tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389455469049160162024-03-05T02:00:27.539-08:00Mike's Adventures in the SouthMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-66649856986903860712011-05-04T08:27:00.000-07:002011-05-04T08:44:49.576-07:00A long overdue update...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I realized this morning that I haven't updated my blog in a while, and figured that there's no time like the present. Here's a picture from the SCAD Sidewalk Art Festival in Forsyth Park this past weekend. Pretty much every bit of sidewalk had some type of art on it, which was pretty cool. This is one of the neatest ones. I'm not sure if it comes through for you in the picture, but in person the image looked 3-D.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08mu_tfcV524gYWnCCCbNW4u4l2SAzM_3ByaITIztSeCxV85Au2lm15utPA75KCqTW9sG9eaYYgJ8K827D4_AO6reN7rG4dQLHVeJCcxhB_EEB5KVVMcljKq7S2U767M2sa5xkKCp3gY/s1600/sidewalk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08mu_tfcV524gYWnCCCbNW4u4l2SAzM_3ByaITIztSeCxV85Au2lm15utPA75KCqTW9sG9eaYYgJ8K827D4_AO6reN7rG4dQLHVeJCcxhB_EEB5KVVMcljKq7S2U767M2sa5xkKCp3gY/s320/sidewalk.JPG" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>So much has happened - some things are coming together for the people I'm serving, my favorite soccer team (Chelsea) has had a meteoric climb to 2nd place in the English Premier League and is within striking distance of 1st, I turned 23, the Cleveland Indians are in 1st place, and Osama bin Laden was killed.<br />
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So first things first - work has proved productive recently. One of my clients, a 22 year old from way out in rural Georgia, is matched up with his local YMCA. Through a series of phonecalls and meetings, I was able to find the director at the Y who was extremely receptive to the idea and willing to help make it happen. Once the obligatory background check stuff is complete, my client will be able to get out of his house and be around people (which he loves), while doing some light maintenance work alongside the Y's handyman. What I really like about this Y in particular, is that most of the employees have been there for years and they are kind of like a big family. The director said they know eachothers' families and they'll frequently get together for picnics and other activities. She said they would love to include my client in all of this, which I think is absolutely wonderful. <br />
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I've also been working on getting some SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) students in to the Day Center here at the Georgia Infirmary and it is also coming together nicely. Two Design Management grad students are coming in to have a session on facilitating creative thinking with some of our members. Their goal is to help members make some mental connections with memories and feelings, leading to greater creativity in conversation, art, or life in general. I don't really get it, but they seem pretty bright, so I'll let them do their thing and see how it goes. <br />
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Now as for soccer! (non-fans may want to skip this paragraph) If you didn't already know, I did the stereotypical american study abroad student thing and latched on to a European Football (soccer) Club. I picked up the kit (jersey + shorts), the lingo, and a passion for the sport. Unlike most, I would presume, I did not let go of my connection once I returned to the states, and I continue to cheer for my club. Now, I was already interested in the game, as I played when I was young and got really into the 2006 World Cup, but being in London and around the coverage every day just built up until I was a big fan. Early on in my time in London, I realized I needed a team to cheer for. Manchester United was out from the start because they are evil, and pretty much any American I had met that had a remote interest in soccer cheered for them. On top of that, I wanted to pick a team from London. My choices narrowed to Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham. Before I had really decided, I had a chance to meet some extended family that lived in London when I went to their home for a Sunday lunch. I met my little cousin Edward, who was 7 at the time, and the perfectly proper English boy. He raved about Chelsea and how great they were: The captain, JT (John Terry), was an immovable object on defense, and his favorite player, Nicholas Anelka, was an unstoppable force at striker. His enthusiam fed mine, and before lunch was over, I was a Chelsea fan. It was the perfect connection I needed to take an interest in a club, and it was even better that it was a family connection. Anyway - I fed my cravings for sports with soccer and watched every game I could in a neighborhood pub. I even went to a match at Chelsea's home field - Stamford Bridge. It was a somewhat bland scoreless draw against Everton, but it was an evening I won't soon forget. Fast forward through the painful (and poorly officiated) Champions League exit that year against Barcelona and last years' double winners of the Premier League and the FA Cup, and Chelsea found themselves hitting historic lows this season by plummeting down the standings. Starting in February, though, the team starting clicking and ripped off a string of victories to make them the hottest team in the league and skyrocketed up to second place! Now, this coming Sunday, Chelsea play first-place Manchester United and a win would allow them to leap frog United into first! Needless to say, it a huge match. Now that you're all caught up on English soccer...My baseball team, the Cleveland Indians, have come out of nowhere this season to first place in the division and the best record in baseball. Crazy...<br />
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I am officially an old man. At least after my recent birthday, I feel like it. For some reason, 23 sounds so much older than 22, and according to a 90's song by Blink-182, nobody likes me. For anyone that is actually old - like 50 or something (just kidding mom and dad) - they're probably laughing at me. But hey, let me have my moment. Anyway, I did have a wonderful birthday which included relaxing on the beach and enjoying some delicious pizza from my favorite restaurant in Savannah (Vinnie's). My mother also sent me a Mrs. Field's Cookie Cake (jackpot!). This was on top of the wonderful time I had at home with my family for Easter, when my grandmother made a fantastically delicious Walnut Cake for me! All in all it was great, and the only thing missing were my friends who I spent my last four years with, and are now scattered across the country. <br />
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Concerning my final topic, Osama bin Laden is dead. I'm sure you've all heard the same reports I have about the Navy SEALs that went into Pakistan and took him out. I'm not sure of how I feel about the reaction to his death. I'm not going to miss the guy, but it strikes me as a little odd that there was such an unbridled celebration. I get the cheers of "USA" at the Phillies game; I get the statements from the firefighters of FDNY and those who lost family and friends on 9/11. What I don't quite get are the impromptu celebrations on college campuses and cities across the country with flags waving and drunk kids singing. These things are not without precedent. Just think of the Wizard of Oz and the cheers of "Ding dong, the witch is dead!" But that's not what first came to mind when I saw the pictures from the celebrations. I can't have been the only one reminded of images of people in parts of the world singing and burning those same American flags, while celebrating the destruction of the World Trade Center. The reactions from many Americans that I saw on the news just seemed too close to those of the people we have condemned as evil, at least too close for my own comfort. <br />
