Inspiration for GRAY MATTERS

Years ago I was visiting my mother-in-law-to-be in a rest home where she resided after suffering from a brain aneurysm. Like a lot of homes, it was dreary, dilapidated, demoralizing, and it smelled.

Visiting more out of obligation than desire, it was definitely a mission of compulsion, not altruism. Besides, I was a writer and I could always sit in a corner and lose myself in my never-ending pursuit of a story about love, life, laughter, and the nature of man.

Stuck at the rest home that day, my then-girlfriend and I entered the dreary home and she wandered over to the nursing staff to talk old-people stuff and I was left on my own. Looking for a quiet place to write, I noticed an elderly woman in the corner, sitting in a wheel chair, leaning over in obvious pain, her shoes untied, with no one to help her.

Seeing that no assistance was on the way – and wondering why I had to be the one to get involved and be inconvenienced – I walked over and asked if the little old lady needed anything. She gave no response. As I neared her and her pain seemed to increase, I asked her again if I could help. Still only sighs and sorrow.

With no other options available, I reached over to help the old lady tie her shoes when she lunged at me, clinging to me like a drowning victim on her last breath. With a bear hold to rival that of any pro wrestler, she attached herself to my arm. She was strong!

Not wanting to hurt the feisty octogenarian, I commenced to pull, push, and then pry her off me. That old lady was really strong! Getting a quick what-in-the-world-are you-doing glance from my girlfriend – but no help – I attempted several more times to dislodge the elderly assailant and was eventually able to wrestle free.

My heart beating out of my chest, my lungs inflated to full capacity, my senses on high alert, I felt oddly invigorated and alive, as if life had been shaken back into me. Looking over at the old lady, she was refreshed and calm, almost satisfied. I think I even detected a brief smile on her face. I had not been nor would I be her last victim.

What started as a crazy, seemingly-unrelated incident turned into a life-changing opportunity for greater awareness, understanding, and involvement. As I visited my mother-in-law more regularly (yes, my girlfriend and I got married), I developed a new appreciation of life and its purpose and was able to create many rich relationships with people who had been forgotten, discarded, and left behind – and still had more to give.

Most of all, I learned more about myself, my mission, and the messages I want to communicate through my work. Thus, “GRAY MATERS” was created – the story I had been pursuing all along about life, love, laughter, and the meaning of it all.