It was hot already when we arrived midmorning. People were calmly lined-up to be seen. My assignment was to work with Dr. Daniella. As I arranged a workstation, a woman approached Dr. Daniella to ask a favor.
"My mother is 92 yrs old and cannot walk to the clinic. I think she has an infection in her leg. Would it be possible for you to go to her?" This exchange was, of course, in Spanish and had to be translated for me. All kinds of skin infections went through our heads, some worse than others. It was decided by Daniella that we had to go the house.
Ernesto, our faithful driver, took us down a maze of dirt roads to this woman’s house. It was a humble home, made of sticks and mud. All of the food preparation and cooking, along with the laundry, was done in the yard, just outside the door. The old woman was arthritic, slightly stooped over and had work-worn hands and arms. Her face was tanned and lined with age. You could tell that she had work hard, outside, all of her long life. Yet, she seemed happy!
I was offered a plastic stool to sit on, in case I wanted to rest. Manners are universal!
Luckily, the old woman appeared to have a contact dermatitis, something easily treated.
I think of that old woman and her home often. I believe that I was not sent there to help her, rather she was there to help me. She had none of what we consider necessary to be happy, yet she was! It is a lesson taught early in life, but not realized until my middle age.
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