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On the other hand, I suppose you could view the reactions as less of a celebration of a man's death, and more of a celebration of the lives which he can no longer threaten. I remember how I felt watching the towers fall in my 8th grade classroom. I was scared, angry and hurt, and I was far away from any real danger. Perhaps for some who have felt the effects of his hate first hand, bin Laden's death provided that moment when they can breathe easily again. They have cause to celebrate a return to living life with less fear. I would argue that's what the people of Oz were really celebrating when they sang songs about the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. They were celebrating an end of fear and terror, and the beginning of a return to normalcy. In this war on terror, true victories seem hard to come by, and perhaps this event gave hope to the American public that terrorism can be defeated. In practice, the true cause of such celebrations seem to be a fine distinction on a personal level, which may be why recent images can conjure memories of both a scene from the Wizard of Oz and people celebrating an act of unprokoved evil. I can say that these recent events gave me pause and caused me to reflect on what I really think, and I invite you to do the same.<br />
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Thanks for reading, and God bless!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-49198318745197473182011-03-22T08:26:00.000-07:002011-03-22T08:26:01.834-07:00Federal Budget and the AmeriCorps Education AwardLast week, I submitted a short writing on the importance of the AmeriCorps Education Award for Mercy Volunteer Corps that was published on the Sisters of Mercy Blog. The AmeriCorps program is at risk of losing its federal funding.<br />
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If you are interested, you can read the post here: <br />
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<a href="http://sistersofmercy.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3131&Itemid=331">http://sistersofmercy.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3131&Itemid=331</a><br />
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Your choice of bonus points, kudos, a medal, a cookie, or a gold star if you find the typo. For the record, I'd take the cookie.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-28722343832998065252011-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:002011-03-07T08:48:50.587-08:00Spring CleaningThis past Saturday, I went with a group of hospital employees way out into the country to help a man clean up his house. He lived with his two brothers who have recently been moved to a nursing home, which contacted SOURCE to help out with this third brother. After an assessment, it was decided that things needed to be a little more tidy to be able to send in an aide to help this man.<br />
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Now, he's not a hoarder, but you couldn't tell by looking at his house. It was an old farm house, with a porch that wrapped around half of it and built up on pegs to keep it off the ground. The porch, which one of my legs fell through at one point (don't worry mom, I'm fine), was filled with random crap - chairs, wood, tires, heating units, tools, buckets - you name it, and it covered the whole porch. The yard was no better - more tires, old mattresses, doors, lawn mowers, and on and on. Now, like I said, this man was not a hoarder - he did not have an illogical attachment to these items. It simply didn't occur to him that he should throw things away, that he should clean up. He didn't know any better. You really felt for the guy. He was probably in his late 60's, the top of his head came up to my shoulder (and I'm not exactly Yao Ming), and he had on a pair of bright blue overalls and a trucker cap. He was a super nice old man, but a simpler sort of man, so that you might understand how his home became the way it did. <br />
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We spent a few hours piling up all the things from the yard and porch, including a rotting mattress, a wooden chair that disintegrated when I tried to pick it up, a wasp infested armchair, a blanket which was home to what was identified as a brown recluse - one of the deadliest spiders in the world, a pile of scrap wood overrun with lizards, and a wide array of other random things. There was supposed to be a dumpster at the house to throw everything in, but the company never dropped it off. So I think they were planning on getting a burn permit to just torch everything, but I won't be there for that. One really cool thing I did find were cotton weights, which were attached to a scale and weighed against cotton shipments many years ago. The whole place had a distinct smell which was none too pleasant. <br />
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Then, as things were wrapping up outside - we moved to the inside. "Oh goodness gracious..." was all that was going through my head when I walked in. The first thing that hit me was how dark it was. It was the middle of the day and it was unbelievably dark in there. The whole place was lit by a couple of bare light bulbs. There weren't many windows, and the ones that were there were covered up. I was thankful that I couldn't see any better because what I could see wasn't good. Stacks of papers, boxes, clothes, and everything covered with a layer of filth. Mouse droppings lay along the walls. It smelled impossibly wrong. The unmistakable scent of stale urine. I nervously tapped my gloved hands on the sides of my jeans, and I fought the urge to run back outside. I was immediately thankful to know that I would be leaving soon and going back to a nice, clean, non-infested house, but I became very distraught to think that this man lived here. It was his home. Yes, he could have kept it nicer, but a lot of things were out of his control, including his own mental capacity that should have told him that this wasn't healthy. I knew that I had volunteered to help this man do what he could not, and that helped me to do things I never thought I would be able to do. I walked toward the back of the house, down a dark, bare plywood hallway to a room that I quickly discovered was the source of the smell. This was one of the brothers rooms before he went to the nursing home. He stayed in this bed, sitting in a pool of his own urine for days at a time. His bed sat as it was since he left in December. It was our job to get this nastyness out of the house. We brought in a large roll of extra heavy duty trash bags, and one by one, David - who I have an immense amount of respect for - picked up the blankets and placed them into the trash bag I was holding. We all tried not to breathe. One bag filled. Two bags filled. Three bags... There were an impossible amount of blankets on this bed. The old man explained that everytime his brother said he was cold, he threw another blanket over him - they didn't have heat. Now the mattress. It sat there half rotted. I wished I had 80 pairs of gloves on. Out it went. Then the box spring. It smelled like death. Not done yet. We went through boxes that had been sitting long enough for their contents to rot away. Jackets that fell apart when you took them off the hook. I felt like I was in a movie - a part of a scene that would make me squirm if I were watching it from my living room couch. When we had finally finished, I walked outside into the glorious sunlight and the pristine fresh air, thanking God that I didn't have to go back in. The old man thanked us profusely and I watched him sit up on his porch, feeling that no one should have to live in a place like that. It didn't feel like I was in America. It felt like a third world country.<br />
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We drove to a nearby church to wash up. I washed my hands. I washed them again. I scrubbed them with disinfectant wipes. I lathered them up with hand sanitizer. I still didn't feel quite right. The church was serving us lunch. I didn't feel like eating. In order to not appear rude, I ate some BBQ pork that was prepared for us - one of my favorite southern meals. It was not satisfying to me in the least. I sat mostly quiet for the long ride home in the 15 passenger van. When we got back to the hospital parking lot we left from, I hopped in my car and drove home. I walked to my room and straight to the shower. My community asked how it went, and I didn't know where to start. My immediate reaction was to tell them, "Be glad you didn't go." But, I think in some way, I am glad I did go. I was exposed to a situation I couldn't have imagined, disturbing on many levels - yet it was someone's home. Eye-opening? Very. Sights and smells that I will never forget. I don't have any pictures to share of Saturday's adventure, and you're probably thankful for it. <br />
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I spent most of Sunday cleaning my own room and bathroom. Just suffice it to say I was inspired to clean just about everything I owned. My sheets, clothes, towels, blankets and anything else I could find. I opened the blinds and threw open the windows. I couldn't get enough sunlight and fresh air. <br />
