Oh the People I Meet

Oh the people i meet at the Harry Tompson Center make my life so much more entertaining!  First of all the New Orleans accent is ridiculous and the southern drawl makes me giggle inside.  Everyone talks out of the side of their mouth.  Its like they figure if they pronounce every syllable or every word it would be to much work and make them even more hot than they already are.  So i only catch every other syllable which makes fallowing what they are saying very hard.  I am also developing my own California drawl! It is going to be pretty funny when i come home for the first time and people start catching me saying words like 'ya'll' 'who dat' 'Na' 'Sir' 'Mam' and more that i don't even realize i am saying.

Oh the people i meet at the Harry Tompson Center are so unique.  You will be hearing all about the guests i meet for the rest of the year, so i will start now :)  Christopher is in his own world.  And not like he days dreams but i mean really in his own world.  He is constantly talking to himself in a very low deep voice.  When you ask him a question he will answer you and snap out of his world but as soon as you stop talking to him he goes right back into Christopher world.  When he in in the shower or brushing his teeth is when he is the loudest: yelling to himself in a sort of low voiced growl.  Every once in a while he will yell out loud! Everyone in the center will look at him for a moment then go back about their own business.

Gladys is a 37 year old woman who must ask for about 10 things a day: everything from plastic bags to shampoo and feminine products.  She used to be dating Mario but now is going with Nick.  Nick looks like he is about 18 but must be in his late 20's.

Horis sits next to me all day writting poetry and helping me clean the showers when it gets really busy.  He keeps me sain.  He has the most calming voice and knows how this place is run so if there is ever a question i have and cannot find Emily, Horis has my back.  THC would not run the same with out Horis and other guests like him, who have made their way to the top of everyone 'favorites' list.  Quinten is another favorite.  He has the biggest heart and the best sense of humor.  If you need a smile you go talk to him :)  He is also the mediator, between anyone getting heated or acting up.  And then there is Luther, the strong silent type who will quietly ask if everything is ok because he knows that sometimes people just need to be asked.  Ricky is the self proclamed janitor of the HTC and knows where all of the cleaning supplys are: he keeps the place looking good during the day.

William knows sign language becasue he is def.  He is sharp as a nail and knows what he wants even if he cannot hear you tell him 'no.'  Haha.  He writes a lot down to talk with people who cannot sign and he can read lips for the most part.  But he really likes to sign and he keeps me on my toes.  My signing from high school is coming back but he is having to re-teach me a lot.  Im loving it!

Because i was working the showers last week i was learning names really fast, which (as most of you know) is really difficult for me.  But since i was seeing the people, writting their names, and saying their names it was sticking!  By Friday i recognized a good 50% of the guests by face and at least 25% by name: big accomplishment for me. 

I meet new people every day.  Have different conversations everyday.  Learn about new lives every day.  And enjoy every minute of every day!

p.s. I am working on laundry this week.  Sister Mags is teaching Ellie and I the laundrey system.  Which is not my favorite so far.... Ill let you know what i think of it at the end of the week.