It was not the typical Christmas party. And the Facility has gone through major changes; not the least of which is a complete paint job. The place again looks like the prison cell block it did when I had come to work 3 years before. But that is the least of what has gone on in my absence.
Across the road, an entire building has beeen demolished
(photo to come). It was said that the Institute's plans for the space remains "unclear;" perhaps a parking lot, or another building. To that, nothing has changed. Truly, the Institute is a loose cannon, with lives of citizens at balance, and with the state providing money enough to mess up those in need royally.
The Unit Facility remains ready for the wrecking ball itself; rumor has that there is promise of moving The Program somewhere south of the city. Of Staff, there remained none that I had previously worked with present at the party. I was told that there were a few (who did remain) on Staff, but were not expected at this, the annual Unit freebie. I received a very large mug, with three gift cards from Starbuck's and some fancy chocolates. This unexpected gift was greatly appreciated. Really. As was the opportunity to see evolution at work in the Unit.
'J' came with
'A'. Both have left the Program to pursue other interests, but remain with operational ties until the transitions find some sense of completion. Both were kind and considerate as they introduced me to new Staff and others I neither knew or knew me. A few concerned parents were attending, but there was an obvious lack of System Authorities. Some, including judges, had attended in the past but there may have been one exception "to prove the rule."
'A' told me that the entire program, and many other aligned programs, were being moved into MedicAid at the turn of the New Year. In other words, the ax is about to fall. After all, there is a trillion dollar war to fight, right?
'C' has become Program Director. She greeted me cordially and we had a nice conversation. There were also several other 'little talks' from staff and other party goers that ran the gambit of social courtesy.
'C' looked fully in charge, which I found strangely interesting and, on reflection, appropriate.
The three Clients left from my era I managed to engage in conversation. We talked about what has happened in the interim; to me and to themselves. In time, I managed a small audience at the table where we had seated ourselves.
Touching any impedence of motivation in these dark souls remains a delicate exersize. As my role was undefined beyond being a guest, I opted to generalize in the third person; giving options as though they were obvious, but knowing thoughts I was seeding came as new information. To several, their own internal dialogue, and the distractions of the event, drowned out any of my intended semblances. Rather, we talked of the military and its demands on a person. And we discussed how opportunity has changed since I was their age.
It seemed incongruous to me that 45 years has elapsed in the meanwhile.A troop of local Boy Scouts had arrived packing a full turkey dinner for all, with ALL the trimmings. They presented
the boys a lesson in leadership, and a visual on the benefits of group effort and group discipline. Clients and Scouts mixed easily; for the differences between boys melded in subtle given distances measured through some ancient memory. It is personalities that shine through this common shell of group identity. That can be entertaining, informative and, at times, enlightening.
Lesson of the day: Treating oneself as being important, through thoughtful planning on how to influence coming events, places others in an equally important position to receive that influence. In other words, even under the guise of storytelling, a wise teacher will only stir thought, not bombard the senses with too much (or too shocking) information.Labels: Old HUH Posts
