Pearls of Wisdom by Clara Freeman

Pearlie Mae Mcgee, the elderly woman the staff here at Manor Nursing Facility have come to address lovingly as ‘Mama Pearl’. She serves as a beacon of the light in what SADLY has become society’s overlooked and oftentimes,underestimated generation of people; The Elderly. I take a particular interest in the elderly because of what they have experienced in life; the stories they are all too willing to share, if we as a people take time to listen.

Working in the medical field allows one a doorway inside the vast richness of life stories that are meant to be savored and shared . Meeting Ms. Pearlie Mae Mcgee inside these impersonal, medicinal and anesthetic walls of The Rehabilation Center which has become her home, is in my mind, the closest I’ve come to a world class Matriarch of Womanly Wisdom. She is alert, quick, personable and feisty. The lady is a force to be reckeoned with, but, in an admirable way.

“When an old man dies, a library burn to the ground.” An old man, an old woman, it’s all the same. I remember asking Mama Pearl once, it was during the holiday seasons on one of our many conversations, just what it was that she was thankful for?

The soft spoken African American woman thought for a moment, her smooth brown skin crinkled in concentration; hair white in its purest form of glory; looked up at me from where she was confined to her wheelchair and smiled, ever so slightly; She said, “well, I just want to be alive and feeling well (pause) for everybody I know to feel well.” I asked mama pearl that question in December of last year. It’s when I began addressing her as “MATRIARCH”.

I have met many elderly people over the years who have left a mark of permanence on my heart. Nursing allows me to gather bits and pieces of the lives these people have lived and are all too willing to share. I became so inspired by these encounters, that I’ve vowed to spend my life as a writer bringing to the forefront some of their words.

Their words are stories; Legacies imbedded in the hearts, souls and minds of the elderly. Their contributions shouldn’t be forgotten; their words should always serve to enrich the lives of others. I love mama pearl like she was my very own grandmother that I never had. I write this article in essence, to pay homage to her life. The life she still lives today.

It is coming up on a new year. I know that there will be words of wisdom coming from women and men all over the world who witnessed many changing of the seasons. I’m betting their stories will serve to inspire us all to live to write another day:

Elder Speaks:

“Where we lived in the Brickyards, the men used to carry their briefcases with them to work every morning. All those men walking around the neighborhood with briefcases; one would think they were doctors, or, lawyers, when what they really carried around in those cases were their lunch!”

‘I just want to be able to get out of this place and go home to see my great grandchildren one more time befor I die. You know, you a nice smile and you’re the first one to come in here and actually say something to me. Rest of em’ think cause I can’t hear, they don’t have to waste time being nice.”

“You should get a dog when you go home. (one wise elder to another) a dog will be a nice pet to keep you company. I had a cat, once,but, I think a dog would be better for you, it’ll be nice to have one to keep you company when you go home.”

“My mama didn’t want me to come up here to Chicago, said this was a Sin City, that’s what she called it. But, my sister was sick up here and needed help raising her children, so mama let me come ;sure didn’t want to though.”