nce1.docx

1、nce1Unit 1 LoveA Kiss for Kate Every afternoon when I came on duty as the evening nurse, I would walk the halls of the nursing home, pausing at each door to chat and observe. Often, Kate and Chris, their big scrapbooks in their laps, would be reminiscing over the photos. Proudly, Kate showed me pict

2、ures of bygone years: Christall, blond, handsome; Kate pretty, dark-haired, laughing. Two young lovers smiling through the passing seasons. How lovely they looked now, sitting there, the light shining on their white heads, their time-wrinkled faces smiling at the memories of the years, caught and he

3、ld forever in the scrapbooks. How little the young know of loving, Id think. How foolish to think they have a monopoly on such a precious commodity. The old know what loving truly means; the young can only guess. Kate and Chris were always togetherin the dining room, the lounge, strolling around the

4、 big porches and lawns, always holding hands. As we staff members ate our evening meal, sometimes Kate and Chris would walk slowly by the dining-room doors. Then conversation would turn to a discussion of the couples love and devotion, and what would happen when one of them died. We knew Chris was t

5、he strong one, and Kate was dependent upon him. How would Kate function if Chris were to die first? We often wondered. Bedtime followed a ritual. When I brought the evening medication, Kate would be sitting in her chair, in nightgown and slippers, awaiting my arrival. Under the watchful eyes of Chri

6、s and myself, Kate would take her pill, then carefully Chris would help her from the chair to the bed and tuck the covers in around her frail body. Observing this act of love, I would think for the thousandth time, good heavens, why dont nursing homes have double beds for married couples? All their

7、lives they have slept together, but in a nursing home, theyre expected to sleep in single beds. Overnight theyre deprived of a comfort of a lifetime. How very foolish such policies are, I would think as I watched Chris reach up and turn off the light above Kates bed. Then tenderly he would bend, and

8、 they would kiss gently. Chris would pat her cheek, and both would smile. He would pull up the side rail on her bed, and only then would he turn and accept his own medication. As I walked into the hall, I could hear Chris say, Good night, Kate, and her returning voice, Good-night, Chris, while the s

9、pace of an entire room separated their two beds. I had been off duty two days and when I returned, the first news I heard was, Chris died yesterday morning. How? A heart attack. It happened quickly. Hows Kate? Bad. I went into Kates room. She sat in her chair, motionless, hands in her lap, staring.

10、Taking her hands in mine, I said, Kate, its Phyllis. Her eyes never shifted; she only stared. I placed my hand under her chin and slowly turned her head so she had to look at me. Kate, I just found out about Chris. Im so sorry. At the word Chris, her eyes came back to life. She looked at me, puzzled

11、, as though wondering how I had suddenly appeared. Kate, its me, Phyllis. Im so sorry about Chris. Recognition and sadness flooded her face. Tears welled up and slid down her cheeks. Chris is gone, she whispered. I know, I said. I know. We pampered Kate for a while, letting her eat in her room, surr

12、ounding her with special attention. Then gradually the staff worked her back into the old schedule. Often, as I went past her room, I would observe Kate sitting in her chair, scrapbooks on her lap, gazing sadly at pictures of Chris. Bedtime was the worst part of the day for Kate. Although she was al

13、lowed to move from her bed to Chriss bed, and although the staff chatted and laughed with her as they tucked her in for the night, still Kate remained silent and sadly withdrawn. Passing her room an hour after she had been tucked in, Id find her wide awake, staring at the ceiling. The weeks passed,

14、and bedtime wasnt any better. She seemed so restless, so insecure. Why? I wondered. Why this time of day more than the other hours? Then one night as I walked into her room, only to find the same wide-awake Kate, I said impulsively, Kate, could it be you miss your good-night kiss? Bending down, I ki

15、ssed her wrinkled cheek. It was as though I had opened the floodgates. Tears ran down her face; her hands gripped mine. Chris always kissed me good-night, she cried. I know, I whispered. I miss him so, all those years he kissed me good-night. She paused while I wiped the tears. I just cant seem to g

