HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE!!!!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Handicapped Parking Spots
Sometimes, people, myself included, just do not think.
I want you to take a moment and close your eyes and picture a handicapped person. What do you see?
My car, sadly, sports a handicapped license plate. I park in the handicapped parking spot at work and other places. Several weeks ago a lady came back and told another employee that she wanted to lodge a complaint--an employee was parked in a handicapped parking spot.
I want you to take a moment and close your eyes and picture a handicapped person. What do you see?
My car, sadly, sports a handicapped license plate. I park in the handicapped parking spot at work and other places. Several weeks ago a lady came back and told another employee that she wanted to lodge a complaint--an employee was parked in a handicapped parking spot.
It apparently never occurred to this woman that handicapped people have limitations and are productive, contributing citizens.
As the conversation ensued this woman expressed that surely I could not have any handicapping conditions as I was gainfully employed and did not use a wheelchair.
People, not all conditions that limit mobility are visible.
You can not see into my spinal column and see the bone spurs that are prying my vertebrae apart and at times cause nerves to be pinched thus causing excruciating pain that can and does bring me to my knees. There are times the pain is bad enough I faint.
You can not see the spinal stenosis that is causing my bony spinal column to close in around the nerves of my spinal column and that movement, such as walking, can cause the nerves to rub against those bones. Again, this is extremely painful.
You can not see the rheumatoid arthritis in my hips, knees and other joints that has been damaging these joints since I was nine (9) years old. You can not see the pain that causes me.
You can not see the rheumatism in my lungs that makes breathing difficult.
Then there was my Daddy. He had gout in the soles of his feet. It looked like someone had implanted golf balls in them. I could see the pain on his face as he would walk the shorter distances from the handicapped parking spots to the door.
I also saw the tears as people yelled at him for being lazy and taking a spot he did not deserve.
No one could see the enlarged heart beating in his chest overworked by the exercise of walking those few feet.
I continue to work because I refuse not to. My Daddy continued to go to the store whenever he had a good day.
Think before you judge someone.
As the conversation ensued this woman expressed that surely I could not have any handicapping conditions as I was gainfully employed and did not use a wheelchair.
People, not all conditions that limit mobility are visible.
You can not see into my spinal column and see the bone spurs that are prying my vertebrae apart and at times cause nerves to be pinched thus causing excruciating pain that can and does bring me to my knees. There are times the pain is bad enough I faint.
You can not see the spinal stenosis that is causing my bony spinal column to close in around the nerves of my spinal column and that movement, such as walking, can cause the nerves to rub against those bones. Again, this is extremely painful.
You can not see the rheumatoid arthritis in my hips, knees and other joints that has been damaging these joints since I was nine (9) years old. You can not see the pain that causes me.
You can not see the rheumatism in my lungs that makes breathing difficult.
Then there was my Daddy. He had gout in the soles of his feet. It looked like someone had implanted golf balls in them. I could see the pain on his face as he would walk the shorter distances from the handicapped parking spots to the door.
I also saw the tears as people yelled at him for being lazy and taking a spot he did not deserve.
No one could see the enlarged heart beating in his chest overworked by the exercise of walking those few feet.
I continue to work because I refuse not to. My Daddy continued to go to the store whenever he had a good day.
Think before you judge someone.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Remember to Complain, Forget to Praise
It has been a great few days but as I work with the public it is pretty much anything goes.
The boss is out of town and "Murphy" of Murphy's Law fame does live very close to the workplace and comes by to visit on occasion.
Since Friday many people have complimented me on my great customer service and all the little extra things I have done to make their experience here more pleasant.
These people did not fill out a survey card and drop it in the comments box. They did not call the corporate office and tell them how impressed they are with the company due to my wonderful attitude and customer service skills.
However, I will remember these people and their praise will stay in my heart and spur me to continue to always to my best and treat people as humans.
Today there were two complainers. One I believe was a misunderstanding and the other just wanted a freebie.
Did they call the corporate office? Well, of course.
That is fine. That is one of the reasons we have managers and supervisors.
It sure would have been nice if just one of the people that saw how I was doing all I could to be friendly and helpful would have made sure the head honchos knew that also.
Please, let the managers and supervisors of the businesses you use know when someone is doing a good job.
You never know, but if all that ever gets reported are complaints, your fav grocer checker just may get fired.
The boss is out of town and "Murphy" of Murphy's Law fame does live very close to the workplace and comes by to visit on occasion.
Since Friday many people have complimented me on my great customer service and all the little extra things I have done to make their experience here more pleasant.
These people did not fill out a survey card and drop it in the comments box. They did not call the corporate office and tell them how impressed they are with the company due to my wonderful attitude and customer service skills.
However, I will remember these people and their praise will stay in my heart and spur me to continue to always to my best and treat people as humans.
Today there were two complainers. One I believe was a misunderstanding and the other just wanted a freebie.
Did they call the corporate office? Well, of course.
That is fine. That is one of the reasons we have managers and supervisors.
It sure would have been nice if just one of the people that saw how I was doing all I could to be friendly and helpful would have made sure the head honchos knew that also.
