“Oh My Dear Friend”

Dr. M is an educated educator of English appreciation.  She is very well spoken and plans well ahead even at her advanced age.  My first experience and in fact one of my first rides was to take Dr. M to Bayer’s Lake to pick up a new LCD TV for her room.  Her sister was with her and is a very direct Torontonian.  I liked them both immediately and was more than willing to help them out. 

Getting Dr. M into the van has with it a set of steps that must be followed precisely to Dr. M’s satisfaction.

Firstly, I must walk beside her to the van placing the walker to the left of the front door (her preferred seat by-the-way).  Next, I must place her bag (which contains everything from soup to nuts and of course soft candy) between the seats.  I then must place the stool to the right of her so she can turn and place one foot (as she is very short) on the stool to boost her to the seat into which she plops and then exclaims with a giggle every-time while holding both my hands.. “Oh my dear friend, I made it”.  She then spins into her place lifting her coat so she can get comfortable.  I am then to buckle her in and close the door gently.  I then place her walker and the stool in the back of the van and settle in to take her to her location.  Of course if there are others to come they have waited patiently while I perform the ‘entry procedure’, and then are helped into the remaining seats.

Naturally, upon arrival, the steps must be performed in the opposite direction (maybe with the exception of the stool).  While returning she comments on how wonderful it is to get out and go for a drive with me (her wonderful friend) and that she will always remember my gracious welcome to her when she arrived at the residence.  I was her “first impression” and she reminds me often how it helped her adapt to her new retirement residence.  She always hands me a soft candy and she has one of her own – our treat for the ride.

The final step is to walk with her to the front doors, press my own key to admit her through to the lobby and wish her a “great day”.

She replies “Thank you, my dear friend”.

In 2015 she fell and must use a wheelchair and has a care giver, and now uses our wheelchair bus to get around.  Not as many steps but just as appreciated.