Flashback Friday: 1990

Currently Reading: Curses by Cindy Spencer Pape. I was pleasantly surprised; I'd expected something different, but I LIKE it:) Obviously, I didn't read the blurb or excerpt very well when she posted it earlier. Sorry Cindy! I'm loving the story, and I think I've figured out one of the 'twists'....I'll keep reading and see if I'm right:) I'm up to Chapter 4.

1990:
At my job, I was given a list of tasks to perform with each 'child' (the residents ranged in age from five to sixty years old, and were varying functioning levels), with the higher functioning ones stationed at one end, and the lower ones (including major behavioral problems) at the other. Workers would switch ends every hour, so we had equal time with all residents.

The day I was supposed to start, only two workers showed up, so I was pretty much thrust into it without any formal training. And one co-worker had a tendency to record all the reactions, so when we'd switch, she'd tell me the book was completed for that hour; all I had to do was maintain control of the room.

After a while, I got bored in the lower-functioning room, and started re-doing her stimuli. I spent about five minutes with each resident, trying to coax a different reaction to stories, lotion rubbed on their skin, music, finger plays....anything to keep my own mind active, and not just waiting for someone to be changed or have their behavior redirected. And in May, the State came in to evaluate the facility, and not surprisingly, we didn't pass inspection.

Our QMRP was fired, along with other staff. During the inspection, I didn't know I was being observed as I re-worked the checklist. The people brought in to change things around questioned all of us, and based on their observations, bumped me up to supervisor. When I objected, because many other workers had seniority over me, I was told it was because they had seen me actively working with the kids, not just being a watchdog.

After eight hours of intense training, the kids were divided into eight different groups, and I was relieved to see myself in charge of the highest functioning ones. Unfortunately, this is also the time when The Idiot in my life was showing his true colors, so this particular time was very turbulent.

But that month taught me a valuable lesson: Go the extra mile in whatever job you're given, and take pride in your work. You never know who may be paying attention.

Oh also, Ari Lyendyke won the Indy 500 that year! Woo hoo!

Flashing back to 1983 for a brief moment...On this date, my best friend B and I were pronounced 'people' in the hallway. The encounter went something like this:

B's friend J walks up to us at B's locker.
"Hey, B...how's the missus?"

(I stand there with my mouth open)
B: "Molly, he's talking to you."

Me: "I'm fine J. Yourself?"

J nods. "And how are the kids?"

I shoot a look at B, who's laughing. "They're just fine! They miss their Uncle J. When are you coming over?"

"I'll be over after practice...." He walks away.

B slams his locker shut and we head in the opposite direction.

"Okay; clue me in. When did we get married?"

B: "Last year. You don't remember? Geez, Mol..."

M: "And we have how many kids?"

B: "I don't know; you had 'em!"

We arrive at my classroom; he winks at me and continues on.

One hour later...
B meets me at my locker. J arrives just as I slam the door shut.

"Hey you two; wait up a sec. By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you 'people'. B, kiss your bride!"

Several people started cheering. I ducked under B's arm and headed off to my next class, totally embarrassed!

We actually carried this joke until I became 'engaged' to my AF officer three years later:)