POWER AND CONTROL

One of the many things I do around here is prepare a monthly newsletter. I’ve done this off and on since the 60’s. This one is an 11x17 layout with a large print calendar on the center pages, the personal story of one of our residents on the front with a photo and the back handles all the rest: update information, jokes, trivia, cartoons and other things to fill the page.

Somehow the deadline got away from me this month. The calendar was ready as I work on that throughout the month. Since I found a place to get a free phone with free minutes for the elderly poor, I had that written up. The rest was still to be done. I realized I did not have a persons profile and time was up. This was last Friday. The newsletter needed to be at our head office on Monday. So, I took a humorous article I had written and edited it to fit the page. Innocent drivel.

I got it done and it was at the office when they arrived on Monday morning. So far so good! The end of the workday came and went and nary a word did I hear. So I sent an email on Tuesday asking if they had received the proofs. Still silence. Wednesday morning I get an email from the manager asking that I remove the line “put them over my boxers.” It was about getting dressed. She believed people would be offended if that were included. I know how shocking the word “boxers” and it was a nothing line, a throw away. I dropped it, as I knew a fight would cause a problem.

They called me in when absolutely panicked about a joke I included in December about a woman getting welfare for her dogs. They were horrified, angry, hostile, and would certainly have considered tar and feathers is they though they might get away with it. (See joke at bottom of the page.) I understood, accepted responsibility, apologized and ripped my clothes and sat in ashes for a week. What more could they want?

They wanted absolute control of the paper. The top two dogs (pardon the expression) now read review and must approve every word I write. After all, they said, I use their paper, their ink, and their time at no expense to me. No kidding. I thought I was helping them. Wrong. This cartoon really knocked their socks off. After all, they are subject to getting government funds to help the poor (that means us) and they were now afraid they could lose their financial aid. Really!!!

I agreed or I would have to close the paper down. I considered that, but knew the residents would be up in arms. But these two are rarely in the office. The one lady who had been editing my material had let that slip through (she thought it was funny) has been taken off my support team. She also printed the newsletter. I don’t know what is happening now. Wednesday I got a note for four spelling corrections and a request to move an item. All minor. While my new editor does nothing to help me find these errors, as all were the wrong word spelled correctly. Took me over an hour to find them. My previous editor noted the page, column and paragraph. I liked that.

That was the last I heard. The newsletter goes out five days before the end of the month so people can make plans. I sent emails on Friday with no response. I went to the office just before closing. Nothing!

We have a sign up event scheduled for next Friday. I put up sign up sheets so people would have some idea this was coming. The details are in the newsletter. It may come Monday (I hope). However, my Monday is busy. I see my chiropractor, then physical therapy, then the fitting for my ankle support. It will be late in the day.

I have strange thoughts. Am I being punished? Am I being ignored? More likely the final approval has not come down from on high, as they are not in the office. Oh well, they have control. There’s nothing like control. I am but a humble servant who does all the hand wringing.