THINGS I CAN DO

I nestled into the red wing backed chair in the sun-filled room, facing her. "Look" she said, pointing to another butterfly landing on the Mexican Petunias outside the window. That just happens to be a spicebush swallowtail.  She smiled and settled back against her chair, smoothing the purple lap throw across her spindly legs.  "My eyes  don't see as well as they used to." She said.
I leaned forward resting my elbows on my knees, "I think you see pretty well through eyes which have seen 93 birthdays."
She rested a bit, seemed to be collecting her thoughts. "You know  I love sitting here watching the butterflies and the birds."  Another smile crossed her lips as she spotted a Painted Bunting.
"I don't remember a time in my life when I ever woke up thinking 'what am I going to do today?'
I nodded, waiting for her to finish her thought. 
"I remember trying to cram another hour into the twenty-four I'd been given. Rushing from one task to another, just like that Butterfly." She pointed a finger, long ravaged by arthritis, at the beautiful elusive Butterfly hovering over the dainty petal. "Many days my husband and I barely had time to speak." She leaned her head against the back of the chair and wiped a tear from her cheek. "He's been gone now for so many years." She took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I never thought I would get to this point in my life." 
I smiled and nodded.
"Do you know what I mean?"
"I think I do." I said.
"When you get to be my age, there aren't many things I can do. I'm blessed to still live in my own home. Of course I have help."
She gazed out across the lake, smiling and pointing at the Great White Heron as it swooped down over the lake for todays lunch.
"I am truly blessed. I can still see and identify most of the creatures which pass my window. I am blessed I can still read my Bible. "
Whenever I see a butterfly I am reminded of all my blessings. I'm able to see that butterfly and be reminded of "all the things I can still do."