It’s been 10 months since I started volunteering with Meals on Wheels (just 1 shift per week). My job is to deliver meals to people who can’t source food for themselves. Some clients are sick or disabled, but most of them are just extremely old. It’s not a glamorous job, but I make the most of it and collect funny stories along the way… Past stories here, here and here if you missed them 🙂
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– Last week I arrived at an old lady’s house with food. When I knocked on the door, I heard her yell from inside, “Aaaah, I’m naked!”. I yelled back telling her no worries, to take her time, I’ll just wait outside.
About 5 minutes passed, so I knocked again… She yelled again, “I’m naked!”. So I waited another few minutes, thinking she just needed more time do get dressed.
Another 5 minutes passed, so I knocked again. Once more she yelled “I’m naked!”. At that point I wasn’t sure what was going on, so I asked, “Well can you get dressed and come to the door? I have your food here!”.
She yelled back, “I’m naked! Just leave the food outside the door, I’ll get it later”. I guess she just wanted to stay naked for a while? 🤷♂️
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– One of my regular clients lives in an apartment building. I visit her each week. When I buzz her from the downstairs intercom, she likes to explain to me how the door works…
(answers intercom)… OL: Hello?
J: Hi it’s Joel from Meal on Wheels, can you buzz me in?
OL: Yes, I’m going to buzz you in now. When you hear the buzz, you can push the door open.
J: OK, good.
OL: It will start buzzing after I press the 9 button on my telephone. When you hear the buzz, push the door, ok?
J: Yep, I’m ready.
OL: Ok, I’m going to push 9 now. I’ll hold it down for 10 seconds. If you don’t open the door in time, it will lock you out again, so make sure to push the door when the sound buzzes.
J: OK, let’s do this.
OL: After you open the door, follow the hall down to the elevators. I will be waiting for you on the 2nd floor at my apartment. I’ll press 9 now, then meet you at my front door in a few minutes, OK?
Same routine. Every week. 🤦♂️
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– Last month a client wasn’t home when I arrived at their house. The protocol is to try calling their phone number, just to make sure they’re ok… So I pulled out my cell phone and called them.
Well, I should have blocked my caller ID. Because now they have my cell phone number, and they think I’m their new best friend. They’ve called me several times over the last month… Once to tell me they are going to the pharmacy, once they called to wish me happy mothers day (I’m not a mother), once to tell me they were going outside for a walk.
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Last one… For you Aussies on the list, check out the car I drove past a few weeks back… Not sure why someone would want that on their license plate!… 🙂
Have a great weekend, all!
