Call

I write my blog on Word and then same them even though they are posted on my blog. I keep them organized by year. As I procrastinate I often don’t say an entry until I start to write the next day. That’s what happened today. As I was saving I realize that I was about to save it to a folder called, “2019.” Even when writing about the new year it didn’t jog my brain enough to start a new folder. I just did that today. I’m fastidious enough to have transferred over the other entries I wrote this year. I might be a procrastinator and an idiot but I’m an organized procrastinating idiot. I’m also fastidious enough to carefully consider whether I was an idiotic procrastinator or a procrastinating idiot. I chose the latter as idiot is my brand.

I’ve been binge-watching Lucifer. I just finished Season 3. I had strongly recommended it to people but was having second thoughts as it deteriorated over that season before picking up at the end. When watching an episode, I particularly liked I saw it was written by Neil Gaiman. I figured, that’s it, he came in and lifted the quality of the show. No, he didn’t. He’s been writing it since day one. How did I not know that? He literally plays God in the last episode of the season. Perhaps he started giving it more attention.

On New Year’s Day I called 911 again. I saw a guy in a stupor on the street. It was probably drugs but he was clearly in bad shape, bent over at the waist, in the rain, and not moving. After I called he all of a sudden straightened up, walked a block, and returned to his stupor. When 911 showed up he moved when he heard the siren, went another half a block, bent over, and froze. I don’t know what happened to him, I left once I explained things to the EMS. I suspect I call 911 more than most people do. Do I call too often? I would rather err on the side of calling when it isn’t needed than not calling when it is. I have no doubts when I witness a crime or an accident where somebody is hurt. That’s different.

I told you about my multiple calls to 911 about the people in the apartment above me. They often had violent arguments that include me hearing crashes. I also heard a child being verbally abused. At someone’s suggestion I called ACS, The Administration for Children’s Services. They came quickly. That worked out better than I expected. I don’t know what they did but things in the apartment got better. The violent arguments almost came to an end. Those they still have are of very short duration. I’ve heard the child being yelled at but it’s well withing normal parenting. I cringe and prepare for more but instead of escalating the mother controls herself. They are still loud. They often have herds of wildebeests stampeding through their apartment, that’s happening now. But I can live with that. I’m not worried about the child or the mother as I was before. When in doubt call. In New York just dial 311 and they will hook you up with the right people. We always hear about the ACS and other social services failures; we don’t hear about their successes. They are real. Every time we cut their funding people suffer for it. They should be expanded. Whatever costs they incur are made up for in savings in police, prisons, emergency medical care, and welfare. Children brought up in difficult situations pay for it their entire lives. A big deal is made over those that overcome difficulties, and then we blame the ones that don’t.

That’s today’s lessons, I’m an idiot, watch Lucifer but expect doldrums, and support the government helping those most in need.