I had been having  a rough morning...so I pulled off from the shop to grab a cup of coffee...as I was leaving I saw an old friend...a client I worked around when I worked with mentally challenged adults...I stopped and looked at her and as she looked up at me (not knowing if she would or could remember me) I asked...Do You remember me? She smiled a near toothless smile and said softly Tiiiiim! Then she sprang up and gave me a warm hug but back straightening...I was glad to see her and she was well cared for....I was and am blessed. That work was not a career but a calling!

I had not seen her for I guess maybe 6 or seven years, and as I rode the escalator down to the bottom floor back to work, I felt my eyes welling up with gratitude to God to have made a difference in her life, and she in mine! I looked for my old blog posting of years ago, and here is the story of the previous time I saw her, and my insights....

The Human Touch - A Repost

This was an old blog posting of an encounter I had just before retiring from social work to pursue my art!

The Human Touch!

I had a lesson in humanity today. As I was going about my current job, in a public place, I heard a familiar voice call my name. Tiiiiiiiimmmmm! I had not heard that voice in years, but its familiarity was imbedded in my psyche. It was a client from a program I was employed with years back. I had worked with these very special people for many years. I stopped my brisk pace to see the old friend.

I remember first meeting her as I was on my first day at that job, and she came in my office area to empty the trash. Hi I’m Genn (Name Changed) who are you? I told her and introduced myself thus starting an attachment that has lasted some nearly twelve years. Many times when I showed up for work and when she arrived, she would come to the table I was sitting at and stand by me. Sometimes I was too preoccupied to give ear to her, but most times like a child she would hang there till she got and gave a hug. The human touch. I must admit those years were some of the toughest of my life, fraught with many life lesson mistakes. Those hugs sometimes brought me back down to earth, and I thought today how much we as humans yearn for that touch from those we love, and go without. How many times others have yearned for an affirming touch from us and we stayed self absorbed and missed the moment.

She was a rotund, pint sized woman with a young child’s mind and emotions. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and it was so big that her love and care for others would fill the room. She had this big toothy grin that mirrored the joy in her heart. Her laugh was a giggle of great glee. When she was down, her sadness could fill a room also. Though sometimes she could severely get on your nerves you could not help but love her. She would sometimes come to me and proudly say “ Tim I lost fifty pounds and I would look and see no change from before, but agreed none the less, much to her joy from approval . She having a young child’s mindset, was not unlike like a grown woman in wanting approval for weight loss.

We staffers were family, just as close or closer to her than her own family. She as the other clients did not realize it was a job that we were paid for. For me, and most of us it transcended the minimal pay we received. Then one day after many years working there I left to move on in life, leaving them physically but ever being with them in spirit so to say. I still manage to drop in and see those that I know there, to catch up on things (family you know). I guess it is sort of like a homecoming.

So here I am today seeing this old friend who immediately wanted a hug, much like a child that had been away for the day at school, missing their parents. My friend was now much more aged in a different program and less toothy in her smile, hugging me again, Again once more hugging me as I was turning to leave after we talked. I had a feeling it might be the last time I may see her. I looked over at her care givers who were smiling because she was being who she was, and thought what fine people for the work they do.

I write this tonight as a statement of my thankfulness for those years, and with the hope that those who may read it, be touched to reach out to touch those around them in a positive manner. Do not miss the moment! To Those who have family members in care programs, know that those who do the work, care far more than the minimal wages they are paid. They do that work out of love for those they are hired to serve!
Thanks for dropping by and letting me share!
Tim

Mood:  a-ok

I copped this one from FaceBook!

Mood:  special

Well, I'm back to work tomorrow God Willing, and this has been an interesting weekend which I thought I was gliding into it and it started off with a nice bombshell..:))

The rest of this weekend has really been spent recouping and soul searching...with the normal what the heck is going on and what am I here for? stuff...

Yet tonight as I checked in on Buster and carried his bed to the porch, he gave me that puppy dog look w/ tail wagging and I remembered how before my back surgery three years ago, I did not walk him much at all for a year prior to that....He got his exercise in the yard....

Temporary paralysis was setting in for me, at times alarming to say the least. I could not put in only a block or two walking at most and sometimes have to sit down until the numbness subsided. I was getting pretty despondent, and had to just about threaten my DR. (kidding) who finally ordered tests and referrals that backed up my claims...

Now it's about three miles a day combined and growing....

I thought about the times Buster drove me nuts, with me being in pain and could not run him down when he ran around the yard not wanting to come in...(there are stories to tell :))) yet surgery wise I am thankful. Even though I was not always the most level acting person during those times...now I am glad to have made it through...and thankful to God for His Mercy and healing.

I am thankful for the friends that stuck with me through this, and thankful for Buster for he truly is a wonderdog! :))) Good Night All...Good Night Moon! :D

Mood:  a-ok

I did this a few Years ago and updated this with some loose instrumental work I did a bit later! This guitar work as I remember it was played very impromtu, as I had restrung and tuned up a 12 string. I had not played a 12 in quite few years...10 or more! Anyway a 12 is a different dog than a 6 string so this BG Music is warts and all! Enjoy and God Bless!

