A couple years ago (okay, 17 years ago) when Facebook was brand new and I was in my mid-forties, I posted a photo of myself in my new leather jacket on the main page.
At the time I was going through some sort of mid-life crisis, and wrote that after spending my entire life as a nerdy square, was I now too old to be wearing a black leather jacket?
Expecting a chorus of positive feedback to go for it, I got the following:
1) My friend Tracy asked if I was trying to look like the Fonz.
2) My friend Alex asked if I was wearing sweatpants below my jacket, I should consider wearing jeans.
3) My younger friend (and Photoshop expert) Eric added this pair of oversized undies to my photo. Why? Because the only panty-raids I’d be going on were for granny panties at the nursing home.
While his doctored picture began getting dozens of likes and LOLs and comments, I slunk away and debated hurling myself off my fourth floor balcony. Oh the humiliation! In the end I just laughed it off, what else can you do?
The reason I shared this middle age delinquent look back is because at the start of November when I received “Courtney’s Chit-Chat” (a monthly newsletter from the senior center with 2 calendars—one for activities, the other a lunch menu) there was this special note on the main page:
It has been brought to our attention that members participating in group trips have not been respectful to ACCESS drivers and participating members. Please keep in mind that you are a representive of the center on trips. ACCESS can suspend individual members as well as suspend the center indefinitely from trips. Due to multiple offenses, we are cancelling all November trips. We do not condone bullying or disrespectful behavior.
Group trips will pick back up in December with a chaperone.
What the—grounded! Well, that sucked. Hmm.. aside from two trips to the casino (and one to Oakmont Bakery when I was sick), I’d pretty much gone on all the other trips. If I did something wrong, would they have let me know? Did I see someone else do anything?
There is one woman in our group who makes a dash back indoors to whatever establishment we just came out of, when the Access shuttle pulls up to take us home. I just chalked it up to a last minute bladder-check, but she usually takes several minutes and we’re not supposed to keep those Access drivers waiting.
Speaking of Access drivers, when we went on the Mt.Washington outing for lunch, several Access vehicles showed up to take us home. One was a regular 4 passenger car, and this tall, elderly black man got out. He said “I am lookin’ for someones named Janet—Pearl—and Douglas!”
We all came over to his car and he said “Welcome aboard ladies—and fine gent! They call me Crazy Roy! Now who wants to ride up front with me!” Pearl & Janet were already getting in the back seat, and I said “No, no—wait. I want to know why they call you Crazy Roy.”
Janet (also black) said “Child, just get in the damn car!” Crazy Roy tilted his head back and laughed. He said “Because Mister Douglas, crazy things happen to me most everytime I get behind that wheel!”
He has got to be kidding me. I stood there for a minute, mentally getting my affairs in order then climbed in beside him. No joke—this is a true story—not 10 seconds after Crazy Roy pulled away from the curb in front of the restaurant, some crazy-ass man jumped off the sidewalk in front of our car with his arms outstretched, dancing in place like a jiggly scarecrow. Crazy Roy rolled down his window, stuck his head out and shouted “GET OUTTA THE LANE, FOOL! I ALMOST RUNNED YOU OVER!”
As we got on our way, Crazy Roy said “See? We’re good now, we got the crazy outta the way!” I said “Pearl, as soon as we get back to the Tiffany please remind me to call Pittsburgh Cremation & Funeral Care—they’ve got a special going on right now for simple cremation, 1500 dollars.”
Pearl laughed and said okay, Crazy Roy said “ARE YOU SERIOUS? FIT-TEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS? YOU GOT THE PHONE NUMBER?” I said “Uh… not on me, why?”
Crazy Roy said “’Cuz yesterday was my 80th birthday! I could go anytime!”
I guess I can live with being grounded for a few weeks.
Doug, goodness, I wonder what happened to make ACCES cancel your trips??? That too bad. The story with Crazy Roy…..you do have interesting things happen to you! Love the photo of you in the leather coat. The granny panties are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Tuesday.❤️
Robin
Thank you Robin! Actually, Access didn't cancel our trips--they just let the center know they had some issues. It was the center who canceled our outings for a month. I guess just to give us riders a wake up call. 🙂
DeleteOh, I see. What do you people get up to???
DeleteHaha--Robin, I just got home from the center and did ask some questions! I guess a few people were eating on the shuttle, carrying leaky food back home, being rude or bossy to others, etc. I believe certain riders were individually suspended. These damn kids!
DeleteYou need to nosey around and find out the real deal. I am very curious about the delinquents.
ReplyDeleteDebby I was nosing around up there today--but they won't share! I'm just glad I wasn't one of the guilty ones--yet :^)
Delete"yet"? Don't be one, ever!
DeleteYou mind River now.
DeleteHahaha! Debby--I will!
DeleteWow. I didn't see that coming (photo OR senior trip grounding)! I'm pretty sure that the reason for the grounding will start to circulate very soon. Things like that are never kept quiet.
ReplyDeleteDon, I was just thinking about you--I hope you & your wife are well. Well, I was just there today and they're pretty tight-lipped when it comes to names and such, all they would tell me was people being rude or leaking food on the seats. I wish people could try and be more like me :^)
DeleteThen they should have spoken directly with “those people” and not punished everyone. First rule of education training is don’t punish the whole class for what two or three may have done.