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A year ago, I was on spring break in Puerto Rico directing retreats, something I never imagined I'd be doing, especially at no cost to me - thanks ND. (Shout out to Javier, Laura, Molly, Meg, Maeve, Lee, Ryan, Santi, and Brian). The year before that at the same time, I was traveling through Rome, Munich and Prague with one of the best people I have ever known - also something I never imagined I'd be doing (shout out to Dan with an assist to my Aunt Margaret!). Chalk up this weekends experience to the "Something Mike Never Imagined He'd Be Doing" column (shout out to old man in blue overalls). I wonder what I'll have managed to get myself into a year from now!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-10917481570190385282011-02-28T08:35:00.000-08:002011-02-28T08:35:34.643-08:00Smiles and SunshineI'm learning a lot. There aren't any assigned readings or papers (thank heavens), but I'm learning a lot. I'm learning how to forget my own worries and reservations in order to be of a greater use to those around me. I'm not entirely comfortable cold calling (or emailing) people I don't know and asking for things - time, donations, or whatever else it might be - but I see the need of those people I've been working with in SOURCE and it makes me ok with it. It also encourages me when I see the overwhelming generosity of people again and again in response.<br />
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I recently met a new client, who has a great interest in art. Her art is her passion and keeps her engaged in life. You could just tell that art is what she thinks about everyday, and what she loves. She has aspirations of being able to display and sell her artwork, but she lacks the financial means and connections. It became my job to get her art materials to replenish her very low supply. I sent out a wanted ad on craigslist to see if anyone could donate things, and also contacted professors at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) to see if they could help. The response I got was amazing. People from SCAD, people around town just giving what they had. I was literally running around all over town, trying to meet everyone who wanted to donate things. A brief overview of the items that were collected free of charge for this woman in less than a week: An easel, 4 stretched cavases, about 40 high quality paintbrushes, a large drawing board, high quality charcoal sketch paper, charcoal pencils, full set of acrylic paints, two sets of oil paints, apron, plain sketch paper, and palettes. I was overwhelmed.<br />
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The best part was taking the materials out to the woman who needed them. Now this woman has a very flat affect and doesn't really show much emotion, but when she saw all of her materials she started laughing and smiling, wringing my hand and saying this was more than she ever expected. Her eyes were moving over all the materials, and you could see her imaging all the art she could do with them. She told me with a big smile that I had outdone myself, and I told her to give me a call when I could come back to see some of her work. Seeing the joy on her face will make anyone with half a heart smile ear to ear on the walk back to the car. Keeping that in the back of my mind will make it so much easier the next time I have to step outside my comfort zone to help someone.<br />
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In other news, it was 84 degrees yesterday. I went to the beach and got sunburned. That's a first for me in February. I sincerely apologize to all those still dealing with snow. That reminds me of a story. I was at the breakfast table with a couple of my community members and I said, "You know, I don't understand why there's such a large population in the northern part of the country and not so much in the south - the weather is so much nicer down here." One of them replied, "It's probably because a lot of the people already in the south are so different, and a little crazy." I came back with, "But if enough northerners came down, we could supress..." I stopped halfway through the last word. "Oh I guess, that kinda happened once and didn't turn out the greatest for anyone involved." So after realizing that I didn't want to advocate the start of a second civil war, I abandoned my idea that all the northerners should move to the better climate in the south.<br />
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Well, that's enough musings for one day. Cheers, and God bless!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-51234504894284394162011-02-14T09:20:00.000-08:002011-02-14T09:20:37.776-08:00Charleston and Fort SumterHappy Valentine's Day! I was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a cupcake this morning at work. That's a great way to start a day. I think it's impossible to be grouchy or irritable when eating a cupcake at 9 AM. There's an idea to create world peace. Let's get Pillsbury and Betty Crocker on board and run with it. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q7WUAUTFikFlPSm1djH6jbrbwZOKRfhSRJ2qZog5cdh4M3ei6K5jgXJ95CGTBEcP6tHooGZmb2RbGZRENGDyjGd9nCheQD4V58YqQKsZZ-PVe02rBo9KNGuWa4YBOHr4IhOiy8-n_U0/s1600/sumter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q7WUAUTFikFlPSm1djH6jbrbwZOKRfhSRJ2qZog5cdh4M3ei6K5jgXJ95CGTBEcP6tHooGZmb2RbGZRENGDyjGd9nCheQD4V58YqQKsZZ-PVe02rBo9KNGuWa4YBOHr4IhOiy8-n_U0/s320/sumter.JPG" width="320" /></a>Yesterday, my fellow mercy volunteers and I took a trip up to Charleston. It was a great day to be out and about with the beautiful weather. The highlight of the trip for me was visiting Fort Sumter - where the first shots of the Civil War, excuse me, the War Between the States as it's referred to here, were fired. After getting past the weird sense of pride Charleston still has for starting the secession, I really enjoyed the visit. They take you out on a ferry to the fort - as it is it's own man-made island of granite on top of a submerged sand bar. It really is a marvel that they built such a fort in the early to mid 1800s. It was just cool. Unfortunately, they only give you an hour before your ferry leaves - and ours was the last of the day. I could have easily spent 3 hours. I love unique history like that of Fort Sumter. Trying to put myself in the shoes of the Union garrison that briefly held the fort in 1861 and seeing that first cannon shot exploding overhead was moving. Imagine being there when everyone realized, "Oh crap. Not only is our country, which is not very old, no longer unified, we're at war." I've never felt uncertainty about the future to that degree; I've never been directly affected by any conflict. I've never had to risk my life to fight for something I believed in. I can't imagine an all-out war on American soil. Reliving the events that tore our country apart, and seeing how it is now just gets you thinking. Anyway, enough history geek ramblings. Not hard to imagine that I was one of those kids that watched the History Channel everyday after school. By the way - they've ruined the History Channel with all the stupid reality shows like ice road truckers and all that other random programming. Sorry if I've offended any rabid ice road truckers fans, but come on.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Another thing I realized in Charleston is how crazily similar it is to Savannah. Churches have the same names, candy kitchens with free praline samples, container ships - to name a few similarites. However, the downtown seems quieter and more intriguing to me - probably because I haven't spent the last 6 months there as I have in Savannh. I do think that Savannah is far prettier and has so much more green space. While both cities have palm trees and oaks - Charleston seems to have favored the former and Savannah the latter. I'm a bigger fan of the oak / spanish moss combo, but maybe that's just me. It was a very fun trip, and I enjoyed getting out of town for a little while. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This should be a good week at work, with some plans possibly coming together for some people in SOURCE.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hope everyone is doing well. Best wishes from Georgia!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-42843416621887443432011-01-26T13:44:00.000-08:002011-01-26T13:44:06.078-08:00A request...If you think of it, I ask for your prayers for a specific intention. One of the people I serve, whom I visit regularly, is not doing well. His health has deteriorated significantly, and at 24, he is battling serious health issues in addition to the cerebral palsy he has always had. My most recent visit with him was not in his home, but in the hospital. It was clear that he was in pain.<br />
