Identify what is most important )0( Eliminate everything else
The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. Dr. Paul Farmer
The suffering of others is not alleviated when no one knows about it.
There is no one right way to live. Daniel Quinn Ishmael
The only thing that you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right sort of people.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. Kurt Vonnegut

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

job

This afternoon I stopped at the shelter where I lived when I left that other life.  I was there for two of the months that I was in hiding. 

I tried to call earlier, to find out if the domestic violence support group was meeting tonight.  Yeah.  They installed a new phone system a few months back and it is a mess.  The messages are too long before options are given.  The options are confusing to me, a person who know practically everyone there, except for the new legal resource person.  I can only imagine what it must be like for someone with a more urgent need to contact them.

In defense of the crappy phone system and particularly the voice mail stuff, they do tell callers to immediately dial 911 or to call their crisis line.

Then, it gets weird.

So, after two separate calls (the last one was 4 minutes and 19 seconds), I could not get through, loaded up my now clean and delightful laundry, got some groceries, mailed my bills...yay...and swung by the place.

I wanted to just ask about the meeting tonight, but was hugged into the lobby and then the main office downstairs.  The director was just leaving, put down her stuff and gave me a hug, too.  She said she had to get going, and then asked if I wanted to work there, be an advocate.  It was first shift, long hours, hard work and hardly any pay. 

Huh? 

Ummmm.   Well...ummm.  And, she told me to think about it.  I continued into the inner office and we chatted, yes, there is a DV meeting and I shared what just happened. 

It seems to be cool with everyone, and whilst it will be difficult working around my work with my clients, it could be done.  The on-site advocate offered to give me some of her second shift hours, but I am not going to accept. 

The pay really is dismal.

Okay, what do you require for your pay scale?

Oh, as little as possible without anything illegal.

Wow.

I have some serious thinking to do.  With my certifications from last year, my experiences there, my continuing recovery and healing, and the supportive way that I have stayed in touch with everyone, this is a nearly perfect fit for me.  Maybe this is the reason that I have not been able to find a job related to my training from last year.

Thinking, thinking, thinking.

4 comments:

  1. I am sleeping on it for a few days. They want me five days each week and I am not willing to give up my other work, although I have not really discussed that with the director.

    They do not need an answer any time soon. That is good, because I would hate to pass up an opportunity to find a way to do both things. I also would hate to work six days each week; not sure how I would do that and stay sane.

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  2. I couldn't do that at my age, J. Hope you give yourself time to relax.

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  3. You would be so good at it though, your decision of course. :D xx

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