He's Got My Back...

Every 7 weeks, I have the distinct pleasure of working with one of my favorite coworkers...ROJOO, Poet Extraordinaire! Today was that special day.

I don't talk much about my job (or maybe I say TOO much?!?), but I do often reference the camaraderie of my work place and the peeps I call my extended family...my coworkers. I LOVE these guys...and we ARE like one big, happy, dysfunctional family. LOL

Our job takes us out into the community and into the streets, often pounding on patient's doors and never knowing what might await us behind said door. We DO travel in pairs when doing crisis outreach, but we are armed with only our quick wit and sensibilities...and we are "disturbing" quite often some very DISTURBED individuals...the kind of folks the police draw weapons on just to approach. Sometimes we take police with us, but generally not.

ROJOO (who I just found out this evening doesn't really LIKE that nick name...so I will use it through eternity!) stands at 6 foot something...I barely clear 5'5"...we are a motley pair at best! He is calm and inviting and I am...well, I am directive and sometimes confrontive. It seems to work out somehow, however...LOL

ROJOO and I drove around the country side of our county this afternoon and evening (yes, STEVE...we DID drive through Covington and even stopped at one of the hundred STARBUTTS there...LOL). ROJOO let's me ramble incessantly about nothing and everything...I love a good man who can tune in and out of my chatter. He occasionally added his 2 cents worth when he could get a word in edge-wise (as my mother would say). We had a productive and entertaining shift together.

There was one particular outreach we approached (without going into details to avoid lawsuit or HIPAA violations...LOL) where a gentleman of ROJOO'S stature flew unexpectedly out of his doorway and, at first sight, appeared rather menacing. I was taken a bit by surprise as the patient focused intently on me initially. Under certain circumstances, I might have felt very intimidated and/or frightened...but not this time...I knew ROJOO had my back!

The situation de-escalated quite quickly and was resolved without incident...we returned to our office around 9:30PM to complete our reams of paperwork required for our job. It was a very good evening at work and I left feeling "helpful" and happy...I know this was greatly influenced by my friend and coworker and I head to bed now feeling blessed and content. All is well in my world...

(ROJOO...we talked about what I would post today...it just "came to me"...LOL)