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If you find the time, please say a prayer for him, that the pain will cease and that, God willing, he can overcome these health issues. <br />
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Thank you.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-30960613022086165262011-01-14T08:28:00.000-08:002011-01-14T08:28:17.479-08:00It has all been worth itToday, one of my people came in to tell me she had passed her certification test and now had a steady, good paying job. The joy on her face was unbelievable. I was so happy for her, and I can say with confidence that this whole experience, in all its challenges and surprises has been worth it, if for no other reason than this woman's progress.<br />
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This woman has improved so much since I met her in August. She is a stroke victim, who could no longer work because of her limitations with speech, memory and mobility. When I met her she was very dependent on her walker, had trouble with her memory and making words come out. I've been helping her chronicle her life story, and each time I met with her, her memory was more complete and she could move around a little better. Now, she is able to move around without the aid of her walker. Her memory is stellar. It's unbelievable how much she has improved.<br />
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I was lucky enough to be able to help this woman. I listened to her stories and recorded them, I helped her apply for the job, helped her with preparation for the certification test and helped her celebrate success with a big hug this morning. She knows that once she starts earning income, her benefits will decrease, but that seemed insignificant to her. Something she said to me stuck out, "I have to take this chance to start my life over. I don't want to be on benefits anymore. I don't want to live in a personal care home anymore." I did help this woman all I could, but make no mistake, she is where she is today because of her attitude and her perseverance. She has been through so many hard times, any one of which are too much for me to even imagine. Here she is, making that next step all her own. I am very proud to have worked alongside this woman, and thankful for the reassurance she has given me that it all has been worth it.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-76501497899087571062010-11-14T14:35:00.001-08:002010-11-14T14:35:37.324-08:00Extreme Home MakeoverHey everyone! I realize that I haven't put anything up here in a month - I'm sorry! By the time I get home and dinner's done I usually like to just relax and read. This past weekend was our MVC retreat, so I couldn't write then. I have been very busy, as well. Still, not writing anything for a month isn't cool and I'll try to be better about it!<br />
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So, the title of my post is extreme home makeover. If you're not familiar with the TV show, a team picks a family who is in need of a new house, sends the family on vacation for a week and by the time they get back, their new house is ready. It's a pretty neat show and makes you feel good watching people help other people in need. Anyway, the show is here in Savannah this week. More specifically the show is on our block this week! It's crazy. Our street is closed and there are trailers and construction equipment, generators and everything else you need to build a house in less than 7 days. They are working literally around the clock but have been surprisingly quiet so far. They didn't wake me up last night. But there are a ton of people running around and they are making progress, they started on friday night and the old house is now gone, the new foundation is poured and they are putting up the new walls! Tonight they are hosting a block party for all of the neighbors - because we have to put up with them all week. To be honest though, it hasn't been too much of an inconvenience and it's for a great cause so I don't mind at all. I saw Ty Pennington today, the host of the show, like right next to our house.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRanuPF-f6B-IV0wRUtAuDIznE-uiRv0Q8ZUt6E2tyUefxS1fLOr7Yp1bxo8_JRTrsRBvD69reaZlNam-8WlLlFSs492L6-f7hCMX9PS3SpeXEC-dJVqf6pfGlQs7mnonBgnqnRsYAWA/s1600/bus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRanuPF-f6B-IV0wRUtAuDIznE-uiRv0Q8ZUt6E2tyUefxS1fLOr7Yp1bxo8_JRTrsRBvD69reaZlNam-8WlLlFSs492L6-f7hCMX9PS3SpeXEC-dJVqf6pfGlQs7mnonBgnqnRsYAWA/s320/bus.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It's something pretty cool and exciting for the week. We've been strolling down to the end of the street to see the progress on the new house from time to time, and we are going to volunteer ourselves to help out during the week.<br />
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In other news, GO IRISH!!!! That was so much fun to watch us put a whooping on Utah! I was not expecting that in my wildest dreams. We played well, and Kelly made some great adjustments from past games. We controlled the line of scrimmage and actually ran the ball. Our defense was stellar and our special teams fantastic. Very encouraging. I am so happy for the current students at ND, they have been through a lot, especially the seniors. At least my class had 2006 to enjoy. The current seniors deserved this game and rightly celebrated on the field afterwards. From here, if we can have a better showing against the option the second time around and beat Army, we become bowl eligible. After Army is the trip to USC, and a win against those bums is long overdue. Hopefully we can finish strong and make it to a bowl, we need the extra practice!<br />
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Until next time (which hopefully will not be a month from now), best wishes from Savannah!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-49264805905695237062010-10-10T07:04:00.000-07:002010-10-10T07:04:21.632-07:00Hey Y'allI hear hey y'all on a daily basis. I only use it if it slips out, and then I feel a little guilty about it, like I've done something I know I shouldn't have. Some other gems: "I might could go to the store today." "Mmmhmmm" "I'm fixin' to leave." The proper term for any male is "bo". "You want some tea?" ~ not meaning, "would you like a hot cup of tea from a teapot", but rather "would you like a glass of cold tea with 3X the sugar of pop" I've accepted a few times and it was so sweet it gave me heartburn. I didn't know that was possible.<br />
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I had a "you know you're in Georgia when..." moment this week. I was out on a visit to see one of my guys that lives in a trailer set back off the road a ways. We were outside with his family playing baseball, when we hear this rumbling noise slowly getting louder and louder. I was puzzled until I saw an old man driving a huge backhoe come out from behind some trees. He pulled right up into the yard, turned off the engine and yelled, "whatchy'all doin' makin' all this here racket?!" Referring to us playing baseball, while his backhoe was causing the ground to rumble mere seconds ago. I have no idea who this man was. He started up his backhoe and drove away. He wasn't doing any work with it, the backhoe was simply his mode of transportation for the afternoon.<br />
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Work has been a whirlwind the past week or so, lots going on. I'm spending more and more time with my deaf clients, now that I've progressed somewhat with my sign language. I spent all morning with one woman, and I learned so much about her. She was so open and willing to share, once the communication barrier was gone. I learned all about her family, her troubles with paying her bills and her power being shut off. How she has no food. How she saw horrible, horrible things growing up. I can't even imagine... Starting Monday, I'm going to be helping her learn how to use public transportation so that she can do more on her own.<br />
