I work for a substance abuse treatment agency. We see our share of tragic stories. But we also see miracles.
Today is one that I may be processing for awhile. I will have to wait and see how things ultimately turn out.
Two unrelated, unexpected and completely bizarre deaths today, not of people in our program, but of people close to them. These are the kind of things that make you wonder what God's plan might be and how the people most affected will come through this.
I hope that each of the people who remain here now have another angel praying for them and assisting them from the next world - God willing - and I will pray for their assistance.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Jimmy
I work in a field where people sometimes die before they really ought to.
I do administrative work for a drug rehabilitation facility. I see many men and women from their late teens into their late fifties who struggle daily to stay clean and sober. For most of them, it is so hard. They need a tremendous amount of support.
You can tell when they are doing well. Their faces change and their energy becomes clearer.
Some of these folks struggle for years to put all their pieces together. And they do - and they are fine and beautiful. But, sometimes, despite all their best efforts, the drugs and alcohol do a number on their bodies that cannot be reversed - and an event that most of us could get through as a little inconvenience is too much to handle.
This is essentially what happened to my friend Jimmy tonight. He died after a good day and a pleasant dinner with friends. I saw him mid day. We exchanged pleasant small talk as we always did. I asked him how he was feeling and to please take good care of himself. When he said "Good-bye," I said, "Oh Jimmy, you always say that, and then you come back again later!" But, he is not coming back this time.
I had not known Jimmy for a long time, and I did not know him terribly well. But, I do know that he was one of the sweetest and kindest people I had ever met. He was beloved in the community where our clients live.
Jimmy had been out of addiction for some time and had risen to a position of some responsibility within our community. My bosses always took his calls!
Jimmy - I will miss our daily encounters and joking around! I will miss the opportunity I might have had to get to know you better. I will pray that your beloved soul finds a safe haven with God and that you will be showered with great bounties in the next world.
Your friend,
Barb
I work in a field where people sometimes die before they really ought to.
I do administrative work for a drug rehabilitation facility. I see many men and women from their late teens into their late fifties who struggle daily to stay clean and sober. For most of them, it is so hard. They need a tremendous amount of support.
You can tell when they are doing well. Their faces change and their energy becomes clearer.
Some of these folks struggle for years to put all their pieces together. And they do - and they are fine and beautiful. But, sometimes, despite all their best efforts, the drugs and alcohol do a number on their bodies that cannot be reversed - and an event that most of us could get through as a little inconvenience is too much to handle.
This is essentially what happened to my friend Jimmy tonight. He died after a good day and a pleasant dinner with friends. I saw him mid day. We exchanged pleasant small talk as we always did. I asked him how he was feeling and to please take good care of himself. When he said "Good-bye," I said, "Oh Jimmy, you always say that, and then you come back again later!" But, he is not coming back this time.
I had not known Jimmy for a long time, and I did not know him terribly well. But, I do know that he was one of the sweetest and kindest people I had ever met. He was beloved in the community where our clients live.
Jimmy had been out of addiction for some time and had risen to a position of some responsibility within our community. My bosses always took his calls!
Jimmy - I will miss our daily encounters and joking around! I will miss the opportunity I might have had to get to know you better. I will pray that your beloved soul finds a safe haven with God and that you will be showered with great bounties in the next world.
Your friend,
Barb
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Feeling the Joy
Last night Kathryn and I went to the movies.
Mama Mia was the selection of the evening.
Oh my, I don't know when I have liked a movie more! I guess because I could sing through it!
And those wonderful women, Meryl Streep, Julie Waters and Christine Baranski - what wonderful talents. It was easy to see how much fun they were having. Uninhibited and joyful!
When we left the movie, we went across the street to Target to but the soundtrack. I told Kathryn that I want the movie for Christmas - no renting this one.
The credits of the movie confirmed that all the main characters sang their parts. Their voices were very real and pleasing.
You have got to see this movie - and take me with you!
