Day 10

Ok, now the army is really here.

Yesterday, we received 7 soldiers. Today, there are 28.

They all need scrubs. There are not nearly enough scrubs. Or rather, there are some, but they’re being laundered, and this is not a process that can be expedited. So the troops wait outside until one load is finished drying, then a third of them are allowed inside. An hour later, another third, and the remaining group comes in an hour after that.

Even so, the uniforms that come back from the laundry are not the right sizes. The soldiers come back from the locker room wearing ill-fitting and mismatched tops and bottoms. They’re very good sports about this.

My job is to train the troops on the proper use of PPE. “Everyone listen up!” The platoon leader barks. “She’s the boss.” OKAY! I don’t have much experience directing military personnel, but I do have some experience directing toddlers. Military personnel are decidedly more compliant.

I walk them through the donning procedure and call them out when they miss a step. I am very intimidating.

In between groups, I fold laundry like my life depends on it.

What are we going to do with all these people?? Our staff just more than doubled. PABs seem a little stunned by how crowded it is on the floor. Everyone looks busy though. Maybe it’s their job to look busy? Maybe they’re actually busy.

In any case, one concrete benefit to having so many people is that every single resident got a shower today! I don’t ask how long it’s been since this happened. I don’t think anyone remembers.

Day 11

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