Mood:  caffeinated

Street Light Epiphanies (Personal Poetry)

I remember the late night drives to the studio,

passing darkened stores all closed

past the homeless and their bottle, warming on the streets

hostess bars, lots jammed with cars in long rows,

the hookers leaning against the outside walls

waiting for their patrons to show,

though I never went in that direction

I often wondered about it...but will never know,

though I cast no stones as to their vocation,

in their darkness there is a lacking of the light,

and the need fulfilled is shallow...unreal,

whatever the want is for the creatures of the night,

there I would be passing seeing the lonely patrons

leaning talking, seeking to meet their need

a false feeling, a false kindness, a pretended love

that feeds their need to be,

I am a man such as they are,

and have that same need I would think,

I chose not their path but tried to understand,

for it is a love that's truly not real nor free,

for as a picture of itself is not of substance,

though it's subject is one of beauty that we see,

the picture is but only a represention, a glimpse,

a mere molecule of who it purports to be,

though it is a shot in the dark,

Vegas would give no odds,

that one might find there , some reality,

a possible right for the wrongs,

the sell is so strong,

it blinds the eyes to see,

I know some would go

just for companions,

and in their mind's eye,

look away from the dollars paid,

she is a willing ear, and a tender touch, a kind word,

all of that, a relief from the stresses of the day,

yet there I would drive

by the lampost lit side streets

it foddering the reason for my paints

knowing more.....yes, seeing

the understanding of my own loneliness,

bit still waiting on love that is real and free........

© Timothy Jon Terry

February 25th, 2009

12:42 am

Mood:  a-ok

Somedays take off like you are a railway mailbag...you are hooked into it and you hang on for the ride! T.J.Terry

This morning I slept later than usual, thus missing my morning walk with Buster...I was a bit hurried and made into work at opening (Usually I'm Early) 

I had this vision of the old Railway Mail Bags, and how they were set un a turnstile and hooked by the train as it went by. It was an old system of post that has been replaced with many other numerous ways of delivery..Not sure if it is still done in rural areas...

Yet today I felt like that bag, just hooked and hanging...going along for the ride...flapping in the wind!

And as was this morning I had a start-off snafu and figured it was all smooth the rest of the day..and it was pretty much so...

Times have changed, and though the technology levels are amazing and we can accomplish more..we take on more and rise to What Dr. Peter called the Peter Principle...Meaning one rises to their own level of incompetence...

On these mailbag days I think it is easy to feel You do not have a thumb on the pulse of things...It is a test of faith!

Yet as You press through in faith and not by sight You usually come out on the positive side of things...though somedays the ride is a little bit longer than You want to last...

I see people going through these things everyday. Businesses downsized workforces and peple overloaded with duties..and in a lot of cases most will be understanding to their plight because they are going through the same thing also!

I have a great boss who has the same wild sense of humor I have and that helps greatly...also on breaks I read a fellow writer's blogs of Her humor lightened me up also! 

So really no point to my meanderings other than that we be open minded to other's plights....and knowing that they like us are probably having a cruddy day also!

So on those days "Mailbag Days" Prayer helps and doing Your best to hold fast to what You need to do, trying to be a little light hearted, and having done Your best to let God care for the rest....

Blessings In Him, Brother Tim

Mood:  surprised

Amazing Data on Moses

Moses and the people were in the desert,

but what was he going to do with them?

They had to be fed,

and feeding 2 or 3 million people

requires a lot of food.

According to the Quartermaster General

in the Army, it is reported

that Moses would have to have had

1500 tons of food each day.

Do you know that to bring

that much food each day,

two freight trains, each at least a mile long, would be required!

Besides you must remember,

they were out in the desert,

so they would have to have firewood

to use in cooking the food.

This would take 4000 tons of wood

and a few more freight trains,

each a mile long, just for one day.

And just think,

they were forty years in transit.

And Oh yes! They would have to have water.

If they only had enough to drink

and wash a few dishes,

it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day

and a freight train with tank cars,

1800 miles long, just to bring water!

And then another thing!

They had to get across the Red Sea at night.

Now, if they went on a narrow path,

double file, the line would be 800 miles long

and would require 35 days and nights

to get through. So there had to be a space in the Red Sea,

3 miles wide so that they could walk

5000 abreast to get over in one night.

But then, there is another problem...

each time they camped at the end of the day,

a campground two-thirds the size

of the state of Rhode Island was required,

or a total of 750 square miles long.

Think of it! This much space for camping.

Do you think Moses figured all this out

before he left Egypt?  I think not!

You see, Moses believed in God.

God took care of these things for him.

Now do you think God

has any problem

taking care of all your needs?

Our God is an Awesome God!!!

So when the road

you're traveling on

seems difficult at best,

just remember,

keep on praying,

and God will do the rest.

A mahalos for My Hanai Dad for sending me this in an email today! Love You Dad!