to organize the picture albums.
A few days later, I visited my mother again. She looked pretty well. She told me that she had organized my picture albums. I was very glad that she had enjoyed herself. I told her that I had to be out of town on business for several days so that I won�t be able to see her.
Ten days later when I went to see her, the box with picture albums was waiting for me. She had not only arranged the picture albums but she had had written notes and as many dates as she could on each of the picture albums. She told me that she and her friends were having fun while arranging the picture albums. Surprisingly, she was intending to start arranging picture albums for my sister next week.
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