Making a Fool

"If the truth is worth telling, it is worth making a fool of yourself to tell." ~Frederick Buechner

Stillness

Well. There’s the moment after you’ve said it--those words that he didn’t want to hear, in the quiet of just before sunset:

“I’m sorry, we can’t help you.”

He leaves, wordlessly, in a huff. Shortly thereafter, you hear the sound of an empty soda bottle clattering to the cement ground. You wonder if you made a mistake--what you said, or how you said it. You briefly reconsider if you should’ve said instead:

“I’m sorry, sir, but you are mistaken. You did come here on Monday night and made the same request. The pastor helped you with $100 out of his own pocket. How can we trust that you are telling the truth now?”

What is the truth? Did he just forget that he came here on Monday night? He insisted multiple times that he had never been here before. Did I turn away a father in a dire time of need, when he needed a mere $136 to cover the remaining cost for catheters and saline solution for his poor tracheotomy-tube breathing one-year-old son? Or was this another ploy, albeit all the more convincing because his level of detail about the situation and his seeming earnestness about his son? Is it possible that this is another Anthony Ramirez who happens to have the same situation? Why can’t I sense when someone is lying to me? Shouldn’t I just know?

Job update: Possibilities

Today, while I was packing up my parents' stuff, I received a phone call from a 323 area code. I was initially suspicious that it was a sales call, but it turned out to be from Goodwill regarding the Employment Services Specialist job I had applied for a couple weeks ago. A couple questions later, I was scheduled for a 10am interview this Friday. Wheeeeeeeeee!!!!

Also, I had a promising Friday last week--encouraging meeting with my AppleOne temp agency consultant, Baina, who was super attentive in wanting to place me strategically. Afterwards, I jetted over to Bioseal for an interview-of-sorts with the president, who happens to be an elder of the church I work at. They want me to fill several holes there--website content management, sales support, office work. It was so comfortable talking with people who know my work and want me there; I didn't have to prove myself. I should be hearing from them in a week. 

The ball is rolling! To where? Who knows!

Goodwill Employment Services Specialist

Filled out a job application for Goodwill--Employment Services Specialist in LA. 

Other exciting news? I got free alcohol-free mouthwash from the dentist today. It almost makes up for needing to get dental work. Almost.