Stars on the Ceiling

[mrdreamjeans]

My visit at my sister's home is coming to a close. In a couple of hours she's driving me back to Brenham and I'm going to need a rest! I've played host to a personal Mission Organization program, organizing Colleen's office and her little desk in the kitchen. It may not sound like much work, but things have been piling up in stacks in both areas for three years. (At least that's what many of the "saved" materials indicate.)

I was a taskmaster with Sis ... (by her request, but with a bit of good-natured bitchin and moanin:) I sorted things into piles, then had her review the piles... Keep, Donate, Toss, Recycle, Long-Term Storage.... The shelves are now nice and orderly; her desk top has been reclaimed; everything is labeled, so that she can easily find anything she might be looking for. The closet was put back together and all of the stacked boxes of her son's medical and MHMR records have been moved from along the wall on the floor. Her carpet is visible. Yay!

I helped Colleen make some decorating decisions for the living room and new curtains and sofa pillows have been ordered. The living room still needs to be painted, but hey, small steps:) We also spent time reviewing files concerning the challenge to Ross' Level 9 designation. Colleen had to request the files through the Open Records Act. We visited a state agency and sat with supervision in a legal library and made comparisons. I typed up all of our research, a contact list and other materials.

It looks like Sis is headed to the land of litigation over the funding of her son's long-term care (He's been in a Group Home since the age of 11), something she's never done in his 24 years of life and isn't by nature prone to. Note to State agencies dealing with handicapped individuals...Don't stonewall! Don't lie! Do your damn work and read! Actually take the time to meet the client who's life decisions you are making (in terms of funding).

Tonight I sleep in my own bed, though I will miss sleeping in my niece's room. The ceiling hasn't been repainted in 14 years. It's still a child's room in some ways. When the lights are out at night, you can look up at the ceiling and there are dozens of twinkling stars back at you. The child in me still likes that. I'm never going to be too old to appreciate stars.