Doug's first order was that I should make the soup. The mystery box appeared well stocked, but after removing what I could use, there were many cans of evaporated milk and beets taking up space in there. So I asked him who was keeping the gate, and could we get into the pantry. That's when he proudly showed me his personal key. He finally got a master key! THAT only took 18 months…
Eventually, I filled a large pot with soup makings and let it simmer for about an hour. I added curly noodles to fill it out, and we served it with our hallmark death-in-a-tub chicken salad and some fruit. Nobody complained, and only one person asked "What is it?" of the chicken salad. Many extra servings went out, and our 500-pound fellow had at least two meals, including the one plate I made with a can of sardines.
We had three little kids today, and I enjoyed giving them stuffed toys. Also, there was enough gum in the goody box to put a pack on every plate. I think we served about 40 diners. The pre-release group was so small that Doug was sure the next group would be too—but he was wrong, and he and BOB had to jump in and help me serve. BOB still shows up after church, and he wants me to stay longer because he doesn't get there in time to spend enough time with me. I'm thinking he's wanting to save my soul, but the Devil has already spoken for that! Today, BOB was singing a hymn, and I swear he sounds just like Johnny Mathis.
I don't think he's
ever heard of Johnny (I must be a lot older than I realize), but he sounds like Johnny.
On the gossip front, Mr. Huggy did not have a heart attack, but his blood sugar had run low. He came cruising thru the kitchen around 12:30 and I gave him a wide berth (even Doug noticed), which turned out to be an even better decision than I thought—Doug said the man's in dire need of a bath!
The goofy guy who was such a pest last week didn't show up, but Miss Lillian is due back in very soon, so I imagine I'll hear some grumbling about that next week. Doug is expecting Lillian to stroll in there and come down hard on him for how he's managing the kitchen (his kitchen). This will be interesting.
We have two new gatekeepers, a young woman and an older man. I saw the young woman today, and she's very shy, which begs the question of how she can manage people who live on the edge.
In my nearly 5 years there, I've seen many changes—and very few. I think I'll go back next week.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
THE DREGS
Five days will not cure jet lag; drinking doesn't help jet lag; and after partying late last night and sleeping little, all Miss Joy had to offer the shelter kitchen was the dregs. Oddly, that was exactly what the kitchen offered me…
Doug met me with tons of hugs and welcome homes. That was dear! Then he introduced me to a new guy who hopes to assume a part-time position there and who is a wonderful worker. He also introduced me to another fellow who never did anything that I could see, other than get in my way and want to talk. Kinda hoping that fellow will find something else to do on Sundays.
I have never seen the kitchen as dirty as it was this morning. All I could do was get a rag, some spray, and wipe things down, but the crumbs and old sticky dirt are still there in the cracks and crevices. Then Doug swept and mopped, and things looked better, but WHY was it like that?
We had Doug's potato soup, chicken salad, fruit cocktail, and some leftover dinners from last night. There was more than enough because, as I implied, there were few at lunch, and they were a sad lot. Of the 20 we served, there was only one woman in each group, and the homeless one took a look at the food, turned up her nose and left. It's colder now… and yesterday's group was a herd, Doug said, so we expected large numbers today.
Bad Ass is gone. He was set free early, due to bureaucratic bungling, and word has it that he was pushing drugs AT the shelter even before he left… so I imagine he'll be returning to his comfort zone before long… Little Chief leaves tomorrow, but another "Indian" is due in this week, and the staff's been warned to tread lightly.
A new pre-release came waddling to the counter well after his group had eaten and gone. When I asked for his bed number, he said, "I'm a pre-release." So I told him he was quite late, and he said he knew… eyeing the food as if it might not suit him—all 500 pounds of him already sporting a pace maker and not yet 30.
Cutie Gatekeeper has left for greener pastures, and Crusty Old Broad was keeping the gate. I hadn't seen her in many months. She, too, is a very good eater.
Mr. Huggy waltzed in the other day, white as a sheet, and was sent post haste to hospital with another heart attack. He hasn't been bringing goodies, so that bin was nearly empty. I cleaned it and washed out the sticky goo in the bottom.
Miss Lillian is expecting to return from her recent surgery. She still comes by from time to time, and this week Doug said 2 large stacks of styrofoam plates just disappeared. He continues to be amazed by these activities, but deep down they are no surprise.
The little boy and girl who were there when I left are still there, sadly. They were not at lunch today, so I assume they had a happier place to be.
Some of the homeless men are repeats from last winter. I must assume they've been "out and about" during summer and have come in for the winter. Two appear to take some pride in their appearance; the others are a motley crew. In fact, Little Chief was the only pre-release who showed well today; the others were dragging.
Just as well. I was dragging too.
Doug met me with tons of hugs and welcome homes. That was dear! Then he introduced me to a new guy who hopes to assume a part-time position there and who is a wonderful worker. He also introduced me to another fellow who never did anything that I could see, other than get in my way and want to talk. Kinda hoping that fellow will find something else to do on Sundays.
I have never seen the kitchen as dirty as it was this morning. All I could do was get a rag, some spray, and wipe things down, but the crumbs and old sticky dirt are still there in the cracks and crevices. Then Doug swept and mopped, and things looked better, but WHY was it like that?
We had Doug's potato soup, chicken salad, fruit cocktail, and some leftover dinners from last night. There was more than enough because, as I implied, there were few at lunch, and they were a sad lot. Of the 20 we served, there was only one woman in each group, and the homeless one took a look at the food, turned up her nose and left. It's colder now… and yesterday's group was a herd, Doug said, so we expected large numbers today.
Bad Ass is gone. He was set free early, due to bureaucratic bungling, and word has it that he was pushing drugs AT the shelter even before he left… so I imagine he'll be returning to his comfort zone before long… Little Chief leaves tomorrow, but another "Indian" is due in this week, and the staff's been warned to tread lightly.
A new pre-release came waddling to the counter well after his group had eaten and gone. When I asked for his bed number, he said, "I'm a pre-release." So I told him he was quite late, and he said he knew… eyeing the food as if it might not suit him—all 500 pounds of him already sporting a pace maker and not yet 30.
Cutie Gatekeeper has left for greener pastures, and Crusty Old Broad was keeping the gate. I hadn't seen her in many months. She, too, is a very good eater.
Mr. Huggy waltzed in the other day, white as a sheet, and was sent post haste to hospital with another heart attack. He hasn't been bringing goodies, so that bin was nearly empty. I cleaned it and washed out the sticky goo in the bottom.
Miss Lillian is expecting to return from her recent surgery. She still comes by from time to time, and this week Doug said 2 large stacks of styrofoam plates just disappeared. He continues to be amazed by these activities, but deep down they are no surprise.
The little boy and girl who were there when I left are still there, sadly. They were not at lunch today, so I assume they had a happier place to be.
Some of the homeless men are repeats from last winter. I must assume they've been "out and about" during summer and have come in for the winter. Two appear to take some pride in their appearance; the others are a motley crew. In fact, Little Chief was the only pre-release who showed well today; the others were dragging.
Just as well. I was dragging too.
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