I know I usually comment on the problems and weird incidents at The Home, but we have some real gems as well. We have a couple of Farewell Cards floating around the campus. I am handling one for our building and Joy is handing one for the other building. We are also taking up a collection for our fearless leaders.
One of the cool things about taking the card around it the privilege of reading what people say and enjoying their generosity. People’s giving here is very much the widow’s mite. They have little, but they give much. But it is also because our managers were greatly loved.
Our residents are beginning to drop like flies. Janet is in hospice, Edna is in rehabilitation, and my next-door neighbor is in the third week of just not feeling well with no clear indication of what is wrong. Then this morning Marty was taken away in an ambulance. Marty is wheelchair bound. She was apparently in her bathroom and needed help. She pulled the emergency cord, which summons emergency services. But that didn’t happen. As it turns our the call went to the right place, but because headquarters did not change the phone number to Marty’s number when she moved in, it went to the last resident. When Bonnie got the return check up call she reported there was nothing wrong and the response was cancelled. Marty eventually got to her phone and called 911. She finally got help, but our maintenance man was irate. He already was angry enough at headquarters, he did not need more reasons. Because of the problem he was not notified of Marty’s need until she was returned to her apartment. Then when she was returned, Maria thought pulled the emergency string again thinking it would turn the light off, but instead ambulances came again. The turn off switch is in the manager’s control.
That was just the beginning of the day for Maria to stir the waters. I do have empathy for Maria, really I do. She has her own medical problems. She also really needs attention and does much to keep the spotlight focused on herself.
As Marty is being taken out she tells those gathered that she almost called 911 herself as her eye was bothering so much last night. So why didn’t she? Because it didn’t hurt that much, and everyone was now focused on Marty. Poor Maria! We should all feel sorry for her.
On the second emergency visit to Marty I was on my way to pick up mail, saw the fire truck and saw Chas in the lobby talking with Hazel. Chas is still upset about his flowers being moved around. They are located in an area specifically set aside for our wheelchair guests. But his flowers are in the way of Liz getting at her own garden spot so she moves them. They are not really in her way, but by moving Chas’ flowers she does not have to walk so far. Hazel was assuring Chas that Liz, who is such a plant loved and a master gardener, would never hurt his plants. Chas just wants her to keep his hands off his plants. Hazel, whose only friend here is Liz, continued to defend Liz as harmless. My arrival tempered the conflict.
Chas then wanted me to take his check to the office since I was on my day to deposit my own rent. Hazel, who is planning an Alaskan Cruise with Liz, asked me if the inside cabins were comfortable. I told her that I had no idea. When I went, I knew this would be the only time I would ever go so I had a balcony cabin. I wanted to sit on my deck and watch the world go by. I especially enjoyed it when coming into or leaving port. I loved watching the process. The only response was “Oh!” I cannot imagine the two of them sharing a tiny little inside cabin for the 10-day cruise they are planning. Hazel can hardly stand anyone to be that close to her. I’m sure someone will take bets on whether they will be friends by the time they return.
Well, Chas came over to the main building with me and we went to the kitchen where Maria was preparing the pork ribs for the BBQ tomorrow. They were some reasonable pleasantries exchanged before Chas tells Maria about Marty going to the hospital. He made a mistake in mentioning who had brought her home and Maria jumped on him like a rattler about to be stepped on. Naturally, he reacted badly and it only got worse. Chas took off in his wheelchair like he always does.
Maria needed help cutting through some bone and called me over handing me the knife. I barely got started and she began micro managing my work. She also had her hands in my way trying to pull the ribs apart while I am trying to cut them. I stop, give her the knife back away and tell her we can’t both do this. Either she is doing it or I am. Don’t tell me how to do it. If it must be a certain way, do it yourself. If I am doing it I want the freedom to do it my way. She lets go. Good thing or I might have cut her fingers off. They hurt so bad at times she often talks about having them amputated.
Maria leaves and two other people, one after the other came to talk about her controlling ways and how they can’t stand it any more. When Maria returns, she asks, am I getting worse? Yes. Your micro management is as bad as that of the Ivory Tower. Stop trying to control and let people say what they want. There is no need to correct insignificant details to a story. But he was wrong, I went to get Marty and bring her back. That’s not technically true, Maria does not drive. She was in the car that went to get her. So what. Don’t sweat the little things. It is not important to be credited for everything. That’s what I think. I will be trying to release things to others gifts and skills and she will try to belittle them into giving them back to her. It should be a great summer.
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