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I also went to see my other deaf client this week. I met him at the Library in a small town outside of Savannah. We walked down the street to Burger King to get him some lunch, and while we were sitting there his mother stopped in to check on us while she was out running errands around town. Now, she had told me before about a deaf couple that lived in their county (there aren't many deaf people total in the area) who used to help her son, and teach him a lot. They fell out of contact a few years ago and she really wanted to reestablish a connection with them, but didn't know how to reach them. Guess who walked into Burger King, a few minutes after my clients mom? Yep. It had to be the work of God. Everything came together perfectly. I was there getting my client out and around town more, rather than sitting at home. His mother just happened to stop by, and the deaf couple just happened to go to Burger King at the same time. Without his mother there, I wouldn't have been able to communicate with them nearly as well - my signing is not great. As it happened, they exchanged contact information and said that the young man I am helping can come over to visit them anytime. They would be thrilled to help him with communicating and giving him some people to relate to. It was so cool to watch all of this come together. The mom was so visibly happy, and the deaf couple were eager to help in any way they could.<br />
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I also starting working on a life story project with a woman at the day center. She had a stroke many years ago, and has a limited vocabulary. She can think of everything she wants to say, but just can't get it out. But she will be the first to tell you, "Before, I couldn't talk! God is good, all the time!" I had to be patient while asking her questions about her life experiences. Sometimes she couldn't form any answers, and sometimes I had to do some detective work to figure out what she was trying to say. I realized though, that even if she couldn't verbalize things, I could see the memories coming back to her and making her smile. That was more important than me being able to write something down. Having said that, looking over what I came away with, I was taken aback by how much I learned about a woman who can only use a handful of phrases. I talked to Jenny (my boss) about it, and how a little patience can go a long way. She told me that one of the people in SOURCE was very skeptical about what I would be able to learn about this woman, because her speaking was so limited. Jenny responded that she'd seen me with deaf people and people who can verbalize less than this woman, and that she had confidence that I would come away with more information about this woman's life than one might think probable. It was awesome to hear these words from Jenny, that she had that confidence in me. More than anything though, I learned a lot about "being present" and taking the time to really get to know someone, even if it might appear difficult on the surface.<br />
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On a final note, way to go Irish!! We beat Pitt yesterday. ND now has a winning streak, and a favorable schedule over the next few games. Hopefully, we can make some good things happen!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-13501845276423036722010-10-04T19:22:00.000-07:002010-10-04T19:22:41.065-07:00Something to think about...I am working on a project with a few people at the adult day center at the Georgia Infirmary where I work. It's called the life story project, where I put together a ton of questions - 140 or so - to ask people and take notes on what they say. The result, with ample room to explore tangents and longer stories, is a record of their life written down for them to reflect on and pass down to family members. Today, I was looking for someone who might be interested in doing such a project. Some of the staff recommended a man, so I went to find him. He sat and listened to me as I explained the project and I asked him if he was interested in it. He looked up at me and said quietly, "No, my life was too much to handle." That's it, he didn't want to remember or reflect. I could see pain in his eyes. I uncomfortably tried to change the subject and talked to him for a little while. I didn't want to leave him on that note, to stir up memories he would rather forget and walk away. He did tell me that he really liked coming to the day center, that he liked the people here.<br />
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When I did leave I went up to my desk and sat there, while what I just experienced sank in. It hit me incredibly hard, for some reason, to have this man tell me he didn't even want to think about his past, any of it, because it was too painful. It was looking into his eyes, which have experienced so much and spoke volumes with one look. I had given some thought about the past being a sensitive issue for some people, and tried to categorize subjects I should ease into or avoid altogether. I didn't think of the possibility that a man would want to recall nothing of his life. Never before did I realize how blessed I am to simply have fond memories and look back on events, people and places with a smile. It has really caused me to reflect on my life, and appreciate what I have. With one sentence, this man put so much into perspective for me.<br />
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To all those who have been a part of my life, thank you for making me feel so blessed.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-14503641280620576772010-09-22T19:07:00.000-07:002010-09-22T19:07:04.882-07:00For the rowers keep on rowing / And they're certainly not showing / Any signs that they are slowing!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><img src="http://calitreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/willy-wonka-in-chocolate-factory.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Yes, my title is a line from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the good one, not the creepy Johnny Depp one). And no, it's not completely random. </span></span>The time seems to be flying by faster and faster, and looking ahead, it seems that things will only continue to speed up. </div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">There, now I feel like I've said something substantial and symbolic. Although I've probably ruined it by directly stating it. My creative side is a work in progress.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">So what have I been keeping busy with? The strange thing is I haven't felt overly busy, and that I feel I can take on more responsibility. I'm working on ways to do that now and somethings are coming together. I met a new SOURCE member out at the Library today to help him sign up for his first library card (he's 21) and check out his first books. He picked out two NASCAR books. He loves racing and his favorite driver is Jimmie Johnson. This young man is also deaf. Luckily my sign language is progressing and I'm able to communicate with him on a basic level. I'm realizing he is far more intelligent than my first impression of him before I knew sign language. This reaffirms the lessons I've learned so far that, in most cases, people can understand far more than most would give them credit for, simply because they can't express themselves as readily as we are used to. This young man is a joy to be around. He is so polite, patient, and happy that it makes my job really easy. We spent quite a while on the american sign language website and he helped teach me more signs. He seemed to enjoy it the most when I messed up. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I got a call today from one of our case managers who asked me if I was willing to take on another assignment. She went on to explain that one of the guys in the day center, in his 20s, really needs to exercise more and lose some weight. However, he refuses to do anything that is structured as exercise. She wanted to know if I could scrape together the time and willpower to play the Wii with him for an hour in the afternoon a couple of times a week. After much deliberation and arm twisting, I finally agreed. :-) I know the young man already and he has a big personality and is a lot of fun, so I'm sure there are good times ahead with this one.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">One of the most memorable moments of my time here so far happened last Thursday. I was visiting my 14 year old with cerebral palsy, and we were having our "band practice" just before it was time for me to leave. As I stood up to go, he asked me if he could say a prayer real quick. So he, his aide, and I joined hands and bowed our heads. I can't remember his exact words, but this is pretty close - <i>Dear Lord, I know that sometime soon I'm going to be coming to you. Then, we will walk together down streets of gold</i>. - He then went on to pray for my safe journey home and our health. