Coming Home From Work to Sal
Tw: drug use mention
It's been a long day
You might argue the longest
Regardless of the field you work in
Every interaction you had today was a difficult one
People where whiny and obstinate
Simple tasks turned tedious and frustrating
And the work hours just dragged by
Every second expanding and then collapsing on itself with each tick of the clock hand
Whatever they're paying you...
Today it just isn't enough
You want nothing more than this shift to end because at least you know that at clock out time, they can't exactly force you to stay
The moment finally gets here
Clock out time
And you beat feet to your ride home
And as you walk up the front steps
There he is framed in the doorway
Sal, hair mussed from his after work shower, baggy pajama bottoms featuring characters from Ricko's Modish Wife, and a band shirt for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
He holds the door for you and follows behind you as you shed your uniform on the way to the bathroom
And then listens as you unload your day
From the stupid overreaction about a small hiccup provided by Brandy in sales
To the complete Karen of an old woman who just kept haranguing you
To the fact that you totally overcommitted yourself with work duties today that were and weren't actually necessary
Sal diligently follows you from the bathroom and shower, to the bedroom (where he stole a few kisses and maybe a few squeezes too), to the kitchen where you both ate dinner standing up over the sink, and then finally to the living room
To console you on your bad day, Sal turns on your favorite guilty pleasure show
Even though watching it always makes him feel like happily slamming a door onto his head repeatedly
He engages in the show, and finds himself getting invested in it too
Also provided by Sal:
A foot rub after a long foot soak in the foot soaker Maple bought you for Christmas
Warm blankets
A big ol' bowl/joint/blunt/whathaveyou, if you partake. If not, Sal will have already handled this step himself before you got home
Your favorite snacks, along with some of his because he knows you secretly enjoy them
Hot tea/steamed milk/coffee, depending on your preference (Sal actually makes killer coffee despite not drinking it. He's surrounded by coffee drinkers, he had to learn at some point)
And then finally,
When you both retire for the night
Sal reads you a few chapters from whatever book he's reading
He could read you a stereo manual and you'd eat up every minute of it
You constantly suggest to Sal that he should make an ASMR channel on YouTube
Just his deep, raspy voice carefully articulating words so his Jersey doesn't show as much
Lulling you to sleep
And in those last few moments of consciousness, you feel Sal's lips press to your forehead
Goodnight Reader, I hope your day is better tomorrow and I love you
Vent section: For those of you who follow my blog and know my life, I work on a dementia ward. We got a new resident today. She is completely rude and hateful, incessantly talks, picks on/picks fights with other residents, argues for arguments sake, and biological functioned in the hall (TWICE). Needless to say, her presence has thrown off my entire work groove. I tried to compensate by deciding to do linens today, help out... For rooms 13-24... All of them. It was almost too much but I got it done right before my shift was done. I work 12 hour shifts so 15 loads was a completely doable task... Right? Anyway, while I was doing that, two of my residents (besties, Ms. Daisy and Ms. Eileen (all names have been changed for privacy and dignity)) managed to slip through the coded fire doors that lock down the hall (dementia patients wander and get lost easily, we have to keep them locked down for their safety). They didn't go far. The rest of the building caters to elderly people who just need a little help, and Daisy and Eileen went to the dining room on that wing. An elopement is when a resident manages to get completely out of the building, out in the world . So not even really an elopement. But mass panic ensued while we were trying to find out how they got out. Turns out they were camping the doors, and waited for a family member to come through and slipped out... Very crafty. One headcount later, administration finally left and it was back to dealing with the new lady, Glenda, who I'm sure will appear in many incorrect quotes on my blog. I normally completely loathe a new resident when we get them. As you can see, it throws off my whole day. I'll get used to her, figure out who she needs me to be, and be that person for her. I'm sure we'll end up thick as thieves. It's always the difficult ones that I end up liking the most. (I did not. I still don't like this woman despite the fact that I don't work there anymore and she's dead)
