Steve drives for Meals on Wheels in Lexington. I see some interesting things, but today was extra special. On the way there, I saw a man and woman about age 55 walking down Winchester road, close to traffic, completely high on drugs. They were dancing in circles and swinging shopping bags around.
I showed up at Trinity Baptist at 11am. The coordinator said, “We have a new client on your route. He was COVID-positive but just got out of the hospital. Here’s some disposable gloves and hand sanitizer. Only drop food in cooler with gloves on, then throw the gloves out.”
I could see the drugged couple had made a little progress down WInchester road. My Google navigation froze so I lost about 10 minutes looking at maps since this isn’t a normal route for me. Everybody got a 4th of July card today.
There are about 17 clients. One lady fractured her pelvis on her front porch and is recovering. She’s a hoarder. There was no answer at the door, so I opened it and she said, “Just wait a minute, darn it! Everybody rushes me getting to the door!” Then she apologized and said she appreciated our deliveries greatly, she had been a nurse for almost 50 years, and never thought she’d end up in such terrible shape.
I arrived at the COVID house. The gloves are small size and I struggled to get them on. The son is outside mowing, the dad who had COVID about age 75 pops outside and is sitting on front porch, looking spry, no mask. A friend drives up and starts chatting with him. I handed the dad the food and wondered if he was still contagious. No masks, no worries.
I proceeded to deliver at 1854 Augusta (apartment house). Moments later I left and saw 2 Lexington police cars with cherries lit up, and two cops ran into the back yard of 1854 Augusta, trying to apprehend someone on foot. A woman in front of the apartment was waving at the cops, maybe pointing them along.
I delivered to a blind man on Dalton Court. I have a back door key. On the apartment door, there was a poster showing pictures of about 20 people who aren’t allowed to be there from past criminal activity or trespassing. Scary mug shots. A shady looking couple tried to sneak in the back door, but it was locked and they kept going.
A woman on Marietta drive said the only people she ever sees are Meals On Wheels people. She has family in Cincinnati that never visits her. She loved getting the card. I deliver to one man who’s on oxygen and his lower legs are extremely red and swollen and I can’t believe he can stand on them.
I made a delivery to an 89 yr old man who’s caring for his wife with Alzheimer’s. The wife can’t stand potatoes that aren’t peeled like everybody’s doing nowadays. I stayed about a minute.
I stop on Wanstead Drive and the man angrily points to his watch and says “It’s 1 o’clock! I’m calling the coordinator and telling her this is completely unacceptable!” I delivered there once before in pouring rain and he complained then, but not as bad.
I had one more delivery to an old black couple (they’re 87) and the lady said, “I just called the office since you’re running so late. We need our food.” But she wished me a happy 4th and I wished them one as well.