It appears that it’s going to be one bitchfest after another this week on my dear ol’ blog. Oh well, that’s what it’s for – to air my grievances because, shit, if I held it all inside, well…I just might implode. And we wouldn’t want that to happen, would we?
I took my car to the garage yesterday afternoon to have my muffler checked as it was behaving noisily. My daughter and I decided that we would grab a bite to eat while we were waiting since there was a restaurant nearby. Little did we know that Casper the Ghost was going to be sitting directly behind us. All we wanted was to have a relaxing and peaceful meal while waiting for the car.
Now, let me premise this by saying that I am, in no way, discriminating against those that are mentally challenged (my brother is mentally handicapped, for chrissake). I just wanted to get that out of the way before the hate mail comes flooding in. What I am going to say, however, is that I have very little patience for the handful of individuals I’ve encountered, as of late, that are responsible for the care of these less fortunate folk. Why on earth does it seem that only ignorant, loud-mouthed, incapable people are selected to care for the mentally challenged? Isn’t that the blind leading the blind?
Back to the story; Casper is sitting directly behind us and all we can hear is “Hhhhmmmm, hhhoooooooo, whoooooooo, oooooooo, hooooooo, hmmmmm, oooooooooooo.” NON frickin’ STOP…and at an ear-piercing tone. Nope, it doesn’t let up for even an eentsy, teentsy moment. I want to grab my fork and catapult it backwards – but that would do no good as it would only hit the safety helmet that “Casper” is wearing, and in turn cause more of a ruckus. Arrrgggghhhh. What I’d really like to do is throttle the caregivers. Here is my beef: the people that are chaperoning are saying, “Sssshhhhh, BE QUIET, STOP IT” loudly and repeatedly. The chaperones begin to get more and more annoyed because their charge is misbehaving and they get louder and angrier with every “hhoooooooooo”. Honesty, I was half expecting one of them to slap Casper, as I’ve seen this behavior from this type before. Every once in a while the caregivers even throw in a giggle like it’s some sort of sick joke. See…this is what I cannot stand. These dumb fucks are given the responsibility for these people and they have no idea what they are doing.
I do not feel comfortable eating with this kind of commotion going on around me. My daughter occasionally looks up from her meal with a pained expression on her face and utters, “Uhhhhhh!” The waitress rushes over when the commotion begins to disturb the entire restaurant and asks if we’d like to-go containers for our food. Honestly, I’ve lost my appetite so we ask for the check and remove ourselves from the situation.
We go pick up the car and are informed that it needs a new catalytic converter, gaskets, etc…which will cost upwards of 1,000 fucking dollars. Apparently, this is what I get for the negative thoughts I’m harboring from the situation I have just encountered. That’s Karma for ya, baby!
Two Lazy Dogs 
It’s pretty bad when the caretaker/parent/guardian/whoever gets louder, and more annoying than the actual person that’s causing a scene. It’s hard to handle people/situations such as this, because you don’t want to seem disciminatory against anyone, but you still have to think of other patrons, ya know.
I too have dealt with it (being on the “Casper” side) when we’d take my sister out. Many scenes and apologies to the establishments .. Stuff like that can’t always be forseen, ya know.
Honestly, it seems to me that parents/siblings/family are able to control these type of situations more effectively than strangers, ie: hired caregivers. I have yet to witness a situation such as this getting out of control when someone who is emotionally involved is in charge.
The thing that irks me is that the caregivers ARE far worse than the clients! This summer I experienced it full force when I witnessed a caregiver hauling off and slapping – yes, brutally slapping – someone in her care because she wouldn’t be quiet. Now, why would ANYONE behave properly under those circumstances? It’s just a shame that the care facilities pay such a low wage that their staff consists of the scum-off-the-street who don’t know how to handle, or aren’t properly trained to handle the patients.
ARgh…it stressed me out just reading this. Guess I’ll have a glass of vino!
Oh…it stressed me out completely and I DID drink…a bottle of vino!
Sounds pretty icky to me. I agree with your comment about low-wage employees. I know someone who works, (administratively) for a place the provides care and it’s really state and federal that could give a shit about these people and the funding just keeps getting cut. Dont be surprised if you see them without care givers soon. It’s really a mess!
It truly is a mess. I see how my brother gets yanked around by the system and it pisses me off!
“I witnessed a caregiver hauling off and slapping – yes, brutally slapping – someone in her care…” That type of behavior is totally uncalled for when every red blooded American has access to furry handcuffs and duct tape. 😉 Just kidding, just kidding.
Honestly though, it’s nice that caregivers take the time to get these challenged folks a little time out in public, but when it gets a little out of hand, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that they call it a day, and head back for home. Everyone else in the restaurant is paying for a quiet/relaxing meal.
Anyway, that’s my take on it. 🙂 Does that make me evil? Hmmm…
Ha! Furry handcuffs and duct tape – everyone should carry those items in their pocket!
Naw…I don’t think you’re evil. I agree – it’s great that they take them out for “normal” outings in society but they definitely should know when enough is enough. Wouldn’t common sense tell you that when someone is screaming (or hooooooooo-ing) loudly in a public place that it’s time to say bye-bye?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna get back to my bag of mini eggs! 😀
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been cruel to Casper like that. I was just filling in for Nurse Hooper, and I hadn’t had any Mountain Dew yet. If it’s any consolation, Casper open hand slapped me after you left and many people cheered.
Well, AB, I’ll let it slide this time. You should rethink the Mt. Dew and go for something that mellows you out – maybe a nice concoction of booze and ludes? I’ll send you the recipe.
Sorry your car cost so much – what a drag! Just when you think you are going there for something relatively small….sum bitches!
About Casper, there is NOTHING worse than the caregiver for any child; getting louder and more out of control than the child. Grrrr! When that happens I just want to yell, “Who’s in charge, you or the kid? GET A GRIP!” Here’s to you having a good weekend though, now, pass the ludes…..
Thanks Lumpy – yeah, what a frickin’ drag. Thank god for tax returns!
You have a good weekend also…sorry, I’m not sharin’ the ludes – they’re MINE, ALL MINE! Hahahaha!