MY CHRISTMAS TREE

I  am a traditionalist. Christmas trees are green. Not pink, not white, and not black. 

Jaywood needed a new tree last year. I was living there by myself. I begged for a Grinch tree. (I begged for  a Grinchette tree, I was not going to quibble.) Lachandria told me that the tree I'd chosen on Amazon was too expensive. Off we went to Walmart. I was not a happy camper.

When we got to the aisle overflowing with Christmas decorations guess what color tree Lachandria chose? Deep breath. Ready?  A WHITE TREE!!! 

"Really?" I asked her.
"Aw come on, Joanne" was her reply.
"I am not participating," I told her firmly.
"What color tree do you have at home?" I asked.
"Green," LaChandria said.
(Defeated.sigh.)
"I rest my case," I told her.

The theme was ice cream.  Glittery ice cream bars and ice cream cones. Tiny white lights. Purple and silver balls to match the ice cream sparkled and, lastly silver garland.  In the darkened living room my tree was beautiful. 

I told Lachandria how magical the tree was every day. 
Thank you, Lachandria. For my magical tree. For the memories.










 

PLEASE, THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT

PLEASE

I know how important it is to show appreciation to my staff. Think of all the intimate, gross tasks they must do for me. I could not do it for a stranger. I always make sure to say thank you to them. I always begin a sentence with, the word, please. (I could be better.)  I get frustrated. I know my staff does too. I  keep reporting any issues to a minimum. (I try.) 

THANK YOU

I am grateful to have a place to live. I could be in respite care or even out on the street. I'd be lying if I said it has not been a difficult transition. There were plans for me to join advocacy groups to meet new people. I declined.  I write for the newsletter and. I teach part of the new hires class so I have money. The government cut my monthly stipend in half because I live alone. I have to work or I will have no money for the things that bring me joy. I am grateful for my job. If I work one day I am tired the next day. It is not much but I do the best I can.

I have lived in this house for almost two months.  The staff that I was used to have other clients. St. Charles is far. One staff member has been with me the entire time. I am grateful for them. They have been the one constant in my sea of change.

.

GOOD NIGHT

I don't want much. A couple of streaming platforms and I am happy. I watch reruns of Bob Hearts Abishola. That show makes me happy. It's funny, and romantic and is a good example of how people from different countries and cultures can live, love, and grow together. How great a world if this was our reality, not a sitcom. Is something wrong with me because I am watching all five seasons for the fourth time? Don't answer that! 

I would love it if some of my former staff would come to take care of me for a day. I miss them. I miss my family too. Group home life has always been difficult for me. I start thinking of the nursing home and my family more during the holidays. I am on Medicaid which means a long waitlist. 

Thank you to my staff who are preparing a Thanksgiving feast for me.

I will end this post with what I tell my staff each night as the end of their shift nears.

"Thank you for everything. Get home safely. See you tomorrow."