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. This boy, who had never walked a step in his life, and probably never will, was praying that he would walk someday in heaven with Christ. He said it with confidence. Then, rather than praying for his health and safety, he prayed for ours. He added another line - <i>Lord, when it is Mike's time, take him to you in heaven and let him meet my grandma up there too.</i> - I managed to hold myself together until I said my goodbyes and went outside, but that was an incredibly moving experience for me. I visited him in his home to help him, but he has helped me grow and opened my eyes to things without realizing he's doing it. It is things like this that make me feel so blessed to be where I am and doing what I'm doing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Besides work, I've been dealing with a terrible sunburn since I went to the beach on Saturday and feel asleep while reading. It's gotten to the point where it is extremely itchy and driving me insane. Maybe I'll end up with a little color from this, but I'm not getting my hopes up. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">We (the Mercy Volunteers) were recently featured in the Savannah Morning Journal. I wasn't interviewed because I was out on a visit when they called, but there are quotes from Regina and Linda as well as some pictures. I thought it was pretty neat until I read the article and they spelled my name wrong. Either that or there's another volunteer named Mike Grawthol running around Savannah. Anyway, a local woman read the article then called our boss asking if she could cook us dinner. So tonight we had meatloaf, cole slaw and corn bread provided by our new friend with promises of more to come! The people of Savannah are truly delightful and have made the transition very easy for us.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Now, for a sneak peek into the coming days...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Tomorrow evening we're all going to a free Step concert (the thing where people make rhythms with their hands and feet and dance) at Armstrong Atlantic State. Friday morning we've been asked to speak at the Mission and Ethics Board Meeting at the hospital. They are the people who approved the funding for us as volunteers and they want to get to know us a little bit. Friday evening we're planing on heading over to Forsyth Park for the Savannah Jazz festival for some free music. After that there are supposed to be some amazing fireworks down at the river. Saturday morning we're all volunteering at Fort Pulaski a fort built by <i>Lieutenant </i>Robert E. Lee in 1829 and later used in the Civil War. We're helping paint, clear trails and other random tasks to help preserve this national monument. They're providing breakfast, lunch and a free year-long pass to the fort. Should be a cool morning. Then I'm going to try to make it to Patrick's school festival. (Pat is my friend from ND who is teaching in Savannah). Supposedly, he's part of a skit and then going in the dunk tank. I may have to make sure he gets dunked at least a few times. Saturday evening is our Mercy Day Celebration (although Friday is actually Mercy Day). We're having Mass with all the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates and then getting together for a dinner at the convent. I had a great time on my only visit to the convent thus far and am very much looking forward to hanging out with the sisters again. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">So we've got a hefty schedule for the next couple of days, but they're all good things. You can see why the days aren't showing any signs of slowing. Then, in October, I'm having my first visitors! I'm very excited.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Until next time... </span></span></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-68817989755844718042010-09-14T18:19:00.001-07:002010-09-14T18:19:29.176-07:00Wait, was that... I think... maybe... no it's not fall yet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I was very excited this morning when I walked out the door. It was the closest thing I've felt to a brisk fall morning. Now, let me be clear. There was nothing brisk about it and I didn't have the slightest chill, but it lacked the oppressive, steamy heaviness that I've become accustomed to. It was still 85 degrees or so today,which is an improvement, and this morning gives me hope that it will become pleasant soon. The other pleasantry from this morning was the drive. I went to Mass this morning before work and took Washington Ave - my favorite street - to the church. The reason Washington is my favorite is because it has a higher concentration of the Live Oak trees than any other street in Savannah. They line both sides of the street as well as the boulevard running down the center to form a canopy over both sides of the road with Spanish moss hanging down. The morning sun shines through the little gaps and illuminates the light mist that is still hanging around. It's wonderful. I've decided that if I ever buy a house in Savannah it will be on Washington Ave. It doesn't hurt that most of the houses are huge and gorgeous. I picked out my favorite already. If you come visit I'll show you!</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">We had company over for dinner tonight and I cooked! (You'd be proud Grammie!) I made spicy tomato clam linguine. It was really good! Sautéed onions and garlic, added the clams, some marinara sauce, roasted red pepper and served with linguine. We've been eating very well, but also very cheaply. We buy things that are on sale and avoid name brands when it doesn't matter and we save a ton of money.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Work has been going well. I helped one of my people with his own blog today. It was very rewarding to see his happiness from being able to share his ideas and feelings with the world. He is a very expressive person, but unfortunately he is limited in the ways he can express himself. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, has right side paralysis, speech aphasia, was formerly homeless, and a former drug addict. He can only say a handful of words but his personality speaks volumes. He is incredibly patient with me while trying to get his point across and usually, I finally get it. I help him send emails as well as post on his blog, and in every message, he always leaves some sort of scripture or quote to whomever he is addressing. I'm going to follow his lead and leave you with one of my favorite scriptures. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">"Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14</span></span></div><div><br />
</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-52646553246478581812010-09-06T10:37:00.000-07:002010-09-06T10:37:28.456-07:00It's the most wonderful time of the year...Happy Labor Day! I'm excited because for the past four years at Notre Dame, Labor Day meant you'd go to class and complain about how Labor Day wasn't recognized. So I decided I'd spend at least part of my day off to catch up on my blog!<br />
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I apologize for taking so long in between posts, and I will try to keep everyone updated more often. So much has happened!<br />
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First and foremost, how about that Irish victory on Saturday?? I was so excited for that game that I barely slept the night before. I was like a kid on Christmas Eve. In case you were wondering about the title of this post - I was referring to the start of college football. I was very pleased with the win. I thought ND looked well coached and much more fundamentally sound. There are a few things that definitely need some work, but for the first game with a new coach, new offense, new defense and a new quarterback, I was very happy. Gary Gray and Darrin Walls looked especially good, and I can't wait to see more of Cierre Wood. Yes, we had some errors and let Purdue back into the game, but what happened afterwards gives me the most hope that we have a different, and improved, team. After the setback we didn't fold, our defense held, and we tacked on the field goal that put us up two scores. I feel like a Charlie Weis team would've needed a last second TD to win this game or would've lost because he would've went for it on 4th down instead of kicking some of our field goals. Our defense had some holes but it didn't melt down in the 4th quarter. We could run the ball when we needed to. All positive signs. It's not like Purdue was a cupcake either. Their DE Ryan Kerrigan will play in the NFL and they beat Ohio State last year. I'm guessing they will win 7 or 8 games this season. Needless to say, I am anxiously awaiting next Saturday when we take on Michigan - the team I despise more than any other. I want payback for the game I witnessed last year in the middle of the Michigan Alumni section at the Big House. I was so upset after that game I didn't speak for at least two hours. I still want payback for the beating we took my freshman year in '06 when we were ranked #2 and feeling like we were on top of the world. I want payback for the 38-0 thrashing we took in '07 - one of the hardest games I've ever had to watch. The only victory over the school from the state up north that I saw was in '08 when we decisively trounced them in the pouring rain. It was a thing of beauty. Anyway, the Michigan game is always huge for me and I can't wait for Saturday!!!<br />