Mama Mia was the selection of the evening.
Oh my, I don't know when I have liked a movie more! I guess because I could sing through it!
And those wonderful women, Meryl Streep, Julie Waters and Christine Baranski - what wonderful talents. It was easy to see how much fun they were having. Uninhibited and joyful!
When we left the movie, we went across the street to Target to but the soundtrack. I told Kathryn that I want the movie for Christmas - no renting this one.
The credits of the movie confirmed that all the main characters sang their parts. Their voices were very real and pleasing.
You have got to see this movie - and take me with you!
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
My Late in Life Career
I work for a substance abuse recovery program. About 20 hours a week.
I have worked there for almost 2 years.
My friend who shares my house with me is the Clinical Director of the program.
At first, I was sort of a "fly on the wall" as the business underwent its planning and formation in my dining room over the period of about a year.
As time went by, I couldn't keep my mouth shut and had to start contributing ideas. I have good ideas. I am good at executing projects. I know how to get information. I am highly focused and serious about any work I do. So, I developed their Outcomes Management program.
When the company first opened, I was asked to come in and answer phones for a couple of hours in the late afternoon.
When they saw that I did that well, they started asking me to look stuff up. I did that well too.
As the time approached for us to be reviewed by accrediting agencies, I was asked to research and develop various policies and procedures for the program. My favorite time was when the accreditors were on site asking where our policy on "wandering" was and I had to research and write a policy on "wandering" in about 1/2 hour's time!! They thought it was just fine!
Every quarter, I gather up all the Outcomes Surveys that clients have filled out and tabulate the results then write a report which goes to our state funding agency.
When the bosses saw that I was doing that well, they asked me to start auditing the progress notes in client charts. I means I check group and individual notes for accuracy in several areas. We must show our funding sources that we are really doing the work that we are being paid for.
Keep in mind that I still do all the other job duties I listed!
A couple of months ago, the person who worked front desk in the morning, made a (big) inappropriate decision - really big.
So, now, I come in the morning for 4 hours. And I do the stuff I always did before, except that now the clients are around to perplex me. I am also doing more and different kinds of reports and organizing the filing system, which was in bad shape.
I am having a wonderful time.
I wish I had a little more sleep and a little more time to handle the affairs of daily life.
Some day, I expect to be full time, but there are a few other important things in my life right now that I want to attend to. And then life will change. And it will be different and a little sad, but it will be OK too.
I have worked there for almost 2 years.
My friend who shares my house with me is the Clinical Director of the program.
At first, I was sort of a "fly on the wall" as the business underwent its planning and formation in my dining room over the period of about a year.
As time went by, I couldn't keep my mouth shut and had to start contributing ideas. I have good ideas. I am good at executing projects. I know how to get information. I am highly focused and serious about any work I do. So, I developed their Outcomes Management program.
When the company first opened, I was asked to come in and answer phones for a couple of hours in the late afternoon.
When they saw that I did that well, they started asking me to look stuff up. I did that well too.
As the time approached for us to be reviewed by accrediting agencies, I was asked to research and develop various policies and procedures for the program. My favorite time was when the accreditors were on site asking where our policy on "wandering" was and I had to research and write a policy on "wandering" in about 1/2 hour's time!! They thought it was just fine!
Every quarter, I gather up all the Outcomes Surveys that clients have filled out and tabulate the results then write a report which goes to our state funding agency.
When the bosses saw that I was doing that well, they asked me to start auditing the progress notes in client charts. I means I check group and individual notes for accuracy in several areas. We must show our funding sources that we are really doing the work that we are being paid for.
Keep in mind that I still do all the other job duties I listed!
A couple of months ago, the person who worked front desk in the morning, made a (big) inappropriate decision - really big.
So, now, I come in the morning for 4 hours. And I do the stuff I always did before, except that now the clients are around to perplex me. I am also doing more and different kinds of reports and organizing the filing system, which was in bad shape.
I am having a wonderful time.
