Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Calling In The Senior Fixer



     
                                                        
 On Ray Donovan,  Liev Schreiber stars as a professional "fixer" to some of LA's most powerful players, while struggling to keep his own family together. Jon Voight plays his criminal father who was just released from prison. They are both multi-dimensional characters, though Ray has to memorize a lot less dialogue.

Some of Ray's duties include: silent intimidation, fighting bad guys, hiding bodies, gathering blackmail material, and having short but meaningful conversations in his walk-in closet that is larger than most people's homes.When one of his client's threatened to let him go he replied in his gruff  Boston accent, "I'm not the kind of guy people fire."

This made me think of my own special skills. Instead of  packing a pistol, I was armed with an AARP card. Yes I had all of the unofficial requirements for being a senior fixer. Like Ray, I was always up to the challenge. If my mom needed to know what time and channel her favorite TV show was on she called me. If she didn't remember to hang up the phone after she called, I would find a way to get the message to her. Soon she told her friends about my skills. When they didn't care, I flew fourteen hours to see my mother-in-law.

I noticed that she was more frail than she had been just a few months earlier. After she had gone to take a nap, my husband and I waited for her in the living room. While my husband talked, I moved from the dining room table to the living room couch. The couch was too low, and the chairs were too stiff. Then I realized that if I was uncomfortable, a ninety year old woman who weighed about eighty two pounds would be in agony. Truth be told, you would have to be built like a Kardashian to sit comfortably on any of her furniture for more than a few minutes.

My husband's aunt recommended a store that specialized in supportive chairs for people with back injuries. We tested the height, and arm placement to insure that my mother-in-law would be able to sit, as well as rise with relative ease. The store promised that the chair would be delivered the following week. They lied.

We found out that the chair still hadn't arrived almost two weeks later. I immediately went into Ray Donovan mode. I threatened, made inappropriate gestures, and even chugged some chocolate milk. Then I grabbed the remote control, and held it over the toilet during the Chicago Bears game until my husband made the call.

When my mother-in-law finally got her comfortable recliner, she regained some of her energy. She thanked my husband and me up and down, and sounded more like herself. Sure Ray brings home a larger suitcase of cash than I do, but that's not going to stop me from pestering seniors to help them help me feel better about myself.


38 comments:

  1. There just are not enough 'fixers' in the world.

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  2. Oh what a sweet daughter and daughter-in-law you are. Everyone needs a loving touch in their lives. You are a true hero!

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  3. The poster is unfortunately not visible, but the message is loud and clear. It is a great lesson for all. Good for you!

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  4. You scared me with the remote over the toilet routine. YOU are a badass. :))

    And FYI this post only recently came up in my blogroll. Things on Blogger could use a fixer of your talents to get all these late posts sorted out. *shakes fist*

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  5. I really liked Liev Schreiber in that Wolverine movie.
    Probably not too high-brow, though.

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  6. You are right as always Delores!

    Julie - Thank you, but you are being much too kind. It just goes to show that small things really do make a difference. I didn't risk anything, other than a charley horse or two.

    JJ - I noticed that the TV poster didn't show up on Safari, though it worked fine on Chrome and Explorer. I'll have my technical adviser look into it. Sorry for the inconvenience JJ. Thanks for being so thoughtful.

    Luanne - Sorry that I frightened you! If only my children would have feared me when they were growing up. Strange things are happening around here between the blogroll delay, and the poster failing to show up on different sites. Thanks for letting me know, and I'm glad that you saw the humor in this.

    Al - I never saw Wolverine 2, but I agree that Liev has menacing eye brows. There was a funny scene with him portraying LBJ in The Butler where he was holding court from your favorite curbside station.

    Julie

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  7. I hope you realize how special you are. I love what you did for your mother-in-law. A comfortable chair can make such a difference, as you already know, but you cared enough to do something about it. A hundred mitzvahs (is that how you spell it?) for you.

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    1. Susan - Of course you spelled it right, though I am not worthy of such an honor. After all, I went to unscrupulous measures to accomplish my goal! This is quite a compliment coming from such a wonderful daughter, and devoted daughter-in-law! Thank you Susan!

      Julie

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  8. Now that's my girl. Some of those companies don't realise that there are people out there depending on them to do things on time. So yes, you did right to rattle their cage and now all is well. You made a good decision with that furniture Julie, because now she's more happier in herself. A little comfort can go a very long way for the elderly.

    I can't see the poster image either but it could be my browser.

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  9. I could do with someone like you over here, wonderful post to read.

    Yvonne.

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. Rum-Punch Drunk - They did know that she needed the chair ASAP, as I asked them to send over a temporary chair over in the meantime. They said that their stock was too low for my first request, but there was no excuse for the delayed delivery. I still don't know why the image only appears on some browsers. Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks RPD!

