Last Monday, we were on a Ward for patients recovering from operations. So, there are younger people here, and it is less hard work for us! Patients are brighter and more ‘with it’. I’ll start with the taxi driver whose name was John. In fact, on this day last Monday, there were 4 Johns in succession. And a James. At one point I said “At this rate we might meet Jesus. We all laughed.
Anyway, this John was just an ordinary London guy; a taxi driver. (The black cab sort, not an Uber driver.) He was very friendly and chatty. Of course, we asked him. “Have you driven anyone famous?” He said he had driven the actor Michael Caine when he had lived in Chelsea Harbour. London. In fact, he had driven him three times. Everybody talks to taxi drivers. It’s like talking to a priest or your hairdresser. You can tell everything to a stranger! John told us that he had picked up a lady who had just been dining with her best friend. This friend was describing to her, over a meal, this great affair she was having with this fantastic guy, describing all his virtues, job etc only to realise she was talking about her husband! John had to endure her wrath and fury throughout the drive home!
Anyway, back to Michael Caine. Michael Caine, then living in a posh apartment in Chelsea Harbour, then posed this question to John who lives in a Council estate, opposite the Thames, across from Chelsea Harbour. “John” Michael Caine began, “would you rather live in an expensive apartment in Chelsea Harbour, with a view across the Thames to a council estate, or live in a council estate with a view of Chelsea Harbour?” John told us his answer without hesitation, “To live in a council flat with a view of Chelsea Harbour.” Sometimes it is the view itself that keeps us anchored to life in a positive way. (I see today that Michael Caine lives in Leatherhead Surrey. 😄)
So, we enter another bay and come to a patient by the name of Robert, except that I started to call him John. I had to explain to him that the 3 or 4 previous patients were all named John. He smiled. John was lying back in bed having recently had a back operation. We spoke about music and what he might like to listen to, since I could play him something from my Bluetooth speaker. But surprise, surprise, Robert wanted to play ME something. Something on a video on his mobile phone. Robert held his phone up so that we could see. It was of a young boy (aged 10 or 11) playing piano; a beautiful piece of music and sensitively played. Robert had a tear in his eye as we watched the boy play. I thought it was a baroque piece of music, but I wasn’t sure. Robert wasn’t either. He said the piece was called "Moonbeams” and was a Grade IV piano piece. And that it was his grandson playing! Wow, I said. Robert told us that his grandson had recorded this and had sent it to him with the instruction “Open this only when you wake after your operation.” No wonder we had tears in our eyes! I googled “Moonbeams Grade 4” when I arrived home later that day and yes, it was the same piece, so I invite you all to listen to it and remember the goodness of Robert's grandson. Robert was so proud of him!
