Wednesday, August 9, 2023

WfW ~ knee jerks and other kinds

 I am writing with Words for Wednesday, the words for which can be found [link>] on Messy Mimi's Meanderings blog for the month of August.  

The goal of WfW is to take given prompts, words, phrases, photos, colors, or music and create a story from them.  This week's words and color of the month are in bold italics.  

If you visit her blog you can also read and cheer on the other writers participating in this weekly fun. 

*~*~*

Lucy under the upstairs
bookshelf by the reading
nook
  I've mentioned my roommates a few times here and there, and while it is half the number I thought I would be taking on, it is a perfect fit for the house and all of us.  Even Lucy has agreed and she made a public appearance downstairs during dinner last night which was quite a sign of approval from her.

  There will be a future news article in the Washington Post about the man behind the reason I took on roommates ... an elected government official, Governor Jim Justice, who abuses his position of power to bring in international workers for what is essentially indentured slavery for three months to a year at a time.

  He believes that the "opportunity" these "interns" have in being able to put the Greenbrier Resort on their resumes or CVs should pardon his abominable treatment of the interns ~ working them 12-16 hours a day with few breaks if any; 14-20 day work "weeks" with no days off; verbal abuse and sometimes sexual harassment from those in positions of power over the interns.

  The posture of those who have the ability to make a change in the treatment of these interns, or even remotely follow standard human resources or even union employee, guidelines for them is to just turn a blind eye to it.

  Whether it is fear of the Governor's gavel coming down on their heads or indifference and bigotry, I believe their lack of action on behalf of these young interns makes them just as culpable as the Governor.

  My left knee has lately been driving me nuts and I originally attributed it to driving a standard-shift car and moving into a house with stairs.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  An MRI done on Monday has shown I have a torn ACL and also an anterior horn meniscus root tear.  Fun fun fun.  I'm waiting now for the referral appointment to the orthopedic surgeon to schedule arthroscopic surgery.  

  No more beating around the bush in denial about the pain.  I was supposed to have surgery for a torn meniscus in both knees in December of 2019.  In Wisconsin.  But had no intention of doing crutches on snow and ice for even one day.  Then Covid canceled all surgeries for a while.  I divorced.  Moved.  Got told I was going to die.  Didn't die [and left that doctor high and dry!].

  All in all, the rest of the year looks like it will be a busy one.  The roomies from the Philippines are looking forward to the fall colors of the trees, including the luminous bright reds of the flowering dogwoods in the area.  I'm just looking forward right now to some relief from the heat.

3 comments:

  1. Excellent use of the words. We have such troubles here, too, only the workers are bussed up from Mexico. It's awful as their passports are taken away "for safekeeping" and they cannot get away. Anyone who thinks there's no more slavery needs to open their eyes.

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  2. And I was so indignant I forgot to say, thank you for joining the WFW, this is an excellent use of the prompts.

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  3. This is a lovely use of the prompts - though messymimi is right. Slavery does indeed continue. I hope that your arthroscopic surgery happens soon and is a complete success - and that you finally get some relief from the heat.

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