Union Mission Death Watch List

It was going to be a big day for Union Mission. We were hosting the launching of Georgia's first shared medical records system and many visiting dignitaries from across the County and the State would be visiting the J. C. Lewis Health Center. The launching would be covered by the media and we had been working for days to make sure that everything was in tip top shape.

Aretha Jones, Vice-President of Health Services, arrived at 8:30, and was already on the phone with Lavanda Brown, Executive Vice-President of Union Mission. There was still a great deal to do before the 11:30 event.

As she purposely walked through the lobby, out of the corner of her eye she saw him. He was one of the hard core homeless who live in one of the camps scattered throughout Savannah. These folks will come to the Health Center but refuse to stay at the Army of Salvation or Inner City or the other city shelters. He was easily recognizable because of the guitar that was always slung around his back and was a frequent patient.

He was alone, sitting in the lobby of the Health Center, watching CNN on the flat screen that was normally set to health care infomercials. He had a plastic water bottle filled with Seagram's Seven and was happily nursing it.

"What are you doing?" Aretha demanded.

"Waiting to see the doctor," he calmly replied.

"Uh-huh," Aretha pointed to the door, "you gotta go."

He looked at her. "I got to wait to see the doctor," he said loudly, before taking a sip.

"Out!" Aretha commanded.

He stood and stared at Aretha. "I'm going to kill you!"

Picking up his guitar and handing it to him, she said, "I'm sorry you feel that way."

He took his guitar and stumbled outside.

"I'm sorry you feel that way?" Lavanda asked on the phone. She had heard the entire encounter and was laughing as she asked. "I'm sorry you feel that way?"

"I don't have time for this today," Aretha continued.

So the rest of the day went off without a hitch. Unless you count the client who wanted to kill Regina, but that was far away from the event.

So the Union Mission Death Watch list grew a bit. I'm on it, but my guy is in prison. Lavanda is on it. Joy is on it but there is an asterisk by her name because it is only other members of the staff who want to kill her. Aretha and Regina are the newest members. There have been several of us through the years. It goes with the territory I guess and thankfully nothing has ever happened, but it speaks to the desperation that we sometimes see in our work. And Lord knows these are desperate times.

So after the event we were all sitting around celebrating it's success and congratulating Paula Reynolds and Diane Weems. Then the story telling began and Aretha told how her day began with Lavanda providing running commentary. We laughed hard. Because sometimes, when you are faced with desperation, all you can do is laugh.