Turning a New Leaf

I'm finding it very difficult to accept that tomorrow is my last day working in Tinley Park with the hurricane survivors. In spite of the enormous amount of stress and driving (and stress associated with driving!) I'm really going to miss all of the wonderful people that I met these past two weeks. There is something about people being brought together in such unique circumstances that makes everyone feel bonded I think. I feel really close to the survivors and the volunteers. All of my clients have my cell phone number, and I intend to continue helping them if the need arises. Another worker should be taking my place after I leave, but I really feel strongly about giving these people some continuity and like I said, I feel close to them. They are my clients, and you don't just leave your clients after two weeks. I want to be around to help them sucessfully transition either back to Louisiana or into apartments here in Chicago. I already helped one family move this week, and let me tell you it was one of the most beautiful and trying times for them. Very emotional. They are forced to leave all of these people at Tinley that they too feel close too and consider friends as well as counselors, volunteers, and helpers. Yet they are moving into a wonderful apartment in a nice neighborhood into a place that they can finally call home. I'm happy for them, yet I hurt for them also. I can't even begin to imagine all that they have been through.

Anyway, I'm back at C4 on Monday. No more hour-long commute to work each day. No more 9:00 a.m. volunteer meetings or lunches with everyone in the cafeteria. No more stress of dealing with FEMA or CHA. I think I'll miss it quite a lot.