Got Lost for a Bit

Sorry for no updates. Work's been kind of a bummer and even the funny things aren't really making me laugh.

Taking a few more days off and then I'll get some more blog entries up, probably starting Monday. I've had several wandering around my head, I just need to get them sorted out and written down.

On a sad note, the other day was a year since my co-worker Sherman passed away. We had a short electrical outage that afternoon at work. Sherman always used to turn out the med room lights on us when he walked past. It was probably a coincidence, but we attributed it to Sherman saying hello to us anyway.

Repairs Needed

"Honey?" Mrs. A called the CNA over to her table at suppertime.

"What can I do for you, hon?" she asked.

"Somebody has to fix my head," she said.

"Your head? What's wrong with your head?" the aide asked, bending down for a closer look.

"Well, I'm crazy," she said.

Patting her shoulder, the aide stood up. "Oh, that's OK, hon. You're in the right place because we're all crazy here."

It's a Zen Thing

Last night at work it occurred to me that working in a nursing home is very Zen. From the little I've read, they talk about detaching yourself from expectation. So, you should work, but you should work without expectation of result.

So, just because you've taken Mrs. A to the bathroom, brushed her dentures, brushed her hair, helped her wash her face, put lotion on her hands, helped her to bed, adjusted the pillows, bed and blankets until she's comfortable, you shouldn't expect her to stay there.

Wait, that's not right.

After supper, Mrs. A sometimes plays piano. Last night she played The Star-Spangled Banner, Yankee Doodle, God Bless America and O Come All Ye Faithful.

Catch that?

So did she. About three quarters into the first verse, she stopped playing and said, "Oh no, that's a Christmas song," and started laughing so hard she had to quit altogether.

Molested!

"Mrs. A, what are you doing?" asked Mr. B who was at the nursing home visiting his dad.

"I'm patting your patties," Mrs. A responded and spanked him lightly again.

"Well, they're my patties and I'd like it if you'd leave them alone." Mr. B said. "Why don't you go pat his patties?" he suggested, pointing to a male CNA.

"No. Too big." she answered and sat back down in her chair.