Today has been one hell of a day.
Usually, Sundays are relaxing at work. Sundays are quiet. Sundays are chill.
Sundays are my favorite day at work because nothing ever happens on a Sundays.
My son works with me on the weekends, so we were a little surprised at all the stuff that went on today, especially with one of the tenants in our facility – that we’ll call “Nick”.
I’m not going to sit here and get into the whole thing because we dealt with Nick for HOURS – at different times today – and once we thought all was quiet again – Nick would start things up again. My son and I were the only staff working today, and with over 60 tenants in the building – it can become a lot. It can get stressful, overwhelming and crazy, especially if there’s so much going on at one time – like today.
I will say that Nick was having issues with his girlfriend and another guy that his girlfriend may – or may not – be seeing behind his back, so Nick decided to down a huge bottle of Vodka and start acting out – right in the facility we work in. Right in the lobby.
Thankfully – nobody else was in the lobby, because when Nick came to us and said he needed to talk and we knew he was very much angry and drunk – we were able to deal with him in private and with nobody else watching what was going on, or being nosy.
When Nick said he needed to talk, I asked if he wanted to talk to my son (man to man), or me. He said he didn’t care. My son went to the lobby and talked with Nick for a bit, and a few moments later – I heard something hit the window and saw a guy who looked like my son – standing on the other side of the building in the lobby – and his arm was up like he just threw something.
I thought he threw a punch.
I thought Nick attacked my son and my son was fighting back.
I jumped up and ran to the lobby – only to thankfully find out Nick had just thrown a can of pop that busted all over, and my son was standing behind him trying to calm him down.
I told my son to take over in the office, and I watched as Nick turned and punched the wall.
I stood right in front of him, made him look me in the eyes, and I grabbed his hands.
“You CANNOT lose your housing or your freedom and both of those will happen if you don’t cut it out! Nick, no woman is worth this and she’s not the only one out there. If she’s trying to make you jealous, or you’re acting like this because she’s throwing another man in your face, she’s not the one for you! You’re going to end up in jail – or out on the streets again if you get kicked out of here, and she’s still going to be warm, eating good – with a place to live still. Is that what you want?”.
I gave him a little speech and tried talking common sense into him – while still holding on to his hands.
He said no.
He also said a lot of other things that worried me, and after all the different situations that happened with him today, we had a long and serious talk after the 3rd issue he caused.
At one point, the police had to be called. Actually, I called for the paramedics, and dispatch sent the police instead.
When they walked in – I met them in the hallway.
Officer A smiled this adorable, beautiful smile and asked, “How’s it going?”.
Me: It’s been a day already, and I just got here a few hours ago. You single?
No, I didn’t ask if he was single, but he was such a beautiful man, I was tempted. lol.
Officer B. wasn’t bad looking, either.
Both officers had me take them to Nick’s room, and they dealt with him.
After they left, I had my son laughing so much when I said that even though it’s been a wild day so far – dealing with everything going on with others, and then all the stuff with Nick – I totally didn’t mind some eye candy that early in the morning. He said for my birthday, he’s just going to rent me a room next year and hire two male strippers dressed like cops. He laughed even more when I told him I want the real thing. I don’t want a fake cop. 😁
Seriously though, I don’t know what will happen with Nick after today’s madness, but I pray for him and just hope he can work out his issues.
Part of working in any field that has to do with those who were once homeless, are criminals, violent, or have drug / alcohol issues – is that you support them, show love and compassion, respect them, and do what you can to calm them down, keep them calm, etc.
So, today – while Nick was looking for something else to punch after I let go of his hands, I told him, “NO!”, and asked if he needed a hug. He looked at me for a few moments – sadness in his eyes, and I opened my arms to him – giving him the biggest teddy bear hug!
Mental health is a real thing that needs love, and compassion – and I know this man has mental health issues. Mix alcohol in there, and it becomes a scary and dangerous combination. Once he got that hug, and I had this serious talk about his housing, how he should want to act to keep it, and not wanting to go to jail over this girl – we were able to sit down in the lobby and have an hour-long conversation, and he was able to remain calm the rest of the day.
