One of our regular callers died this past week. Harmless lady, just a bit addled by life and a little fuzzy in the logic dept. She would call us almost daily w/some new story about her husband or son stealing from her. (Both of which have been dead for years.)
The way the system works here is even if we know you are a complete loon, we have to send out the first call of the day to confirm you are, in fact, ok. The beat units know them just as well if not better than we. So, it was a bit of a surprise to see a medical call instead of PD at her address. Sadly, they discovered our dear 799 (senile person) was in fact an 802 (dead). All natural mind you. Nothing suspicious. But still very much 802. It upset several of my coworkers. Besides the obvious surprise, we were all very sad. We talk to her so much she almost felt like family. In the end, we decided to send flowers as a form of respect.
We actually have a whole contingent of crazies who call us often. Some worse than others. We have the “voodoo puppet victim” who is the worst offender and always spews obscenities. The lady who claims the KGB is running sex gadget all over her body as a form of mind control. Another sweet lady albeit loony as a jaybird. Then there is the guy who complains about the automated voice on muni buses harassing him wherever he goes. These are just a few of the more noteworthy ones. Sometimes, if we aren’t too busy, we spend time talking to them. Nothing revealing just casual conversation. Usually this serves to calm’em down and life goes on.
So, what’s your crazy person story?
My mothers friend began down the alzheimers trail and would call our house day to ask us what day and time it was. As it progressed she would call more often, about every hour. It got to the point you would anser the phone and say Hi El, its Friday May 5, 2 p.m. One day the calls stopped.
I missed them. The house got real quiet. My mother on the other hand was thankful the kids had decided to step in and put her in a home.
I’m very touched that you sent flowers. You never know how much good you did just to spend a moment to listen to her vent. She must have appreciated you being there, even if she really didn’t “need” you for your professional skills. IT’s comforting to know there are good people out there. Thanks for doing what you do…
I had a senile aunt who lived with my grandmother who had the peculiar habit of hiding garbage instead of taking it out. When confronted about the trash in the hall closet, Aunt Cora would say defiantly,”I didn’t do it!”
Sending the flowers was a really beautiful thing, Moby. Its nice to know there’s people like you out there.
You’re a really good guy, Moby. The flowers made me tear up a little.
We had a guy everyone referred to in my little town as “the crazy guy on the bike”. He rode around all day cursing and talking to himself. If you happened to pull up along side of him, he’d shake his fist and spit at your vehicle.
Once again you’ve proved that 911 operators are indeed special people. God bless you.
I thought I was the only one the MUNI voices were harrassing. There’s two of them, you know, the man AND the woman. Always giving you “Security Reminders” and announcing the Laguna Street stop on the 38 as “La-GOOOOO-nah” just so I start giggling. And down in the metro stations, pronouncing “Embarcadero” as “Embarcaderra” which is only done to DRIVE ME CRAZY! EMBARCADERRA SOUNDS LIKE AN A. D. D. MEDICATION! AND THERE ARE SO MANY SHINY THINGS ALL OVER MUNI! WHERE ARE MY PILLS???????????