yupi!

i am sitting amidst mounds of wealth.  i was particularly aware of this today.

. . .

today i got to see my elegant ethiopian client, whom i've mentioned several times in this blog.  due to his immigrant status, he has no access to health care or financial support from the government.  he is 78.  his daughter lost her job when he came over and his son-in-law is in school.  he has nothing.  he can understand english, but due to his hearing, it is very difficult.

many times when i've worked with this man, i've felt incredibly helpless and angry at a system which does not help.  he is incredibly kind and honors me in so many ways.  he has gained a very special place in my heart.

anyway, i had finally found one of the only absolutely free health clinics (that only helps those who are uninsured) in chicago.  it was about an hour away (via bus & train) and my biggest hopes were that we wouldn't wait for more than four hours and that we would get an appointment in 4-6 weeks.  after we left our agency, he and i navigated the system to get there.  he was amazing and his resilience and intelligence was obvious.  after each mass transit stop.  we would pause and look at our surroundings.  he wanted to be absolutely oriented with the route so that he would know how to get there himself.  sometimes he would say, "i am disturbed!" and would explain what confused him.  it was a privilege to be with him and help him.

we went to the clinic (which is an amazing place.  the deepest regards to how they had a friendly, warm interior and treated each individual with dignity.  when you entered, you felt like you would be receiving first-class health service.  this is so rare in the human service sector.  what is common is flourescent lights, industrial seating and growly security guards).  at the clinic we did his intake and waited (while we waited we played tic-tac-toe and air hockey on my iphone :)... not sure if this is "ok" or "professional").  and as we went to get our appointment, they said they had a cancellation the next day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  i can't describe how exhilarated this made me.  our expectations were very low and i have struggled for months to get this man any help.  and here we are.  a clinic with dignity and an appointment the next day.  SUCH joy filled the both of us!!

. . .

but, as we were back in my office, i explained to him that i was leaving soon and this would be the last time i would see him.

i will spare you the details.  but we were both crying.  and he kissed me on the shoulder.  i will miss him dearly and look forward to seeing him in heaven where language and culture will not prevent full understanding and knowing of one another.

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on another note, i am to be an employee of the u.s. census at the beginning of may!!!!!!  my official title will be an "enumerator" (not to be confused with terminator) and i will be paid $18.25/hour to go to people's homes and ask them to fill out their census!!!!  just think of all the stories i will get to see!!

(and the money i will make...! LOL)

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today was also my dear friend, marta's, last day at our internship.  i love celebrating things with her.  crackers and wine at her house were the perfect "happy hour" treats.

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after the wine (on an empty stomach... hm...) i walked to the library to return books.  the weather was gorgeous and though i felt slightly sweaty, i felt awesome and beautiful and free as i walked along the streets listening to ingrid michaelson with my hair blowing in the wind.  oh to feel alive and full!

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the day ended with wonderful coffee (or a turkey sandwich on rosemary cibatta bread - yum!) and conversation at dollop with another dear friend, alissa.

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i don't know if it is the weather or the people i am around or easter or a combination of all of it... but life is so full and rich and good.  if there was only a way to harvest the perfect satisfaction from my aortic valve and push it through the gigabytes of the world wide web :)