F.R.O.G Blog

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How have 20 whole years slipped by? In so many ways, it seems like events of the past happened only yesterday. Mom was still alive. I was 27 and working at Martin Luther Homes. I worked a split shift back then and the morning started out like every other day. Up, dressed and out the door by 6:30AM and pulling into the driveway at Cedar Oaks by Seven.

Back then, I worked for a group home and this house had six residents. It was my job to arrive in the mornings and assist the residents with getting up, showering, and preparing to go to the workshop. As usual, one of the older residents, Max (not his real name) had himself parked on the couch watching the morning cartoons. For mornings, there was two staff on duty. The overnight person and myself. We divided up the showers, cooking, giving meds, its like getting six kids ready for school. Suddenly Max was shouting that something was interfering with his Smurfs. Emergency news reports were breaking into regularly scheduled programming.

The older lady I was working with and I were trying to calm the pissed-off resident who was furious his Smurfs had been interrupted with trying to hear and understand what was going on with the news. Our supervisor called to let us know the Workshop where our residents worked was going to be closed and my split shift became an all-day shift. My supervisor said he would try to get someone in to relieve us, but the poor lady who worked all night was stuck there until nearly 3pm. I worked from seven that morning until 11pm that night.

Even tho I worked a double Mom had called several times and was insisting I drive to her house when I got off work. She wanted her kids home, no matter what it took. At the time, I lived in College Station, Texas just three blocked from Texas A&M University, and had to drive to Caldwell where Mom lived. It was only about a 35-minute drive but after working so long the drive felt like it took forever. I spent the night at Mom's house. I had been scheduled OFF the next few days, but my Supervisor called and asked if I could cover some shifts because others were calling out of work. I remember Mom getting a little angry with me for agreeing to work instead of stay there with her and the rest of the family. At that time, I was young and the temptation of a fatter paycheck by grabbing extra hours outweighed hanging out with family, which I figured I could do anytime.

I remember back then thinking Mom was taking the whole thing harder than what seemed logical. We hadn't lost anyone close in the horrific events. Back then, I don't think I really fully understood the whole meaning of everything like I do now that I am older and have a wider view of those events. Mama knew though and it broke her heart. It was one of the few times I ever saw Mom cry or be so visibly upset.

It is hard to imagine its been 20 years. Dang that is a long time..but amazing how its really not.