Burned Up & Burned Out

Hey Marcia,

I'm so tired right now, I can barely lift my head but I'm steaming mad too. Ava Jean Delmatto nearly drove me crazy and away from the home health care industry. Today has been one of those burned up and burned out days. But I have a little bit of strength left to tell you what happened.

The Loving Care Agency assigned Mrs. Delmatto to me 2 days ago. I took one look at her and I knew this assignment was over before it started. That woman screamed, yelled and barked orders like an insane banshee. She needed everything one second after she opened her big mouth. I couldn't move fast enough for that fat barrel of lard. I wanted to quit faster than her on the spot demands but I wanted to be fair and give her a chance. That was a big mistake. And I was going to correct Mrs. Ava Jean Delmatto a.k.a. as Mrs. Evil Mean Delmonster before I quit. The perfect opportunity for her "correction" came when she demanded that I shampoo her hair.

There was no pleasing this woman. I was verbally assaulted with a barrage of insults. She said, "What's wrong with you? Are you blind? Can't you see the shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom?" Marcia, I looked in the shower, the medicine cabinet and the vanity. Eventually I found the shampoo and conditioner underneath the toilet. Only a stark raving mad fool would store cosmetics underneath a toilet. Anyway I started washing her hair. You guessed it. The screaming mee-mee didn't like the amount of shampoo and conditioner I used. I didn't massage her scalp the right way. I didn't use enough towels to keep her dry. Girlfriend, a thousand towels wouldn't have been enough to cover that 2 ton tyranical terror.

She wasn't satisfied with the water temperature so she snatched the the shower head from me. Since soap suds were in her eyes she accidently turned the hot water faucet on. I just stood there and watched her. I was boiling mad and the water was boiling too. Marcia, I can see the shocked expression on your face. I admit it. I should have warned her. But if you were in my shoes you would have done the same thing too. The hot water burned the "stew" out of her scalp. And I silently prayed that the hot water would broil her entire body. But my conscience had a moment of clarity at that point. My anger should never have allowed Mrs. Delmonster to hurt herself because her antics burned me out. I knew I had to quit but I got some satisfaction and evil glee before I dropped Evil Mean Delmonster from my client roster.

Yes, I lost a part of my income but watching that shreeking shrew suffer was worth every missing dollar. And I gained some practical experience too. If I ever meet another Mrs. Delmonster again, I will run in the other direction. This drama was too much for me. I will never play that tune again. In the meantime take of yourself and don't ever let a job burn you out. Give my love to the family and get in touch with me soon. Take care.

Warmly, (no pun intended)
Elaine