Two Things that Made My Day/Happy Saturday to You

THIS ARTICLE in the New Yorker about the way a nursing home cares for elderly patients with dementia.

This poem by Jack Gilbert:

Older Women

Each farmer on the island conceals
his hive far up on the mountain,
knowing it will otherwise be plundered.
When they die, or can no longer make
the hard climb, the lost combs year
after year grow heavier with honey.
And the sweetness has more and more
acutely the taste of that wilderness.


And because the name of the nursing home mentioned in the New Yorker piece is Beatitudes, I'm going to toss this into your day, too. 

From the King James version of the Bible:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    For they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    For they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    For they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    For they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    For they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

And because I've spent the last several months living with a person who is very hard of hearing, there's this: