Many years ago, I was visiting an elderly woman in a nursing home. I did not know her well but I knew she was lonely so I’d try to stop in from time to time. She was approaching her mid-90s and in fairly good shape except that her mind and lively spirit had outlived her body which had grown extremely frail and feeble. Arthritis had crippled her and turned her hands into knotted balls. She spent most of her time in a wheel chair and was usually at the mercy of the attendants – some who were sweet, others who were not. One afternoon, I found her in the common area with other residents. I looked around for a chair. “Before you sit down, would you bring me something from my room?” she asked. “I have something I want to show you.”