So, where was I? My last post was almost a year ago, and who knew then how much the world would change, and how much my life would change.
I don't want this post to be about the Corona Virus, so I'll just say that the things that used to be so normal now seem foreign and scary. Like sitting next to a stranger on the bus, or at a game or concert. Are those days gone forever? Who knows. I just know I hated masks before, the whole concept of them, and I still hate them, even though I wear them at work along with a face shield, and in stores, anywhere in public.
The pandemic has messed up the Bruins chances of winning the Cup, and many landmark events were cancelled; an unheard of thought. No Boston Marathon? No Pops concert on July 4th? No Pan Mass Challenge? Wow.
I was one of the lucky people who is considered essential! So I still had my job, although how I do my job has changed too. If you know me, you might remember I'm the Activity Director of a nursing home. The main objective was to get people to socialize and do things in groups. Concerts, parties, Bingo, exercise, Church, you name it. Any time I was able to get an independent person to come out of their room I felt like I was accomplishing something. Then in March, all the goodwill I'd built up over the years was stripped away in one fell swoop.
No more of my student volunteers, vendors and religious volunteers were allowed into the building. Not to mention pet therapists and their dogs. Worst of all, no family members were allowed in either. Or the hairdresser.
All there was left was me. I was allowed to do a bingo game with six residents only, and each had their own table that used to seat four. Then the residents had to stop eating meals in the dining room, and they took all the chairs out of the activity room to keep residents from going in.
It took awhile, but what used to be my weakest skill is now my strongest, as I've adapted to doing all 1-1 visits. I thought I was so clever when I stole the idea of an independent bingo game from a lottery ticket. Every day I print new randomly generated numbers from various websites, and I had pre-printed paper cards (four on each letter sized sheet. People that never came to my games love to play this way. I like not having to call out the numbers.
When all else fails there is always food, so I still have my daily coffee cart, and ice cream is always welcome. We have tablets that I use to show music videos, play the rosary, and could use for games, movies, etc.
My work life now revolves around scheduling and bringing residents outside for family visits, since June. And then I learned how to use Zoom and do video visits. At least I've learned some new skills.
The biggest challenge of all was getting a ride into work with Lyft and Uber. Instead of a 5 minute wait, it could be 25 minutes or not at all. I managed to get to work, but being on time was no longer a priority. Things are a little better now that the 600 dollar a week unemployment gravy train ran out. I'm kind of jealous I didn't get to cash in on that.
I'm hoping someday I'll be able to go to work and just walk in. Not be locked out, not get a temp check, not slather on hand sanitizer all day, and not wear two masks and a shield. And get my musicians back. Do fun things with a group, and see people socialize and heaven forbid--hug!
But it's not happening anytime soon.
