NEW RECRUITS

There’s something nice about receiving new residents. They change the dynamic by adding new life and a new perspective. They also bring new forms of entertainment. New arrivals are watched like hawks for the first few months. Every move is scrutinized and evaluated for flaws and idiosyncrasies. Like junior higher’s we are looking to exploit their weaknesses. Cut them off at the knees so to speak. We know they are not as good as we are. We know they will not be allowed into the top tiers of the sanctified old timers. They must want to be accepted and bow to the unwritten code and then we might include them. But they cannot just walk in. We have rules. Who do they thing they are anyway?

I myself had to pound down doors to be accepted. I had to prove myself worthy and find acceptable ways of contributing to the life flow of this institution. I had to learn to be a giver and not a taker only. I was expected to join in the gossip and condemnation of those less worth. I failed to do that, but cracked the door in other ways. I worked at being the class clown. You know, the guy who covers his pain and deep anxiety with self-condemnation and wit. While we were without a manager for nearly a year I planned and carried out various organized events. That was not the way. I clearly over stepped my bounds and became hated. Who did I think I was that I could just take over? Others had ideas. Others had plans. Others wanted to be in charge. The criticism was overwhelming. I stopped everything. That made their condemnation even easier. What’s wrong with him? He doesn’t do anything around here. We liked the BBQ’s and games that were planned. He has no right to stop.

Ahhh! The joy of community living! A manager arrived and there was someone else to attack. A small but growing army of discontents want the manager fired. She is not contributing, as she should. Of course she is being compared to a previous full time manager and this one is only allowed 8 hours a week at The Home. Add to that the home office social coordinator position has been eliminated and no one has or is going to be hired for the position. Since our manager would not have the work time to take the group on trips, she has not been trained to drive the bus and load the wheelchair residents. No more bus.

Things just get better and better! That brings me back to the entertainment value of some new residents. Mabel is an adorable 92 year old who is straight as a rod, dresses from the fifties, does not see well and imagines things. At the moment she is very disturbed by the man who comes into her apartment every night and takes her things. She does not know exactly what he is taking, but it is her things. She has a solution. She writes him notes each night asking him not to take her things and return what he has already taken. A few are trying to convince her that is no one is coming into her apartment, others encourage her to continue to write notes but most just laugh. We like laughing.

Mabel is convinced there is a water leak in her kitchen sink. The maintenance man had tried to show her that she is not turning to faucet completely off. However, she continues to fill 405 plastic bottles a night with water from her drip. She graciously places them outside the maintenance man’s apartment door that then must be careful not to trip over them when he leaves. How thoughtful.

Frank is more than one fry short of a Happy Meal. He should not be here. He cannot care for himself. He is not allowed to make meals in his apartment so he is gone everyday for most of the day on his daily rounds of finding free food prepared for him. Weekends are tough. He has taken to calling out his window at neighborhood noises he does not like. Most are so far away the calling would do no good. He just annoys his neighbors. If you show him any kindness he is your friend for life. Many are trying to figure out how to escape his clutches.

Just a typical day at The Home! So you can see why I love it here so much, the entertainment value along is worth the price of admission.