The Hard Stuff

 Working at the pointe has great energy.  There is a fabulous sense of community.  The people are spectacular.  The flip side is working with an elder community is the loss.  

I've been there for six months now and the first few months were pretty quiet.  Winter brought something more.  We've lost several residents to moving to assisted living type arrangements.  And then we have just lost a few to death.  

Yesterday I heard about Earline.  She died the day before and had been gone from the community about a week.  I was instantly sad.  

My favorite Earline story is how one night we were finishing up.  If there are leftover specials that are going to be tossed, we are allowed to take some home.  So, I got a nice box of food to take with me when I was done with side jobs.  Earline came in very late.  She had been reading and just lost track of time.  She was hungry and of course, the kitchen was closed with the cooks done.  I offered her my box.  She was hesitant to take it, but I insisted.  She opened it up and said it was way too much food and she insisted I take part of it back.  We came to an agreement, and she got fed.  My take is, the residents pay for the food in their rent, and they should come before me.  I can eat at home.  She was grateful that I was willing to give up my food.  From that day forward whenever she would be a bit late, but still able to get food from the kitchen, she always asked if it was my food.  

I always ask how the residents are doing and she almost always answered "maintaining".  Now she is maintaining somewhere else, and I shall miss her greatly.  

I find myself honored to meet and get to know all these people who live in my new community.  With love comes loss and it is okay.  I'm grateful for the love even at the cost.