I wish I had a little more sleep and a little more time to handle the affairs of daily life.
Some day, I expect to be full time, but there are a few other important things in my life right now that I want to attend to. And then life will change. And it will be different and a little sad, but it will be OK too.
Friday, July 04, 2008
A Little Joy
I love to spend time with my little guys - that is my grandsons, William and Xander.
They are precious and fun.
They are both going through so amny changes right now. So much progress.
It is like watching kittens.
They are precious and fun.
They are both going through so amny changes right now. So much progress.
It is like watching kittens.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Tired of vegging!
I have had bronchitis for most of the week. Maybe a litle pneumonia.
Anyway, I have just felt lousy!
There are certain things I need to do so that I do not get sick so much. I need to refrain from eating foods that my Doctor and nutritionist tell me that I am allergic to. Somehow, they represent some comfort to me - but then I end up sick.
I need to like and support myself more. Anybody else ever gone through this kind of thing?
Ther is so much I want to do and learn and I can't do it if I am laid out with illness!!
My daughter suggested that I seek blogging buddies who are interested in some of the same things I am ---
Genealogy (esp. gooing back to old New England)
Choral Music
Health, Alternative Medicine, Mind-Body work
Being a late bloomer
Vacations
So--- if anyone is lurking out there and would like to respond, go ahead and post. I won't bite!!
Anyway, I have just felt lousy!
There are certain things I need to do so that I do not get sick so much. I need to refrain from eating foods that my Doctor and nutritionist tell me that I am allergic to. Somehow, they represent some comfort to me - but then I end up sick.
I need to like and support myself more. Anybody else ever gone through this kind of thing?
Ther is so much I want to do and learn and I can't do it if I am laid out with illness!!
My daughter suggested that I seek blogging buddies who are interested in some of the same things I am ---
Genealogy (esp. gooing back to old New England)
Choral Music
Health, Alternative Medicine, Mind-Body work
Being a late bloomer
Vacations
So--- if anyone is lurking out there and would like to respond, go ahead and post. I won't bite!!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Whew!!!
I work part time for a facility that provides substance abuse treatment. Today we had inspectors from the funding source here to go over all our charts and books.
We have been preparing for this visit intensely since the first of the year. The last few nights have gone past midnight for many of our staffers.
There is a lot of red tape involved in this kind of venture. It is all necessary and to the benefit of the people we serve, but it is a lot to keep track of!!
Most of the inspection went very well. In fact we were thoroughly praised for the work we do and how well we document it. There were a few small glitches, but that is normal.
Someone I care about had a glitch and she is taking it hard. No one is angry or upset with her, but she is quite a perfectionist and expects the best from herself. It was just an administrative slip up and the world won't end.
Now, we must start preparing for another inspection from another source that will come in early May. Hopefully, most of the work that we have just finished will apply to this inspection too.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to having my daughter and her family move here. They are going to a nice condominium about 1 1/2/ miles from me. I will probably spend a good deal of time in the next few weeks helping them settle. That will be fun.....as long as I don't keep offering my opinion!
We have been preparing for this visit intensely since the first of the year. The last few nights have gone past midnight for many of our staffers.
There is a lot of red tape involved in this kind of venture. It is all necessary and to the benefit of the people we serve, but it is a lot to keep track of!!
Most of the inspection went very well. In fact we were thoroughly praised for the work we do and how well we document it. There were a few small glitches, but that is normal.
Someone I care about had a glitch and she is taking it hard. No one is angry or upset with her, but she is quite a perfectionist and expects the best from herself. It was just an administrative slip up and the world won't end.
Now, we must start preparing for another inspection from another source that will come in early May. Hopefully, most of the work that we have just finished will apply to this inspection too.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to having my daughter and her family move here. They are going to a nice condominium about 1 1/2/ miles from me. I will probably spend a good deal of time in the next few weeks helping them settle. That will be fun.....as long as I don't keep offering my opinion!
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