    Yvonne - I could benefit more from your services, as you are the tech savvy one. Thanks Yvonne!

    Julie

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  12. Wonderful post, Julie. I could use a you even if I don't qualify as a senior yet. I could definitely ask you to do something to make you feel better about yourself :-) Fun and heatwarming too!

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  13. You go, girl! I love the idea of the remote over the toilet. That might work for my own husband.

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  14. Val - I think you could write a book about your life as a "fixer" or a fixer upper if you haven't already! Thanks Val, and I'm glad you liked the ending!

    Susan - I really don't like to discuss certain aspects of my business! Don't let Samuel play with any remotes in the bathroom, but it is worth trying on your husband! Thanks Susan!

    Julie

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  15. The world needs more "fixers." Good for you for being out there making a Huge Difference in the lives of people you love!!!

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    1. Robin - I appreciate the compliment, though what I've done is far from "huge." It's nice how some simple suggestions produced positive results. Thanks for following me Robin, and I look forward to getting to know you!

      Julie

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  16. It's hard to watch our parents get old, I could really see it this last visit. You are an awesome daughter, and you always were. Really great gift you got your mom with the chair.

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    1. Rhonda - I agree that it is hard to watch them slow down. My mother-in-law needed the chair. The tough part was finding one that would be relatively easy to get in and out of. I know that you're a wonderful daughter too. Thanks Rhonda!

      Julie

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  17. I agree with Robyn - the world needs more fixers like you.

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    1. Carol - I think that we are all "fixers" in one way or another. Thanks Carol!

      Julie

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  18. That is a great feel good story. Thank you for sharing it.

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  19. Oh, and the poster doesn't show up on my computer. The browser is Chrome.

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  20. I try not to fix things for other people if I can avoid it. Whenever I try someone usually ends up mad at me. Maybe a suitcase full of cash would help.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  21. Hi Julie,

    You did well and you got the situation fixed. Perhaps you could fix it so my son stops screaming at his X-Box at three in the morning. And I cannot see the poster on my computer, either.

    A supportive chair and a supportive lady. What a combo. Three chairs, um cheers for you.

    Gary :)

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  22. Yvonne - That's strange, as it showed up here on Chrome. Thanks for letting me know, and for the kind words Yvonne!

    Lee - Some elderly people have gotten mad at me for opening doors, while others have been appreciative. I was just kidding about the cash filled suitcase; though I was once offered a ride on a Pace senior bus!

    Gary - Let me know if your son is still "screaming at his X-Box" in the middle of the night when he's a senior. BTW, if he's up anyway why don't you have him look for the missing poster? It's just a close-up of Liev Schreiber looking extremely tough while clutching a handkerchief that was probably used for removing fingerprints or fingers. Thanks for the "three chairs" Gary!

    Julie.

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  23. This is really wonderful! I liked what you did.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  24. All the seniors out there are lucky to have you! :)

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  25. That's awesome you were a hero!

    I am following again from my new identity. New blog is http://tonjamatney.blogspot.com

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  26. Talli - It really works both ways. Thanks Talli!

    Thanks Tonja, but you are giving me too much credit. I look forward to seeing your new blog! Thanks for following me!

    Julie

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  27. Hi Julie .. love the way you've crafted this - what a great approach. How sensible to get things organised ... it just makes everyone's lives so much easier - and once our elders get older, they're not exactly sure how to go about things ... so very well done.

    Sorry about the lady-sized suitcase of cash! But bet your brain is full now ... it needs to be refuelled with perceptive ideas!!! Cheers to you - Hilary

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    1. Hilary - Yes, I'm always in need of "perceptive ideas." Let me know if you could spare a few! Thanks Hilary!

      Julie

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  28. Ray's duties read like an extremely frightening dating ad.

    You're very caring and perceptive family to have noticed the affect of furniture on your mom. As a little person, I am routinely uncomfortable in normal-sized people furniture. If there's a kiddie chair around, I take that one. Loved your comment about the Kardashians too. Who needs a cushion when you've got a built in sofa bed for 10?

    Be well, Julie.
    xoRobyn

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    1. Robyn - A "built-in sofa bed for 10?!" I think I'd rather sit at the kiddie table with you! Thanks Robyn!

      Julie

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  29. Liev Schrieber has such a presence that dialogue isn't always necessary. We love "Foyle's War" (a BBC production). Michael Kitchner is Foyle; his facial expressions, even the lifting of an eyebrow says more than any dialogue could.

    Hope your moms will be helped by these modifications. I know my mom was.

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    1. Susan - Good point about Liev Schreiber. I'll have to check out Foyle's War sometime. Thanks Susan!

      Julie

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