16、o to sleep without his kiss. She looked up at me, her eyes full of tears. Oh, thank you for giving me a kiss. A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth. You know, she said confidentially, Chris used to sing me a song. He did? Yes,her white head noddedand I lie here at night and think about it

17、. How did it go? Kate smiled, held my hand and cleared her throat. Then her voice, small with age but still melodious, lifted softly in song: So kiss me, my sweet, and so let us part.And when I grow too old to dream,That kiss will live in my heart. Benefits from Pets Recently, a number of US newspap

18、ers carried a very small article entitled Things You Can Learn from Your Dog. The article listed seven things done regularly by pet dogs which could be helpful to pet owners if they themselves did them. These things are: 1) When your loved one comes home, run to greet him. 2) Eat with pleasure. 3) W

19、hen its hot, drink lots of water. 4) Take naps. 5) Dont bite, just growl. 6) When you want something badly, dig for it. 7) Give unconditional love. There are many people who would like to insist that only human beings are capable of feeling the emotion of love. However, there are many more people, u

20、sually pet owners, who feel that they not only love their pets, but that their pets love them in return. This is only one, but a very important, benefit of owning a pet. All of us want to enjoy good health. Thousands of articles are written in newspapers and magazines giving advice of all types as t

21、o what people should be doing if they wish to improve their chances of having good health. Most often this advice includes suggestions that we should eat right, exercise, take vitamins and get a pet. Why get a pet? Because more and more studies are showing that people who have pets are healthier, bo

22、th physically and mentally, than those who dont. Right now more than half of the households in the United States have a companion animal. That includes 51 million dogs, 56 million cats, 45 million birds, and other small animals. Besides the obvious things, like being cute, interesting to watch, and

23、a lot of fun, pets do more for us than we often realize. If you now have or have ever had a pet, you know how wonderful it is to have someone there for you, no matter how you look, how you are dressed, or what you are doing. Pets love you unconditionally and dont require brilliant conversation. A si

24、mple good boy and a pat on the head or scratch under the chin is enough for them. They will find ways to let you know their appreciation of your praise, whether it is by wagging their tails, rubbing against you, purring, or simply looking at you with adoring eyes. People who own pets often remark on

25、 what good company they are and what fun they have together. Pet experts and researchers identify many other additional benefits that come with pet ownership or interaction. In addition to those mentioned thus far, pets ease stress and anxiety, aid relaxation, provide a sense of security, and are a

26、great diversion from troubles. One medical study showed that peoples blood pressure would fall when they stroked their pets. Pets are increasingly being used in therapy for the elderly and those who have Alzheimers disease or physical disabilities. One lady in Tucson, Arizona, shares her lovely litt

27、le dog with many elderly nursing home residents. She takes her dog there at least once or twice a week and allows the elderly people to hold and pat her little dog. They eagerly await its arrival and always ask when she and her dog will be back. She is just one of hundreds of people who share their

28、pets with the old and lonely. And then, of course, there are countless stories of dogs trained to aid blind, deaf, or wheel-chair bound individuals, often allowing them to live independently when otherwise this would not be possible. The love between these people and their four-footed friends is tou

29、ching. Even brushing or patting a dog is great physical therapy, and we all know the benefits of walking, which is something a dog needs too. James Herriot, a country veterinarian in England, has been a very popular writer in the English-speaking world. He has written a number of books and stories a

30、bout pet owners and their pets. Many of his stories tell of the love between them as well as the benefits that owners and pets derive from each other. Part of his great popularity as a writer comes from the fact that people who love pets like to read about and identify with other pet lovers. A Good

31、Heart to Lean On More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance. When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was severely crippled and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. I would be ashamed of the unwant

32、ed attention. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on. It was difficult to coordinate our stepshis halting, mine impatientand because of that, we didnt say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you. Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and despite nasty weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. It was a matter of pride for hi