DeleteThanks Don--actually, I learned they DID speak to the people who caused the trouble (and they were suspended separately). The center just thought they'd give Access a break for their troubles. It's all good. :^)
DeleteI'm very curious about who misbehaved; it seems like someone will know the details! Nose around a bit, Doug and then give us the info. :) I think you look cool in the leather jacket; I have one too that I should get rid of it. I doubt that I'll ever wear it again--for several reasons. (the main one being that I weighed 20 pounds less when I wore it)
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret, I was just nosing around up there today, haha--they are keeping mum on the names, but there were individual suspensions. It's like high school all over again, haha--as for you being 20 lbs thinner I can't imagine you're pretty small already--but that's the same reason I no longer wear mine :^)
DeleteWhy do some people have to misbehave and make trouble for everyone? Your Senior Center should let people know if they are reported for inappropriate behavior, their membership will be cancelled. Punishing everyone for actions by one or two+ people seems wrong. Fall is great weather for wearing a leather jacket. Get the leather jacket out of the closet. Roy seems like a great guy. He must meet the crazies regularly. Take caution Roy...You're the good guy in this equation!
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Susan--and you're RIGHT, we're all getting punished for a couple people! But it's okay, they told us today some of the plans for Dec-Jan (including a Titanic exhibit) which I'm super pumped for. As for the leather jacket... I have around 25 lbs around my middle I'd have to lose first! PS. We all agreed we love Crazy Roy :^)
DeleteAnd inquiring minds want to know...is your old friend Eric in this group? Because seems to know how to stir a pot!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Debby, Eric is an ornery character who lives in the South (we belonged to an online sci-fi/comics/movie message board 20 years ago). Haven't heard from him in years, but I'm reminded of him all the time. :^)
DeleteWe used to call that "global shit" when I worked. When one person (or maybe a couple) act up, instead of dealing with that individual(s), an e-mail would go out to everyone in the office (300 or so) reminding them to be respectful/follow the rules/insert whatever else here.
ReplyDeleteI must admit the photoshopped phot had me stopped for a minute. Your friend has quiet the sense of humour...though I can imagine it didn't feel that way then.
Thanks Maebeme--I did learn that the individuals were given suspensions, the center decided later to show Access they were taking it seriously by calling a halt to things for a month. It's been such a great service, I don't want to lose it indefinitely. As for that photoshopped picture... haha! I was shocked the first time I saw it, but it did make me laugh :^)
DeleteI could go for much more Crazy Roy
ReplyDeleteHe’s a character. 😊
Haha thanks Shawn--he certainly was and I hope we get him again :^)
DeleteBoy, I really hate those wrist slapping messages. How can one even tell if they violated some obscure standard of behavior known only to the writer and the offendee? You have such a nice attitude, I would be out egging the building.
ReplyDeleteCeci
Thank you Ceci, it really is okay. I'm sure the center didn't want to embarrass anyone, and the important thing is they're still open. I still enjoy going there for lunch and to see my friends. 🙂
DeleteToo bad you were all grounded for November. Boy, things like this happen and you realize how good things were. Hope you're back on track in December.
ReplyDeleteThank you Queen Gigi, I would say things are still good! I'm still showing up there a couple days a week to see everyone, and they do have some good trips planned for December and January!
DeleteI wonder what the real problem is? I'm sure you would have noticed if people were deliberately rude to the drivers.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right River, and I honestly saw nothing. I just hope the situation has been resolved!
DeleteIgnore my question now that I've read the other comments. As for the granny panties, I'd wear those comfy britches instead of a thong any day!
ReplyDeleteHaha! You know I wasn't actually holding anything in that doctored picture, right? 😄
DeleteYes.
DeleteHa, the old peer pressure tactic! Thought it a bit insulting that they said December trips would resume with a 'chaperone'. Assumed an organizer would suffice. Your friend Eric had quite the creative sense of humour! Despite your initial sense of horror, I had a good laugh at the Photoshop gag. And I loved the driver, Crazy Roy. Certainly added interest to the trip.
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Florence--I gotta be honest, I like the 4 women who run the center so much, I'm the one who's always asking Elisa, Courtney, Colleen or Bridget to please come with us. So one of them as a chaperone would be welcome! As for Crazy Roy, I'm glad you liked him--at the end of the ride, we did too. He was a real gentleman, parking and helping Janet & Pearl out of his car and to the front door. :^)
DeleteThat just sucks! I get very indignant when I'm punished for someone else's transgressions. I guess you'll know who the guilty parties are when they have to sit out the future trips. I've been enjoying your trip reports so I'm sorry there won't be any this month but hope you have some happy experiences on the horizon.
ReplyDeleteBobi, thanks very much! And that's very nice what you said about my trip reports, I wondered if I was sharing too much there. It really is okay about the "November sit-out" though, I still enjoy going to the center-- I'll have to see who's missing from future trips. :^)
DeleteYour Center experiences are certainly entertaining, Dug. Most of our center activities are already filled when we try to sign up... almost signed up for 2 in February and May 2024, but told we couldn't sign up till December for the Spring activities. However, we still go there once or twice a week to walk, have coffee, and check out the library. And I agree that Crazy Roy sounds like a fun guy.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rian, and thanks for sharing your own center experiences--well, we were told this week that there's a limited number of seats for the center's Christmas party, $6.00 each and they sell out very fast. I hope I get one. And you're right, Crazy Roy was such a fun guy I hope we see him again. PS Rian, something is wrong when you commented, it took 8 hours to show up. I wish I knew why.
DeleteSo glad you overcame your reluctance and started going to the center! It sounds like good fun and good eats. Olivia
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Olivia! Boy, did you get that right (overcoming my reluctance). That first step was hard, but I'm glad I did it. :^)
DeleteIt's really sad that even grownups can't use common courtesy these days. It seems like rudeness is a game and people could care less about others feelings. Seems like just treating the drivers like normal human beings and not being slobs was too much for some people. I don't blame the drivers for reporting problems and hopefully you can all get back on track with your wonderful outings soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Miss Merry, you're exactly right. If you lived any closer, the staff would be asking you to give our group this lecture! 🙂👍
Delete