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I do have to admit, though, it was tough to watch a home game on TV. I really missed being on campus for gameday. Being woken up by the band marching across campus playing the fight song, putting on my #3 jersey while watching College Gameday, meeting up with my friends and heading out to the tailgating lots swarming with blue and gold, meeting family and friends who came in for the game, making our way into the stadium and witnessing one of my favorite things in the world - those gleaming gold helmets running out of the tunnel to the Victory March. Screaming myself hoarse, going up for push ups, talking non-stop at half time about what our offense needs to exploit or how our defense needs to adjust, listening to Officer McCarthy's 4th quarter pun, seeing a thrilling ending to the game (happened a lot last year) and jumping around like mad / standing silent in disbelief depending on the outcome. Whatever happened though, it always finished the same way - arm in arm with my best friends singing the Alma Mater. That, and a candlelight dinner at SDH. Savannah is great, but there won't be one Saturday this fall I won't wish I was somewhere else.<br />
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While the start of College Football has dominated my last few days, I have actually been doing other things! Work has been going great. On Friday, I spent a long time talking with the Director of the SOURCE program, Hunter. Hunter is now one of my favorite people in Savannah. He told me all about the history of the Georgia Infirmary and how the biggest theme is doing the right thing, no matter the public opinion. I saw a lot of similarities between the Infirmary's history and the story of Catherine McAuley (founder of the Sisters of Mercy) in Dublin. The Infirmary was started by a wealthy white man who saw a great need for care for blacks in Savannah. It started when a man was brought to court for beating his slave mercilessly, but the case was thrown out because it was thought that the plight of a black man didn't matter. The wealthy man left his entire estate to create the Georgia Infirmary and his descendants have a hand in it to this day. They built in town, much to the dismay of the local upper class, who fought strongly against it. They didn't want blacks coming into town for medical treatment. Time after time, the Infirmary came up against some form of adversity, either from public opinion or the government, and each time they took the right path, not the easiest. Because of the evolution of health care and civil rights, the Georgia Infirmary's mission was no longer necessary and changed directions. They started a Day Center for stroke victims which evolved over time into the SOURCE program which advocates for and meets the needs of those with disabilities who wish to remain independent. Hearing all of this from Hunter, who spoke so passionately, and relating it to the foundation of the Sisters of Mercy made me feel very comfortable about being in the right place with the right people. Hunter and I talked about some of my concerns, that I was afraid that I was just sitting around and talking with people and not doing anything constructive for them, that I was still working on even establishing goals for people. I guess that I wasn't doing enough. He told me a story which ended with the line, it's not about doing but about <i>being</i>. Just being with these people and authentically caring is what many of them need the most. He told me that it is very tempting to turn me into another case manager while I'm here. SOURCE is under-resourced and under-staffed, but he sees a lot of value in my position as someone who has the time to just <i>be</i> with these people. The people I see have been nominated for the program by their case managers as people who would benefit most from having another person around who isn't being paid to see them. Hunter made it clear he doesn't want me to be a case manager, but to just be present to these people and the rest will follow. I can't explain how much that conversation put me at ease in a number of ways. I was comforted to know that my worries about "not really having done anything" were unfounded. I was comforted to know that a man like Hunter is in charge. I was comforted to know my position has value, and that he was already hearing really good things about me.<br />
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Apart from work, I've been able to spend quite a bit of time with my buddy Patrick from Notre Dame who is teaching here in Savannah. We, along with some of our housemates, went to a Savannah Sand Gnats single A baseball game Friday night. We got free tickets and got to see the Gnats pull out a victory in the 12th inning! The highlight however had to be when Pat and I were picked to have a giant-glove boxing match on the field between innings<br />
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So I think I'm going to go enjoy the rest of my day off, we're going over to the house of someone who Carla works with for dinner and then out on her boat this evening!<br />
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I miss you all and hope everything is going well with you!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-68865159257562783962010-08-20T16:12:00.000-07:002010-08-20T16:25:13.976-07:00This is gonna be so cool!I've made it through week two! I got a much clearer picture this week of what I'll actually be doing throughout the year with SOURCE, and I got to meet more of the people I'll be serving! My conclusion: this year is going to rock, literally at some points. I went out to Pooler, Georgia today to meet the 3 guys that I'll be visiting every Tuesday and Thursday. They are 16, 22 and 23 and they all have cerebral palsy. I went to the youngest one's house and he is one of the coolest people I've met so far in Georgia. Within 2 minutes of walking in the door we were both rocking out on the guitar and he was belting out one of his favorite songs. I was soon inducted as a band member. Talk about a cool introduction. He was so excited to have a guy around to hang out with because he just has his mom, sister and nurse at home. I was excited to hang out with a guy too, I mean nothing against my wonderful community members (we're getting along fantastically!) but sometimes I just want to hang out with some dudes. He kept asking me if I'd be back on Tuesday, he was so excited. I can honestly say I was thrilled as well. He loves to go outside too, so hopefully I can help him get out and do more.<br />
