Regretful Comments

There are many times in every person’s life that he or she will say something and wish they had not. Well one morning, the winds were rather chilly shooting down College Street (as was the common problem with the city “wind tunnel”) and I had brought the bus around to get Ms N on the wheelchair lift. I had two other ladies coming along to go to hairdressing appointments and although the heat was blasting in the bus having both the back door and side passenger doors open let it slip on through. I had invited the faster moving ladies, Ms R and Ms A to get into the bus because Ms N was “on her way.” Time clicked by and after about 10 minutes one of the ladies, Ms A, was back inside saying it was too cold to sit on that bus and wait just as Ms N made it downstairs and I wheeled her to the bus and hoisted her in and buckled her up for her quick ride. Ms A saw all of this and as I started closing the doors she came speeding to the bus to get on while Ms R was “complaining” about the cold. I noticed the embarrassed look on Ms A’s face as she complained but she was not in a wheelchair and she soon realized how she must have sounded. I said very little during this as there was absolutely nothing I could have done that would have solved the problem until I closed all the doors. Then I cranked the heat and away we went. I think they noticed I was very quiet and had not let their comments slow me down as I concentrated on getting these ladies to where they needed to go and on time. That silence seemed to draw out some comments about the warmth of the sun and that the day wasn't too bad after all. The heat was now too much but they did not know how to tell me so I left it up. They regretted their comments that day and it never came up again. Ms N smiled through it all but then again she never knew all of this was going on.

The diversity of residents at the Residence works well in giving a different perspective to everyone at different levels of physical and mental capacity.

[The Van and the Bus are at each resident’s disposal and are included in their ‘rent’ – so when they book and get a free ride they forget just how convenient it is and at times take it for granted. The bus is large and not all that easy to get into but is used for wheelchairs or a group over three. The van is most comfortable with three and is the preferred vehicle. I often am asked to “please pick me up in the van if you can” to which I often reply “if I can”]

I should mention that when all was said and done and each was brought back home after their appointments every single lady was extremely pleased with the service. It is usually this that reminds me that everyone is at a stage in their ageing where they soon forget the 'drive to' and remember the 'drive back' and it is always “great”.