I sat next to an elderly couple on the plane from NJ to London. The man was slightly crippled and the woman was very confused.  I saw him help her into the seat and buckle her belt for her.  He then sat.  I quickly realized this woman has Alzheimer’s disease.  She kept asking her husband where they were going and he kept telling her and reassuring her that they would be home soon.  She put her head on his shoulder and held tight to his hand.  At one point she started crying, and her husband put his arm all the way around her and held her tight telling her that he loved her and that they were going to London and everything would be okay.  This continued for most of the flight.  While it was heartbreaking to see her memory wiped over and over, it was so beautiful to see the love that they had for one another.  Especially the husband looking at his wife, you could feel the love.  It was such a wonderful testament to love and marriage.  Love is possible, real true love in sickness and health love.  These two were very lucky to have one another.  It makes me smile to think of them. 

It’s tough to come to peace with acceptance, in many forms.  I feel like I finally get it though.  If you’re friends with someone or you’re in a relationship with someone, you need to accept them for who they are.  It shouldn’t be burdensome either, otherwise you may want to rethink your ties to them.  Everyone has issues and no one is perfect.  As long as you can accept them as they are and love them for that, then I think you can move ahead together.  If you can’t and you’re trying to change them too much, it isn’t who they are anymore, just who you want them to be.  That’s a disservice to them, a big one, and unless they want to change, you should not try to force them to do anything that isn’t them.  Anyway, I think I’m finally coming to that realization and understanding the importance of truly loving people for who they are, faults and all.  Alright, I’m done.  ;-)