It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s came to the hospital. I heard him saying to the nurse that he was in a hurry for an appointment at 9:30.
　　The nurse had him take a _21_ in the waiting area, telling him it would be at least 40 minutes _22_ someone would be able to see him. I saw him _23_ his watch and decided, since I was _24_ busy—my patient didn’t _25_ at the appointed hour, I would examine his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment.
　　The gentleman said no and told me that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his _26_. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she had a special disease. I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, and that she had not been able to _27_ him for five years now. I was _28_ and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”
　　He smiled and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I know who she is.” I had to hold back tears as he left.
　　Now I _29_ that in marriage, true love is acceptance of all. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. _30_ isn’t about how to live through the storm, but how to dance in the rain.