“Here comes Meals on Wheels,” a bored voice flatly calls out.
I am ineffectively trying to keep two bags of food from falling off my makeshift dolly when I hear the woman announce my arrival. I’m in the lobby of a large low income housing facility and a bit turned around.
“Hi,” I reply to the woman, who wasn’t actually speaking to me, “I’m new to this.”
In harshly directive tones, she continues with a litany of who gets a meal, “Jim gets one. He’s the second door on the left. Diane gets one. She’s down the hall…”
“Oh no, thank you very much. I have a list. I just wanted to say hello,” trying to stop her animated directions.
“If they have any leftover they give them to me.”
“Okay, thank you. I’ll let you know.”
I turn the corner and head down the hall. Counting off apartments 5601, 5602… 5603, arriving at the first apartment number on my list.
I collect a hot meal from one of the bags and, as suggested by the volunteer coordinator, knock as loudly as I can.
A dog starts barking frantically, “Kita! Be quiet! Kita! I said be quiet!” The barking stops and I wait. No one comes to the door.
I knock again, “Mr. Johnson? Mr Johnson, it’s Meals on Wheels,” trying harder to raise my volume above that of a blaring television. The dog is barking again.
Someone is fiddling with the handle and finally the door cracks open. Rapidly lowering my glance as I realize Mr. Johnson is in a wheelchair, I see he is younger than I was expecting. The small opening reveals a dark apartment. The only light coming from the television. In a softer, questioning tone, “Mr. Johnson?”
He smiles gently, like a gentleman, but doesn’t immediately answer. In my nervousness I quickly stammer, “Hi. I’m with Meals on Wheels.”
Replying in a slower cadence, as if he doesn’t want to rush our exchange, he leans his head back and looks at me, “And what is your name?” He emanates the sweet kindness of someone who has suffered terribly. He is hardly aware of the meal that I am holding out to him.
“I’m Jennifer. This is my first day,” I say sheepishly.
Composed, “It is nice to meet you, Jennifer, and I think you are doing just fine. Please call me Jim.” He speaks like a wise teacher to a nervous student. I feel like one.
Taking the meal Jim asks, “So, will I see you next week?”
“Oh, yes! On Thursdays. No, wait. Next Thursday they aren’t delivering, so, on Thursdays after that.” I smile back to him, uncertain what to say, “Is there anything else you need? Or that I can do for you?”
“No, nothing right now. Thank you, Jennifer. I look forward to seeing you next time.”
I deliver eight more meals to apartments in three different buildings. A few were taken by home health care aids, others by recipients that wanted me to deliver and leave, but there were a few, like Jim, who seemed more interested in the human contact than the food.
Meals on Wheels wants the dinners delivered hot, so you are not supposed to dally too much. Jim was first on my list, so I felt a bit rushed. Next time I will deliver to him last, hoping that I have a few more minutes to talk with him before I leave.
It was so easy. It took an hour. This residence is 3 miles from my house.
I look forward to visiting with Jim next week. I’ll let you know how it goes.
***
Countup: 30 days of sobriety!
I’ll get my 30 day chip at a noon meeting today!
Countdown: 128 days until I move into my RV!
***
*names of people and puppies were changed to protect their privacy
10 Comments
The “Meals on Wheels” program sounds very rewarding. I hope you have fun doing it. I think you are correct by saying: “some are more interested in the human contact than the food.” You’d be surprised how many lonely people there are out there in the world.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about “Jim” and any other people you meet along the way.
Day number 30!! Amazing. Good for you! *Big hugs*
I know I’ll chat with you before then, but I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy 2010!! <3 Doesn't "twenty ten" sound bizzare?! lol
Morning Jennifer….congratulations on 30 days, and for investing in the lives of others through your volunteer work….just got off the Stairmaster…..I’m always thankful for the workout…AFTER I finish. When we were in Austin last April the RV park (La Hacienda) had a workout room, and in that room they had a very compact stair climber machine which consisted only of the pedals. It was a very compact machine, with what seemed to be one speed, but it worked….I’m going to try and look it up and see who makes it…might be an option for smaller spaces….I’ll let you know.
Congratulations on your 30 days – that is spectacular.
I delivered for MOW where I live and it was the same type of complex. I did it twice a week for six months and made a lot of special friends, but it was so debilitating [to me] because they are so lonely and some have so many health problems – I just wanted to love, hug and take them all home with me.
They all loved to talk – and they live[d] very fascinating lives – they just want someone to share it with. I always wondered where their families were. I know I always counted my blessings when I left.
I think it is wonderful you are doing this. I miss my friends and wish I was still doing it too.
Jennifer, here is a link to a stair climber similar to the one I used at La Hacienda RV Park:
http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/in_stride.html
The stairstepper Clarke suggests looks plausible at first glance, and is certainly cheap enough to try out. But my experience with equipment that uses shock absorber type resistance like that is that they break down right away. The little washers inside can’t stand up to serious use, over-heat, and melt. You can find stuff like this in garage sales all over town.
You are a much smaller person than I am, so it may work for you.
I quickly wore out two cheap rowers with a similar mechanism before I gave up and spent the bucks for a Concept 2 wind resistance rower. It is indestructible.
But it also requires a space nine feet by 4 feet to use properly.
Bob
Have a look at this:
http://blog.rv.net/2009/12/wii-fit-exercise-in-an-rv/
Bob
Jennifer – thanks for sharing your meals on wheels experience. Those are the kind of experiences I enjoy. Just simply taking that moment to connect with people. So many people nowadays are so rushed and so out of touch because of cellphones/texting/email. Where I work it is particularly stressful at this time of the year when all the managers are trying to get their year end budgets in, give staff evaluations, get out of work to finish last minute shopping and all the demands of the job.
I decided to shoot out an email of a quote that I like to fellow managers and higher supervisors. I got a flurry of responses from various people. People I didn’t expect to care. It’s called “the sky’s the limit” and the quote is: Everyone has potential…it is an infinite resource that cannot be exhausted but can be lost in the clouds of fear and complacency. It may take courage to embrace the posibilities of your own potential, but once you’ve flown past the summit of your fears, nothing will seem impossible. Written by Michael McKee.
I find this fitting for folks getting ready for RV life too.
Kari
PS – congrats on your chip.
Thanks for sharing your MOW experience – you’re such a great writer! Well done on your first month sobriety … you’re getting stronger and better every day!!!
Hi Jennifer,
I know you are following my blog and thank you very much for your continued support.
It’s getting very ugly with my parents and my obviously psycho brother has become involved in a very large way (see my recent post).
Now the government is involved and things are going to get worse before they get better.
I really hope you are having a better Christmas, at least you are in the spirit. It’s good to see, it makes me have some hope that there is good in this world instead of the psycho family that I am left to deal with.
Merry Christmas
Yay! you got the first 30 days under your belt. that was the hardest part for me. the Meals on Wheels things sounds so cool! there are so many lonely people in the world and you are helping to feed both their bodies and their souls. Hugs, Dawn