One of the things I love most about my job is that you just never know what is going to happen next. It’s never boring! Here’s just one small example of what I mean.

The setting: The geropsych unit where I work, in “Fred’s” room, where he’s just waked up and I’m helping him dress for breakfast.

Fred: “Have you seen my brother?”
Me: “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
Fred: “Sure, I have a brother. Unless he’s dead… He could be dead, I guess. Shoot, he’d be in his 80s by now.”
Me: “What’s your brother’s name?”
Fred: “Fred.”
Me: “But YOUR name is Fred.”
Fred: “Of course.” (He looks at me like I must be an idiot.)
Me: “So what’s your brother’s name, then?”
Fred: “Fred.”
Me: “Your brother’s name is Fred? Wasn’t that kind of confusing?”
Fred: “No, MY name is Fred.”
Me: “That’s what I thought. What’s your brother’s name?”
Fred: “Fred.”
Me: “So were your parents just unimaginative, or what?”
Fred: “No, they were Polish.”