Welcome to another installment of...

as the Assisted Living Facility turns.

As you know, in our last installment, Hannukah was just ending and the menorah in the lobby would be lit no more this year.  The Activities Director took it down and put it away until next year's celebration.

Then some of the residents approached the Facility Director and asked if they could possibly have a Nativity scene put up where the menorah had been.  "You celebrated Hannukah after all, can't we celebrate Christmas as well" was their question.  Being a generous sort, the Facility Director approved the request and soon there was a lovely little Nativity scene there in the lobby.

After it was put up, residents (plural) were not happy.  This small group of residents went on an individual basis to see the President of the Resident's Council to voice their complaints.  They argued that since the City of Santa Monica won't put up Nativity scenes in a public park, they also don't belong in the lobby of our facility.  The President pointed out, correctly, that while Thomas Jefferson successfully argued in his famous letter that there must be a separation of church and state, this facility is a privately owned business.  Therefore, the owners and managers are free to put up any religious display they choose.  They aren't engaging in any form of discrimination. 

Some of these residents were upset and frustrated.  One tried to argue "well, I've been here ten years and it was never done during those ten years."  By that argument, the President pointed out, women should have never been given the right to vote.  After all, it was that way for decades.  Why change it?  The argument sailed over the head of that resident who just didn't want to hear that her argument against the Nativity scene was completely and utterly devoid of merit.

Meanwhile, the President had to solve another problem.  A resident who doesn't understand his options for purchasing a Medicare supplement policy had turned to the President for help.  The President tried to help him, but was unsuccessful in explaining the options with any more level of understanding than the written materials had communicated.  Fortunately, the President found an answer.  He referred this resident to the local Senior Citizen's Center, which has someone there who is an expert in this subject.  Happiness and joy reigned, for at least eight minutes.  What broke the happiness and joy?  Find out in the next installment.