Meals on Wheels of Fire
Today I gave my fourth Tour de Seniors of the month, doing a loop around town delivering meals on wheels.
The office obligation has become somewhat of a weekly highlight. Today I drew the "North" route, a quick and dirty lap around the old neighborhoods on Burritt and Carrington with a long dog leg out Highway 16 east.
Aside from the obvious reward of benevolent community service, there are plenty of advantages. I've found the experience to at least be an interesting way to orient myself in town not to mention a great way to know a few of our colorful elders (if only for a few brief moments).
No two lunch recipients are the same. There's the old man chain-smoking cigarettes who greets you with a "Time to eat, huh?" There's the guy waiting in a chair on his front lawn for the chow chariot to arrive. There's the woman too debilitated to make it to the front door but who still manages to stretch a smile. There's the guy who sits at his dining room table, waiting for his food to arrive with his place set and fork in hand.
There's lots of oxygen tanks and dark living rooms. But there's a lot of appreciative faces and thanks-yous as well. I look forward to front door dining duty. The pleasure is all mine.
The office obligation has become somewhat of a weekly highlight. Today I drew the "North" route, a quick and dirty lap around the old neighborhoods on Burritt and Carrington with a long dog leg out Highway 16 east.
Aside from the obvious reward of benevolent community service, there are plenty of advantages. I've found the experience to at least be an interesting way to orient myself in town not to mention a great way to know a few of our colorful elders (if only for a few brief moments).
No two lunch recipients are the same. There's the old man chain-smoking cigarettes who greets you with a "Time to eat, huh?" There's the guy waiting in a chair on his front lawn for the chow chariot to arrive. There's the woman too debilitated to make it to the front door but who still manages to stretch a smile. There's the guy who sits at his dining room table, waiting for his food to arrive with his place set and fork in hand.
There's lots of oxygen tanks and dark living rooms. But there's a lot of appreciative faces and thanks-yous as well. I look forward to front door dining duty. The pleasure is all mine.
posted by J.R. Logan | 12:09 PM
3 Comments:
J.R., you're right. Very fulfilling experience. Gives some perspective, too. These folks have seen it all, and yet all you feel in their presence is grace and composure.
I loved meals on wheels too. In fact, Sue was supposed to sign me up - I think I made her nervous when I said I could just leave my kids in the car:-)
Hell ya you make me nervous Shari! Next thing you know your kids will fire up the engine and drive to Mexico. Where's that gonna leave you then I ask you? I'll tell you where....um, not in Mexico with your kids, that's where!
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