Looking back at this first day on the job, I now realize that it set the tone for the experiences I would have for the next three years.

Abbey had me come in early enough so that I would be able to meet the rest of the staff who worked during the day. It turned out the small office we occupied was also shared by the psycho-social department, which luckily was made of only two people. That department was headed by Sandy and staffed with Kerry. In the activity department I met Patti, a woman in her forties who was very friendly and outgoing, and Mary who was still in college to be an occupational therapist. Mary was shyer and quieter than Patti, but she seemed to know what she was doing.

They all said good-bye for the day and it was just Abbey and myself. Abbey gave me a quick tour of the home, stopping at various rooms to give me the low down on the residents. At the end of the hallway on the first floor there gathered three old woman in wheelchairs, Lucy, Martha, and Clara. Abbey told me Martha and Clara were sisters, although they weren't alike at all. Martha and I seemed to take an instant liking for each other and Clara just sat and made an occasional sarcastic comment. Lucy was a refined lady wearing makeup and nice clothes and was as outspoken and friendly as they come.

Abbey didn't take me to the second floor that first day. She explained that, that was what they called the skilled care floor and that I should just run activities on the first floor where the residents were of higher skill mentally and physically.

I remember that evening was very stormy and the streets were flooded to our ankles. Abbey said that we had to go to the local ford dealership to return the twelve passenger van she had rented for a field trip the day before. She had me drive it there and I was terrified. I had never driven so large a vehicle before but I managed fine. Abbey drove us back to the home in her car and that's when we found the injured rabbit stuck in the flooded street near the curb. Abbey insisted we couldn't leave the poor thing like that so we somehow got it into a box and then took it to the nearest humane society.

By the time we arrived back at the home the bottoms of my pant legs were soaked to my knees, socks, shoes, and all. Martha, Clara, and Lucy were still out in the hall talking and when they saw how wet I was they instantly turned into three loving concerned grandmothers to me, and I knew right then I was meant to be there.