Friday, February 15, 2013

Once Again, it's Time for more of

"As The Assisted Living Facility Turns"

This episode opens at the first breakfast seating of the day, with two of the residents having a loud discussion about the Christopher Dorner shootout in Big Bear.  They were arguing over how many people Dorner had actually killed.  One of them was sure it was only three and the other was insisting it was at least four and maybe five.  The President didn't have the heart to interject and tell them that it was four and unless the doctors were wrong about the other cop most recently shot, the death toll would remain at four.  Unless of course Dorner killed himself, then he would have taken five lives.

Two of the male residents were sitting at their usual table, arguing and insulting each other as is their usual custom.  It is almost always being done in a joking manner, although it can get out of hand once in awhile.  Then a woman who doesn't know they aren't serious came over and tried to intervene.  They eventually persuaded her to just sit down and then it got strange.  She couldn't remember if she lived on the first or second floor and wanted them to tell her.  They kept telling her to go to the front desk to get some help in returning to her room.  Finally she went there and then returned to the table, saying "there's no one there".

Usually at that hour there isn't anyone at the front desk.  The daytime office manager doesn't come in until eight.  Nor does the chauffeur, who spends some hours in the morning manning the front desk.  It makes sense because he doesn't start shuttling the residents around until after 9, most days.  Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays it is to take them to doctor's appointments.  Thursdays are shopping outings, often to the local Ralph's or Rite-Aid.  Sometimes a resident will want to brave the gigantic Target store nearby. 

Because the President prefers bagels or English muffins over ordinary toast, he used to buy his own bagels and bring them to breakfast to be toasted.  When the new Head Chef took over, that stopped.  The Chef insisted that he would keep bagels in inventory, for anyone.  Apparently the message didn't get through.  One of the residents thought they couldn't have a bagel because they were the private property of the President.  That misconception had this resident very upset on this morning until the President assured them that the bagles were available to anyone who wanted one.

As promised, a look at a few more of the characters who are no longer part of this drama/comedy, for various reasons.  I believe we've now covered "L", "M", "S", "R" and "PB".  Today we will start with "D" who had worked for the Salvation Army for much of their adult life.  D owned multiple power-chairs and lent them out to others who had need but didn't have one of their own.  D was very religious and always kept the door to their room open.  Anyone walking by at anytime of the day (the door was closed in the evenings) would be treated to the television blasting one of those "religion" channels preaching the gospel at high volume.  Ultimately "D" decided to move to another facility.

"P" was a really nice person but obsessed with sports.  Sadly some of the teams he followed closely did not have all of their games televised on the channels he had on his basic cable package.  He eventually moved into his own apartment.  His condition had improved, it would be less expensive and he would be able to upgrade his cable package.  I picture him sitting in his living room, watching lots and lots of sports.

There was "L2" who died unexepectedly some time back.  She had been ill and suffering from several debilitating conditions for a protracted period.  But the President is convinced that her incessant smoking hastened her demise.  She was notable for being such a mercurial individual, who loved or hated people and often switched from one end of the spectrum to another.

See you next time, on "At The Assisted Living Facility Turns".