As a Good Neighbor
Jul. 3rd, 2020 07:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansI've been at Wyndris Community for over a year now. I began as a tenant. As most of my friends know, I began working here as an on-call Concierge November 1, 2019. In February of this year, my status changed to Part-Time Concierge. I work every Friday and every other weekend. It's 20 hours a pay period. It's not as many hours as State Farm, but I am managing. I switched apartments in May (when my first year's lease was up.)
One thing that hasn't changed in the past year is how much I feel like a valued member of this community. I have a great deal of affection and respect for several of my neighbors; and as a result, I look for small ways to make their lives easier, to make them feel safer, especially during this pandemic. I've explained to many of them how unusual this is for me. When I've in lived in apartment buildings in the past, I've not even introduced myself to my neighbors, let alone gotten to know them.
Two things have changed me for good (You can teach an old dog new tricks): 1) Working with my autistic nephew from 2015-2017. 2) Adopting Georgie. I am a better human after these two events. Nothing makes me happier than showing people I've been listening to them and can do for them.
As a Good Neighbor, Here's my upcoming schedule:
Today through Saturday, I'm watering the plants for my neighbors Terri and Ken. A couple in their late 60's but with a much younger vibe, they're getting married on July 11th. Our Maj Jong group threw a small wedding shower for them earlier this week. Terri is the person who makes masks for everyone in the building.
On Monday, I'm taking my retired school teacher friend, Mary, to her colonoscopy in Plymouth. It's been postponed twice this year and the person who was going to drive her won't be back from the holiday weekend in time. I am happy to step in; I also help with her Norwich terrier, Mac, when Mary's under the weather. We share a passion for crime fiction.
A week from today, I'm driving my neighbor Geri to Rochester, MN for followup medical appointments at The Mayo Clinic. Geri's appointments begin at 9:15am. (Hint: thespian15, I wonder if we can rendezvous. Let me know.) I do Geri's grocery shopping for her from time to time ... Geri's a retired public health nurse and is suffering from extreme anxiety because of the pandemic.
UPDATE: To my amazement, when I returned from dinner last evening,
thespian15 had driven up to Minneapolis from Stewartville to surprise me with a visit. I hadn't seen Jon in months and it was delightful to have him here. I almost ruined the surprise by having the sound on my phone turned off and missing his messages.
I've become close to a dozen people at Wyndris. Most of the people with whom I'm close are in their 80's and are vital, interesting folks. I never thought "community" was that important to me until now. I have to acknowledge it brings me great comfort to know if something happened to me, someone would come looking!
One thing that hasn't changed in the past year is how much I feel like a valued member of this community. I have a great deal of affection and respect for several of my neighbors; and as a result, I look for small ways to make their lives easier, to make them feel safer, especially during this pandemic. I've explained to many of them how unusual this is for me. When I've in lived in apartment buildings in the past, I've not even introduced myself to my neighbors, let alone gotten to know them.
Two things have changed me for good (You can teach an old dog new tricks): 1) Working with my autistic nephew from 2015-2017. 2) Adopting Georgie. I am a better human after these two events. Nothing makes me happier than showing people I've been listening to them and can do for them.
As a Good Neighbor, Here's my upcoming schedule:
Today through Saturday, I'm watering the plants for my neighbors Terri and Ken. A couple in their late 60's but with a much younger vibe, they're getting married on July 11th. Our Maj Jong group threw a small wedding shower for them earlier this week. Terri is the person who makes masks for everyone in the building.
On Monday, I'm taking my retired school teacher friend, Mary, to her colonoscopy in Plymouth. It's been postponed twice this year and the person who was going to drive her won't be back from the holiday weekend in time. I am happy to step in; I also help with her Norwich terrier, Mac, when Mary's under the weather. We share a passion for crime fiction.
A week from today, I'm driving my neighbor Geri to Rochester, MN for followup medical appointments at The Mayo Clinic. Geri's appointments begin at 9:15am. (Hint: thespian15, I wonder if we can rendezvous. Let me know.) I do Geri's grocery shopping for her from time to time ... Geri's a retired public health nurse and is suffering from extreme anxiety because of the pandemic.
UPDATE: To my amazement, when I returned from dinner last evening,
thespian15 had driven up to Minneapolis from Stewartville to surprise me with a visit. I hadn't seen Jon in months and it was delightful to have him here. I almost ruined the surprise by having the sound on my phone turned off and missing his messages. I've become close to a dozen people at Wyndris. Most of the people with whom I'm close are in their 80's and are vital, interesting folks. I never thought "community" was that important to me until now. I have to acknowledge it brings me great comfort to know if something happened to me, someone would come looking!
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no subject
Date: 2020-07-06 01:02 am (UTC)It's obvious you are a good person!
no subject
Date: 2020-07-07 01:30 pm (UTC)