#WednesdaysWithHenry…day 7

Monday January 11, 2016 I knew that I was going to be very busy but in North County so it didn’t make sense to me to go pick Henry up early and have him work with me. I did let him know that I’d be tied up most of the day but I always like it when he checks in with me. He told me that he was going to check into a few places near the hotel to see if they were hiring.

When I hadn’t heard from Henry all day I did become a little bit concerned. At this point the only way that we could communicate was when he or I called to or from his phone in the hotel. The fact that we hadn’t talked was a bit unusual and I tried not to worry too much about it. I’m not his mother, he’s a grown man, and he is able to come and go as he pleases.

I still hadn’t heard from Henry come Tuesday morning and it was really bothering me, more than I could figure out why. When I have an odd feeling about something, it is generally spot on so I decided to head downtown and check on him at the hotel. When I called the front desk they told me that they did see him come and go several times on Monday and that he was in his room Tuesday morning so I wasn’t concerned for his safety, just wondering what was going on. I’m always mindful that his life has taken a drastic turn and I don’t want him to get overwhelmed and decide it’s too much for him.

To say that 500 West Hotel isn’t a 5 star hotel is an understatement. It’s the old YMCA building. Henry told me that the elevator reminded him of the movie The Shining, he then went on to say, “You’ll see when you get in it sometime.” I vowed right then and there to never get in that elevator. I never saw the movie The Shining because I’m a big wuss and I don’t like to be scared, which I can be easily…so anyway, while riding up in the “redrum” elevator I understood exactly what he was talking about when he told me about it.

Henry opened his door immediately when I knocked and just said, “Well hi Kari, I’ve missed you.” As if he was expecting me or something. I was more than relieved to see him and see that he was okay. He explained to me that he knew I was busy and he didn’t want to “bother me”. I told him I had been trying to call but he never heard the phone. We got it all cleared up that he can call me at any time and it’s never a bother, that’s what friends do when they want to check in on one another.

I noticed that he had a really beaten up beach cruiser bike without a seat on it in his room. He let me know he bought it for $10 and was going to fix it up so he can ride it to and from work when he finds a job. He also told me that he’s going to try to build a motor for it because the hills are really difficult to ride up and a motor would make it easier. Henry’s always thinking several steps ahead, it’s refreshing to see.

Henry and I decided that it’s ok to call whenever you want and if either of us are too busy we’ll just let the other one know that and call back. Now hopefully we won’t worry about each other too much.

Some days with Henry consist of phone calls, quick meetings and then others are filled with working, talking, laughing and learning…actually all of them have been filled with learning.