My last 'people job' of the day was a downgrade of service. The people were disconnecting their digital cable TV service but keeping their broadband internet. I needed to pick up their digital TV equipment and make a quick change on their line. The woman heard the 'back-up beeper' of my van as I parked out on the street. The door was open as I approached it. She smiled, I said, 'Ma'am, I am here for the cable.' She invited me in.
I could see the flat screen TV in the living room past the kitchen of the town home. I walked towards it as I said, 'Ma'am, I assume this is where the box is?' I stood in front of the TV and turned as I got no response. She said, 'Yes, and we don't walk on that rug.' I said, 'Oh, Ma'am, I am so sorry.' I quickly stepped off the rug. I also quickly thought, 'well if you don't walk on it then why is it on the floor?'
She immediately came over and flipped it over so there was no chance I would step on it. She wasn't 'mean' about it; she went on to say, 'We don't step on it not in shoes, anyway.' She was nice and we did talk as I went about what I had to do. I was curious but never asked about the 'sanctity' of the rug.
Before I arrived at the job where I stepped on the sacred rug, I stopped at a house while performing a 'disconnect-for-non-pay.' Procedure requires me to knock on the door and try to collect the money before I disconnect the service. I pulled in front of the ramshackle home and knockedon the door of what I thought to be an empty home. There was no car in the driveway.
I knocked and waited. Much to my surprise a gentleman in a wheelchair answered. He was an amputee. His left leg was removed below the knee. I didn't want to disconnect his cable on 'humanitarian grounds;' so I called the office to facilitate a resolution of his account balance so I wouldn't have to. After the matter was resolved I asked about the accident he mentioned that resulted in his amputation. He told me a very sad story.
He was an avid bicycle rider. This is an area that offers many opportunities for that. He was riding his bike and was struck by a vehicle on New Year's Day 2009. It was hit-and-run. He didn't remember the accident but said the bottom half of his leg got twisted so many times it 'came off.' He said he was conscious and said to the first woman that came to help him that it hurt a lot. He said he didn't understand why she was crying. He didn't know the bottom of his leg was gone. Ugh.
Amazingly, he laughed as he told me the next thing he said to her was, 'I think I want a beer; maybe two.' He was open about talking about his situation. He really seemed to have a good attitude about life. He knew I helped him out. He shook my hand when I left.
My first job of the morning may have been the most interesting. I was there to connect the people to the internet. I was greeted at the door by a nice young woman. Our interesting conversation began after she offered me something to drink soon after I arrived. I responded with my typical question in such situations; I asked, 'You're not from around here, are you?' She said, 'No.'
She went on to tell me she had been born into a Hutterite community in South Dakota. She asked if I was familiar with Hutterites and I told her I was not. She explained that it was a communal society originally from Germany whose people had largely resettled into the northern plains of the US and western Canada. I was fascinated. She was very nice and answered all of my many questions. It was very interesting to talk to her about her experience growing up in such a community and transitioning to life into our broader culture outside. It was funny as she took a phone call from her mother and I heard her speak switching back-and-forth between their German dialect and English.
As we conversed she also told me she spent a year in Germany as an 'au pair.' before she recently got married and settled here. That was interesting, too. Definitely one of those jobs where I learned things from someone else's experiences; shared some of my own, too.
I got home tonight and googled Hutterites. It's interesting to note that they are an Anabaptist Protestant sect somewhat related to the Amish and Mennonites we have around here. Hutterites, in contrast, do drive, have electricity and 'modern conveniences' but stay socially 'removed' from greater society in their colonies. From speaking with the young woman this morning they would appear to be much more open and friendly than the Germanic sects that settled here. Funny, as I made some reference to that to her and she agreed. It was very cool talking with her.
Just three glimpses from today's daily adventure.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Hope all's well with everyone.
Peace
1 comment:
Hi it's Lisa your niece. I would really like to talk to you:)
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