God Speed Eldridge Jesus' Loves You

I woke up early around 7AM from a single beam of light that managed to finagle its way through the blinds and strike me rite in my eye. Then as I contemplated lying in the bed, I herd the front door to the house open. It was the owner of the establishment, Elsa. She was an older woman who was fairly tall with sunken eyes and had a bright and colorful way of dressing. She greeted my morning with a smile and a nod hello, to which I informed her I would be staying another night.

I drove about Boise in search of the VA home where my great uncle Eldridge was staying. It took me about an hour of driving in circles and one stop to ask a local where the place was. When I arrived at my destination I was uneasy on where to go or where to even find him. Even if I did find him, it’s been about 15 years since I last saw him, so I wouldn’t recognize him if I did. I walked the long hallways of Veterans home peeking in on people here and there. Most were happy to see a new face and would wave and say hello.

I finally managed to find an orderly and ask him, the whereabouts of my great uncle. He seemed shocked and astonished that someone was here to see him, especially someone as young as I. He immediately brought me to a TV viewing room where four other Vets in wheelchairs had been placed. Right at the end of the row of old people sat my great uncle, all slouched over in his chair not the slightest bit aware of his surroundings. He is for the most part completely deaf and almost completely blind, he is 95 after all. Unfortunately as I would learn his mind is still sharp as a tack.

The orderly first brought him around to make him aware that someone was here. Then he had me give Eldridge a big hug and hold his hand. At first I was a bit uncomfortable with this and felt very awkward. So I sat there and holding his hand waiting for him to say something. After a bit I decided to test his hearing and began Yelling in his ear, “ELDRIDGE I’M YOUR GREAT GRAND NEPHEW!” He mumbled some words but I couldn’t tell what he was saying so I yelled again “DO YOU REMEMBER LEONARD? I’M HIS GRANDSON! REMEMBER JEANEVE!” I think he could feel my breath in his ear, but I know he couldn’t hear a thing, although my words seemed to send him on a rant.

“Aahhahahh……that damn ranch, I hated that ranch. I was so lonely up there. I would get so excited in the spring to see anyone……….I’m so lonely. I can’t communicate with anyone…..but this is Jesus’ plan for me……I’m ready to die….I’m so sorry I don’t know who you are.” As he muttered those words a tears began to run from his grey eyes. He then continued “Jesus has a plan for all of us…..he won’t let us go till we’re done……….PROMISE ME…….you will find Jesus!”

I was completely caught off guard by this, what is going on here. He then tightened his grip on my hand into a firm handshake. I shook hands with him and patted him on the back, as if this were the universal way to communicate a promise.

I only intended on staying there for a few hours, but ended up spending the whole morning and much of the afternoon with him. He continued on telling me about how lonely he was and how he was waiting for Jesus to take him away. That he had led a good life, but regretted how he had treated his wife. He then uttered some other strange words to me

“If you fall in love……never let her go……treat everyday with her like it was your last……treat her like a queen….love is amazing and it will stay with you forever.” I can only assume that all he is left with now is his thoughts and memories. He is imprisoned to the devices of his own mind.

Before I left he said one last thing to me “I hope you have gained something by holding an old mans hand.” I don’t know what inspired him to say these things, but the time I spent with him has had profound meaning on my life. It made me sad to know, that when I left the next time I would see him would most likely be at his funeral.