12/8/18 Yesterday’s post deserves a follow up, since my fears were not even remotely realized, and in fact, the MOW route turned out better than I could have ever imagined! The saying that 99% of our fears never happens is true, I’m convinced.
Upon arriving at the Silver Sage (the senior center here in Bandera), I admitted my fears about getting stuck in the mud to John, the Meals on Wheels coordinator. He listened and pointed out two clients who lived on roads that were potentially problematic, one being much worse than the other. That said, he also gave me two phone numbers to call if the latter road was impassable. I felt validated and better off for having the back-up.
When it was time for my route order to be fulfilled, I stood in the kitchen and watched Ed pack one bag with twelve hot meals and the cooler with a dozen cartons of milk. Double-checking Ed is part of the driver’s responsibility so that coming back for a forgotten meal is avoided as much as possible. Obviously , ‘time’ means everything in the delivery business.
At my very brief orientation last week, John stressed that delivering meals in a timely fashion is important since all of the clients have come to expect their meals to be delivered by a certain time–and that a late or missed delivery can be a big deal, especially if the driver is the only person the client will see that day.
Any uncertainty I might’ve had was alleviated on the very first stop. I could see Rosalyn through the glass of her front door waiting for me, and as she opened the door to let me in, it surprised me that she remembered my name from having met me just briefly last week.
We drivers are allowed to visit some if the client wants, so I listened to Rosalyn tell me that she was feeling sad that morning, thinking about her son who’d been killed recently in a automobile accident. I didn’t know what to say, so I just let her talk awhile and then gave her a hug before I had to leave.
As I made my way back to the jeep I happened to look up at the eaves of her garage and caught sight of an unusual house decoration: the recovery symbol associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. The thought of snapping a photo occurred to me, but I thought that really wouldn’t be appropriate, all things considered. But I couldn’t help but wonder, was that odd or was that God?
As it turned out, the road pointed out by John was a non-issue because that particular client’s caretaker met me at the turnoff. He also said he’d do that every time it rained. Whew!
One of the last people I delivered to lives in a very dire, hoarders-sort-of situation, tethered to an oxygen tank. The very act of just living seemed to be a struggle. It made so grateful for things I’m guilty of taking for granted, like walking. Like breathing!
The rain that had been threatening all morning finally gave way just as I delivered the last meal of the route, and it was raining hard and steadily by the time I pulled the jeep under the carport back at the Silver Sage…another blessing.
I had no idea that being a MOW driver would be as rewarding as I’ve already discovered it to be. Everyone at the senior center from the receptionist to the cook appreciates us drivers, and they tell us so. The people to whom we deliver meals appreciate us, and they say so.
Truth is, I’m the one who’s grateful for getting to do this. and it’s an attitude of gratitude that makes all the difference. Already I’m looking forward to next week, and it doesn’t matter WHAT the weather ‘s predicted to be!