A Warriors Sanctuary

What a blessed day it is to be alive. It is early and there is a steady flow of individuals at the facility. I am proud to be here surrounded by such a noble flock.  I have come to the realization that I enjoy observing the souls here. The individuals are brave, joyous, and chirpy. Regardless of status, active or retired, the inhabitants have performed memorable acts. It is because of their bravery, America, is such a beautiful country.  Each time I visit I recognize I am more grateful to be an American. 

As I walk inside from the parking lot I make my way through the double glass sliding doors. I vier to the left and first thing I see are two older ladies with red volunteer vests on exiting the elevator. I enter the elevator and I am alone. I press the button that is labeled "2". It does not take but a few seconds the elevators stops moving and the door opens.  

I walk out of the elevator and turn left. I make my way down the cream colored tile hallway. The walls are similar in color as the hallway. There are several corridors on the left and the right, I continue moving forwards. There are individual signs hanging next to two doors on my left. I pass the first door and the sign says "Martin Clinic". I pass the second door and the sign says "Kravin Clinic". The clinic I am entering is the traumatic brain injury clinic. I open the door and walk inside.

The first person I see is a security guard. The security guard is sitting on a chair. The guard gets out of his chair and greets me. He asks me if I have an appointment. I tell him I am waiting for a friend who has an appointment. He allows me past his area and suggests I have a seat. Before I sit down I see on the wall a posted letter with the title Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group Meetings. I remember that this is what my friend is here for, this support group meeting. I take a gander at the information that is visible. Meeting are thirty minutes. Please arrive five to ten minutes prior. Meetings are once a week and bring note taking material. After I read over this information I sit down. 

There are a lot less people here in this room that downstairs in the main waiting room. This room is new to me so I look around me. I am able to notice that there are seven individuals sitting in the chairs. There is one younger lady at the desk who seems to be greeting people and answering phones. She asks me if I checked in. I told her that I am waiting for a friend who is being seen at the moment.  I will not need to check in I mention. She says that I am correct and offers help if at any point I need. I look at her name tag and see that her name is Jodi. I politely tell Jodi I appreciate her help and I will defiantly let her know if I have any questions. 

I did show up late for my friends meeting. I wanted to go with him and observe what actually happens in the meetings. However, because I showed up late I am not in the room where this support group is being conducted. There is not a television in this room. There are magazines and a couple of books resting on a table. One of the books title is "All Things Wise and Wonderful", by James Herriot. The magazines seem to be news oriented. I see a TIME, Army Time, Air Force Time and Navy Time magazines. 

I want to make note I sit down in the last row so that I am able to see my surroundings and observer the people to the fullest. 

I look to my left and see an elderly white male wearing a WWII veteran shirt, blue in color, with gold lettering. He has a wedding ring on his left finger and is grasping his partners little dainty hand. The lady, who appears to be his wife, is of Asian descent. They both look like they are the same height and weight. She is a beautiful older lady with short hair dyed red. They are both wearing thin framed glasses. The lady and her husband are talking about their grandkids. I hear the lady say I can not believe we are now great grandparents. The old man gets a very large smile on his face and says how blessed they are. He is so proud of his grandkids he mentions. They are talking about all the wonderful things God has given them and how hard they had to work throughout their lives and how happy they are to be able to provide not only for the kids they had together but for the next generation of kids which are biologically related to them. They are blissfully verbalizing the love they have for the family they created.

I am just inspired by what they have to say and was not able to catch verbatim, but summarized what was said. 

At about this time, my friend comes through one of the doors in the room. He says that he was hoping to see me out here and was not able to wait too long for me. He did not want to be late for his meeting. I apologized and said lets go. We go out back towards the elevator hit the button to go to the lobby. We get off of the elevator and exit the main double glass sliding doors to the parking lot. As we walk out the glass sliding doors the building permeates of freshly popped popcorn, a feeling that is becoming more and more comforting to me.