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</div><div>So on to my fellow 22 year old. He lives in a personal care home which very much resembles a nursing home because he is the only one there under 65. I'm not sure what happened with his family but whatever it was, he's kinda on his own now. Evidently, he's been asking about me for the past month because he's also excited to have a new buddy around. I also want to help him connect with people his own age and get out of the care home a little bit. So that will be my goal. He also LOVES video games and we already have it set up to play some Playstation when I go back on Tuesday. I'm excited.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The 23 year old (sorry - I'm hesitant to use any names with all the training I just went through about confidentiality) has significantly less communication ability so it was harder for me to understand how he felt about me being there, but from what his mom was saying he was very happy to meet me. She said he's just thrilled for anyone to sit down and talk to him. He can understand what is going on around him, it's just hard for him to communicate. His mom also said that he loves to go outside and go on the computer too. So I'll be able to help him do more of those kinds of things.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So basically, my Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be awesome! I've also spent more time down in the Adult Day Center at the Georgia Infirmary and spent all day yesterday listening to a woman's life story. It was amazing. The things she has been through and the experiences she has had - I can't even imagine. It was struggle after struggle - heartbreak after heartbreak, and here she was the brightest shining smiling face in the room. It was truly amazing. I took notes as best I could and typed them up for her - she wants to put together a book to save for her grandchildren. I am so happy that I am able to get to know these people and even now I'm a little anxious about having to up and leave them in a year. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg9vBLHS_W_ZkZ86OU_qjcQHsSCFq2-WWVWqEXV2dxNJ7mxwAkP3ozrTlWSNKAEmBYk6sptF2IXP5KeDEtcGWwCjaUyug8E4RdjyVjZdTnLbPg3PBuXEvZopfCgrcSr2JS7lLbPTvyl0/s1600/Summer+and+Savannah+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg9vBLHS_W_ZkZ86OU_qjcQHsSCFq2-WWVWqEXV2dxNJ7mxwAkP3ozrTlWSNKAEmBYk6sptF2IXP5KeDEtcGWwCjaUyug8E4RdjyVjZdTnLbPg3PBuXEvZopfCgrcSr2JS7lLbPTvyl0/s400/Summer+and+Savannah+043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Apart from work, it looks like we might be headed to the beach tomorrow ---><br />
So that's exciting - hope it doesn't rain. I also found out about pick up games of ultimate frisbee and soccer a few nights a week down at Forsyth Park so I will definitely be taking advantage of that in the future. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I hope everyone is doing well, and be sure to drop me a line every now and then!</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138945546904916016.post-1143217917048646092010-08-15T13:50:00.000-07:002010-08-15T13:56:01.780-07:00Hello Savannah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9W-XOpqWR4gykQ7GLlTS6mCvnW_7xE4cMgV92CNrkn29yp6tAjJ3AzoHYyeWIaAEd3x3Ye3Mn_dYQdx1HYkCrA3ON4rsaCsnfYVeafuDjb1Iba89WZQozWghBMveIUIvf8Ehv-tXQmM/s1600/Summer+and+Savannah+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9W-XOpqWR4gykQ7GLlTS6mCvnW_7xE4cMgV92CNrkn29yp6tAjJ3AzoHYyeWIaAEd3x3Ye3Mn_dYQdx1HYkCrA3ON4rsaCsnfYVeafuDjb1Iba89WZQozWghBMveIUIvf8Ehv-tXQmM/s320/Summer+and+Savannah+068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have been in Savannah for a week and finally got around to starting my blog. It has been a crazy busy week and I'm very much enjoying sitting down and unwinding today. In case any of you haven't heard and are wondering why the heck I'm in Savannah, Georgia, I am spending the next year here as a member of the Mercy Volunteer Corps. I am serving as a community outreach coordinator with the St. Joseph Candler SOURCE Program here in Savannah. In a nutshell, SOURCE works for disabled and/or elderly people who are living independently or wish to live independently soon. This is an effort to keep these people a part of their community rather than confining them to a nursing home or group home unless it is absolutely necessary. So SOURCE makes sure that these people's needs are met, that they're seeing their doctors, taking their meds, getting enough food, etc. We also have an adult day center where SOURCE clients can come for the day to allow their care givers at home some time to work, run errands and take care of themselves. My job is to help each person that I work with connect with the community. I spend a good deal of time getting to know each person - their likes, dislikes, passions and desires. Then I try to find ways for them to experience a feeling of community with others who may have similar likes or passions, all while making sure their needs are met. I starting to learn that this process is going to look very different with each person. I might help some people find a job, learn how to ride the bus, write a blog, or just be around as someone to listen to them and make sure they know they're not forgotten.<br />
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</div><div>I started work on Wednesday, and I've already seen things I've never seen before and been challenged in new ways. I learned that one of my clients is deaf, and that I will be learning sign language. After learning that she was unable to procure any food for the remainder of the month due to financial misunderstandings, I was able to get together some food for her with the help of my community member Linda who works at the food pantry. When I went to drop off the food, I was met with the warmest smile and the most sincere gratitude I have ever seen. She couldn't talk to tell me how much she appreciated it but I could see it in her eyes. That's enough to make any day a good day. I'm also progressing in sign language! I know the alphabet and some other basic signs. I'll have classes starting next week, too. I also met one of my clients who has had a unbelievably hard life. She kept asking me if I was quitting soon, if I was going to leave her. It made me so sad to realize that she was used to that and came to expect it. Anyone who comes around and seems nice will soon leave and forget about you. Then I went out into the country, rural Georgia. I saw poverty like I hadn't seen before. I don't mean worse, but different. I've seen extreme poverty in the city and homelessness. Not to detract from those peoples' sufferings in the least, but there are some resources to help them in the cities - shelters, food banks, hospitals. Out here there was nothing but dirt roads and the occasional vulture flying by. I got the feeling that my boss and I were the first visitors in quite some time. My first stop was at a seemingly half deserted trailer park in the middle of nowhere with a very isolated community. There was a history of inbreeding with this community, dating back a couple of centuries. The result is the current population, most of whom have severe physical and mental disabilities. One woman I met was very short, maybe 4 foot 6, and mentally handicapped, but was the brightest shining face that I saw the whole day. We were there to check up on them and make sure they had enough to get by. When we were about to leave she got up, gave me a hug and said she loved me. She was so happy that we took the time to come by and chat with her for a while. I reminded her that it's always a good idea to pray, she said a prayer for us before we left. I couldn't understand everything that she said but the intent was clear, and it about broke my heart to see this woman who was so disadvantaged in life and had so little pray for us. Then we had about 7 or 8 other visits that day, each one offering a different and moving experience. That's only a small taste of my first three days, so I can already see that this year will have no shortage of memorable moments and forging new relationships.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In addition to work, I have been loving Savannah itself. It is more beautiful than the pictures I saw beforehand and I am so excited to spend the year here. I don't expect the drive to work, under a canopy of oak trees and spanish moss with the morning sun shining through in spaces, to get old anytime soon. We explored river street and saw Savannah in all its tourist glory. My favorite moment so far just might be getting cut off by a car who didn't know how to drive in the squares (they're treated as roundabouts), noticing the Virginia plates, and muttering something about "stupid tourists...". That was on day two. We went to Mass at the cathedral downtown which is absolutely beautiful and even saw Paula Dean's restaurant. Not that I really know anything about Paula Dean, but down here I guess she's a big deal. Besides that, I've been settling into our new home with my wonderful community members. We were planning on going to the beach today, but it decided to thunderstorm so we spent the day cleaning instead! Haha, not quite as much fun but it feels good to have the place spic and span. But Linda, Carla, Regina and I are all getting along extremely well and this place is starting to feel a little more like home each day. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you want to see pictures, I may put a few up here, but you can check out a whole bunch more on my facebook. Sorry for writing a book for my first post, but I had a busy week to catch up on! I hope everyone is doing well and I miss all my family and friends!</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222814567811451717noreply@blogger.com1