nine to five...
I want to start out by saying how wonderful it is to have a job. I'm working at a retirement home in a couple different areas. I prefer to work in the office, even when that means working midnight to eight in the morning. This job is pretty boring except when it isn't. Basically you sit there, watch TV, read, and wait for something to happen. I don't ever want anything to happen. Something happening would most likely mean a problem with a resident and calling 911 and family members. You see this is an independent living place; residents take care of themselves and there is no nursing care on staff. Only me. So far nothing has happened while I've been on this shift, only once did I have to call for help when a woman had a stroke, but that was during the day. I say this like just because it was during the day it was fine. It wasn't. I don't think I've been so afraid. My legs would not stop shaking despite the fact that I was standing. Luckily the woman made a remarkable recovery and I was able to speak with her today in fact.
You learn tons doing this job, things like watch out for old women with walkers; they will try to mow you down with very little provocation. I've also learned that retirement homes are like Jr. High Schools, with all the crazy love triangles and gossip that goes along with them. Today I learned some old women really like Johnny Depp or at least Capt. Jack and have posters of him in their bedroom. I've also learned that I really don't want to get old. I don't want to have to leave myself notes reminding me to do the simplest tasks. I read the saddest note today, it was from a woman to herself it read something like this "Don't even think about skipping writing in your notebook. Write your address, your phone number, your name, your birthday." When I read this I wanted to cry, I didn't, but its something I will remember forever, or at least as long as I can.