I have seen both – the good and the bad sides of Nick.
He can really be such a cool guy sometimes.
Just yesterday – I was in the office, and he came up to the office window – pointing two nerf guns at me.
He started shooting the window and laughed. He said he got them for $10, and he was having fun.
I joked and told him, “I WANT TO PLAY!”.
He handed one to me.
We had fun.
Today, he also fell on his ass. Slid on ice outside, and when I went out there and asked if he really just fell, he laughed about it and said he broke his butt. So, he has a good side to him. He has a funny side.
Today, when he was finally calm after many hours of anger – we were sitting on the armchairs in the lobby talking, and he apologized to me for the cops being there. I joked that he did me a favor because I was able to see some “eye candy” so early in the morning. He looked at me, smiled and told me, “SSSSSHHHUUUTTT UPPPPP!”. lol. I did tell him I was expecting the medics after the issue he caused in his room – but the cops showed up instead, so they weren’t there because I wanted them to be. I wanted the medics for him.
He really is a good guy, but again – when you mix anger, mental health issues and liquor – it can go bad – fast! That’s what happened today. All day.
Still, I love my job.
I love that when these beautiful people need someone who cares – I can be there.
*****
Have you seen the movie “DANGEROUS MINDS?” – with Michelle Pfeiffer???
She works with bad ass teenagers and she’s trying to make them WANT to learn. WANT to change their lives.
At one point in the movie – one of them ask her why she even cares and says something about her just being in it for the money. She makes a comment back like, “I make a choice to care, and honey – the money isn’t that great!”. Something like that.
Today – one of my other tenants I see every day – was upset because I wouldn’t give him his alcohol portion since he hasn’t been eating much. I refused, and he’s just not used to that – coming from me. As soon as I walked in this morning, he smiled big – greeted me at the door – and yelled, “There she is!”. Why? He thought he was getting alcohol as soon as I walked in.
Nope. I told him he had to eat breakfast first.
He was upset.
I told him I heard he hasn’t been eating much, and I can’t have him living off alcohol portions.
I’ll tell you what he didn’t do.
He didn’t yell at me like he yells at anyone else.
He was respectful, but he did ask me why I even care. He said nobody gives a shit about him and then he says, “All of you just want the money”. I did that Michelle Pfeiffer comment and told him, “I make a choice to care, and honey – the money isn’t that great!”. I meant it, too! The money is nothing to brag about. It sucks – honestly, but I love my job, and I care so much about each one of the people who live in this facility.
I love seeing all of them daily – and joking around – making them smile – getting a laugh out of them because they know I try to be funny and make their day better. I use humor with all of them, and many of them enjoy that and joke right back.
Recently, I received a (Certificate of Appreciation) award from work. I was thrilled.
This made me smile and made me feel good.
I do make the choice to care – even if it’s just a paycheck for others.
I do give a shit, and I’ll continue – until I move and no longer work there.
Today – a few of the tenants planned to walk to the liquor store right when lunch started.
I knew they hadn’t eaten and I asked three of them if they grabbed lunch.
They said no.
I told them to march their butts to the kitchen before they go out in the ice and snow and take that long walk.
Guess what they did?
Agreed they’d better get lunch, and they all walked to the kitchen – where my son was handing out lunches.
One of them laughed when I joked that I feel like they’re all my “adult children!”. 😁
It has totally been a wild day. I’m exhausted. I work early again tomorrow, and while being single is great – sometimes, I do wish I had someone to come home to – to hand me a glass of wine, listen to me talk about all of this instead of writing it all to get it off my chest, and someone to massage my feet or shoulders – while he listens to me vent.
Thank all of you for listening to me vent though! Or – reading. 😶
I just had dinner. I’m going to cuddle up in bed and possibly listen to some music before I fall asleep.
💕Shel💕
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