Who Is Taking Care of My Mother

I Walked Into The House There Was A Strange Smell Lurking About. The Lady Said Sit Down There Were Two Rocking Chairs; I Sat In One And She Sat In The Other. We Began Talking And I Found Myself Rocking Back And Forth. I Drifted Away From The Conversation We Were Having. I Was In A Daze; I Began To Look At The Person Sitting Next To Me. Her Hair Was White She Could Not See Well. She Walked With A Stick And Her Teeth Clattered When She Talked. I Realized This Could Be Me! We Both Started Out As An Embryo. We Both Haven Been Teenagers We Both Have Been Through Middle Age But The Person I See Before Me I Do Not Yet Understand. I Drifted Back Into The Conversation With Ease. She Asked Me If I Would Like A Cup Of Coffee Yes I Said. She Fumbled Out Of Her Rocking Chair. I Watched Her Very Closely And Then Reached My Hand Out To Help Her. She Said With Her Clattering Teeth Honey I'M Ok! I Watched Her Waddle Into The Kitchen Feeling Nervous That She Might Fall. We Sat And Drank Our Coffee And Started Another Conversation. I Realized Again This Could Be Me. I Enjoyed Listening To Her Talk. It Was Time For Me To Go Now But I Remembered That Smell When I First Came Into The House. I Know Now It Was The Smell Of A Wise Person Who Had Stood The Test Of Time. I Left That House With A Smile On My Face Saying One Day I Hope This Will Be Me. By Carrie Caine