Please, let the managers and supervisors of the businesses you use know when someone is doing a good job.
You never know, but if all that ever gets reported are complaints, your fav grocer checker just may get fired.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Brother's Shoulder Surgery
The doctor's operated on Don's shoulder this past Tuesday, the 16th of September 2008.
There was a bad rotator cuff tear. The surgery was successful and out-patient.
They also cut a small slit in his leg and removed the screw put in at the hospital in Atlanta. It was close to breaking through the skin. The Atlanta hospital had him standing up and doing too much physical therapy much too soon. This caused the already poorly repaired leg to start deteriorating before it could even start healing.
The shoulder is immovable for five to six weeks. In two to three months physical therapy can be started on the shoulder-all according to the healing process. It will be approximately six months before the shoulder will be healed.
According to how fast the shoulder heals and the therapy goes, it will be three to four months before the doctors can go in a repair the leg.
Again, we all thank you for the prayers and good thoughts.
There was a bad rotator cuff tear. The surgery was successful and out-patient.
They also cut a small slit in his leg and removed the screw put in at the hospital in Atlanta. It was close to breaking through the skin. The Atlanta hospital had him standing up and doing too much physical therapy much too soon. This caused the already poorly repaired leg to start deteriorating before it could even start healing.
The shoulder is immovable for five to six weeks. In two to three months physical therapy can be started on the shoulder-all according to the healing process. It will be approximately six months before the shoulder will be healed.
According to how fast the shoulder heals and the therapy goes, it will be three to four months before the doctors can go in a repair the leg.
Again, we all thank you for the prayers and good thoughts.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Life Gets Busy!
I haven't said much about this before, but my boyfriend and I take care of his sister, Robbie and her husband, Bob. They both have Alzheimer's.
Bob had his left leg amputated above the knee on July 30th of this year. He went to a nursing home for twenty days. He came back home on this past Monday.
He is doing pretty well. He is, understandably, afraid to stand on his one leg. At six foot tall, that would be a long fall.
He has lost the ability to know when he must urinate and wears diapers now. That sensation may return. He knows when he needs to sit on the bedside commode to defecate, but does not know when he actually does.
Robbie, bless her heart, tries to care for him, but she just isn't able to. When he wants an extra blanket, she will take the he one has and put another one on him.
He has learned that he can raise his hips and pull his own pants up.
When the staples come out of the stump, September 4th, they will start shrinking it so that he can be fitted for an artificial leg.
Please, learn the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's so that if a loved one of yours develops it, it can be caught early and treatment begun.
Bob had his left leg amputated above the knee on July 30th of this year. He went to a nursing home for twenty days. He came back home on this past Monday.
He is doing pretty well. He is, understandably, afraid to stand on his one leg. At six foot tall, that would be a long fall.
He has lost the ability to know when he must urinate and wears diapers now. That sensation may return. He knows when he needs to sit on the bedside commode to defecate, but does not know when he actually does.
Robbie, bless her heart, tries to care for him, but she just isn't able to. When he wants an extra blanket, she will take the he one has and put another one on him.
He has learned that he can raise his hips and pull his own pants up.
When the staples come out of the stump, September 4th, they will start shrinking it so that he can be fitted for an artificial leg.
Please, learn the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's so that if a loved one of yours develops it, it can be caught early and treatment begun.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Don's Shoulder Surgery
The physicl therapist has said that he is ready for the shoulder surgery.
The doctor has scheduled it for Sseptember 16th.
He is walking with a "mini-walker" now.
Mama has been able to go back to work, working her work schedule around Don's therapy and doctor appointments.
The doctor has indicated that he may still end up 100% disabled. Don is not very comfortable with that idea--he prefers working.
Again, we thank all of you for your continued prayers and thoughts.
The doctor has scheduled it for Sseptember 16th.
He is walking with a "mini-walker" now.
Mama has been able to go back to work, working her work schedule around Don's therapy and doctor appointments.
The doctor has indicated that he may still end up 100% disabled. Don is not very comfortable with that idea--he prefers working.
Again, we thank all of you for your continued prayers and thoughts.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Don Is Walking!!!
Don has been walking with a walker for a couple weeks now. He says it hurts but it feels good to walk.
He can walk from the living room to the bedroom which is about 45 feet. Says it leaves him in pain for a while but he knows it has to be done.
Once he can bear weight and walk well enough, the doctor will schedule his shoulder replacement.
Once the shoulder heals well enough Don can use his arms and shoulders to move his body weight around, the doctor will schedule the surgery to re-set his right leg and replace the knees.
So, he is progressing but there is still much healing and repair work that needs to be done.
Again, thank you for the prayers and well wishes.
He can walk from the living room to the bedroom which is about 45 feet. Says it leaves him in pain for a while but he knows it has to be done.
Once he can bear weight and walk well enough, the doctor will schedule his shoulder replacement.
Once the shoulder heals well enough Don can use his arms and shoulders to move his body weight around, the doctor will schedule the surgery to re-set his right leg and replace the knees.
So, he is progressing but there is still much healing and repair work that needs to be done.
Again, thank you for the prayers and well wishes.
