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A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER, PART FIVE

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A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER PART FIVE By Fred Wickert Chapter # 3 Life At The ARC On Monday May 1, 1978 I moved in with Mr – Mrs. Wayman. I stayed until Friday March 20, 1998. But here is some of what I did while I was there. Mrs. Wayman was the town historian. People would stop by to find out information on the history that she could help them with. Also she baked cakes for weddings and birthdays. I stayed with Mrs. Wayman for 19 years and 10 months. I helped out around the house by changing sheets, making my bed, cleaning my bedroom, sweeping the patio and porch and help with the leaves in the fall time. Mrs. Wayman wondered who taught me all of the things I knew how to do. I asked Gladys fiurst if she wanted me to work outside. Sometimes she would say no, but othertimes yes. Also with Gladys the entire friendship club was in a play. The church where the play was it was packed the date was Thursday December 6th. In the evening I think we went on Tuesday nights to practice for the play. There was a lot of preparation involved. We all wore costumes at the end of the play we all sang Christmas songs. Also on Saturday in the year of 1985 the friendship club was in a parade. The parade was in Schoharie down the main street. Also while talking about friendship club. We also rode on a wagon in 1995 in the month of July. There was a bicentennial celebration The Knights of Columbus marched in this parade. I rode a wagon in support of Columbus waving to people. This parade was also in Schoharie. I also was in another parade in Middleburgh supporting the Knights of Columbus I also rode a wagon waving to the people who came to see the parade. Now back to some of the vacations. I went on with the Wayman. In 1977-78 we went on a Sunday and came back on Saturday to Caroga Lake, we stayed in two different houses. I think there were 10 of us with four counselors. This was through the organization ERDS. I remember one of my counselors in particular. Her name was Karen Reed, we used to do at camp included dances on Friday nights, softball and learned to row a boat, etc. We went in the water to swim. In 1979 we went to cape Cod. We also went sight seeing for a week in 1980. I also went to Lake George for a few days in 1981. I also took my first flight to Florida. We left on a Saturday and came back that following Saturday in 1982. I went back to Lake George for a few days. In 1983 we made another trip to cape cod also we went in 1985 to Caroga Lake and again in 1985. We also went to Niagra Falls for a few days in 1992 and we went to Philadelphia. There we saw the liberty bell and visited a house to see how they lived also I went on a horse carriage ride, etc. We also stopped in Atlantic City. I liked that place because I enjoyed gambling, but unfortunately I didn’t win any money. I’ve also made small trips to the baseball games, picnics and went to dinner on the ship. Oh yeah I almost forgot I had my picture taking by the liberty bell. Also while there I would work. When we were working we had to punch in on our time cards. At the end of the day we would punch out. I’ve been working in the front workshop for 18 yrs (since 1981). Occasionally they would need me in the back workshop. I put pens together and other things too. I remember sorting multicolor ink for pens as well as well when I was at the workshops. In the last page I was talking about when I came to the ARC, it was Monday December 4, 1978. Here I worked in the workshop refinishing furniture for two months. I was moved to the kitchen Feb 12, 1979, I was to dump ash trays, wash tables and chairs, and run the cash register, prepare food trays, make jello, bake cookies, washed the kitchen towels and count money for a total at the end of the day. I would leave $8.00 change in the register for the next day. I worked in the kitchen from 1979 to 1981. I then moved to the front shop. I remember cutting my finger on a pie crust can and having stitches put in my finger. In the front shop I also packaged envelopes, put vacuum cleaner parts together, etc. Then on March 20, 1998 I moved in with Jennifer & John Warner. There were eight of us altogether and we lived in North Blenheim, NY. I changed my sheets, made my bed and folded the clothes to be put away. I liked to relax out on the front porch. I also would dust and clean my room. Now on to more of stuff I am a member of Knights of Columbus. I joined in December 4, 1980 and I am currently still a member. Our organization helps people in need of some type of assistance. For example we help paint the outside of a house. Also, we would hold meetings twice a month. Also, we had helped the church with cleaning and yard work. I’m also a member of ERDS. We got out in the community to balls game, bowling, and swimming. I’m English and Irish ancestry. Also, while I was with the Warners we went camping Belvedere Lake. I went fishing and slept in a tent on a cot. Well, now on to more I also went with the residents of River St, I went on another plane ride in Sept. 2002. We went to the Scotia airport for a special plane ride. We went on a small four passenger plane. We circle around Schenectady and Scotia area. It was a sunny day and had a lot of fun. Then, I retired Jan 2, 2002 from Schoharie ARC workshop. I worked there for 23 yrs but now I am with Dayhab in Coby NY. There I help the girls with remember stuff that needs to be done. I like to do crafts and read papers I get. I used to go to the carnival when I was a kid. I lived around here for 39 yrs. I used to bowl with ERDS that was in 1978. Now with that said I’m still at Dayhab in Coby. I love it there. Now at the end of my book I would like to thank everyone for their help and support with writing my book. So thank you very much and I hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it. Yours Truly Howard Reidy I think that you will agree with me that, while far from perfect, Howard did a great job in writing his story. Especially when taking into consideration his handicaps as well as his very limited education. It strikes me that some events were very powerful memories to Howard and the dates of many of these events stuck in his mind. What powerful emotions they must have provoked to be remembered with such clarity, not only about the events but also of the dates on which they occurred. Typical of Howard as I knew him, throughout his story, though he mentions occasionally things that displeased him, he displayed neither anger, nor any grudge at all. He was fully aware that he disliked what was happening, but he understood his limitations in doing something about it. He did what he could to bring about changes for the better, but he did it without anger or animosity. I find that truly remarkable. I also believe that subtlety, he did in fact cause changes for the better from time to time. A portion of the last part is a little confusing in that he said there were eight of them living at the Ward’s. There were in fact eight including the Wards and their children, now grown. Not eight developmentally disabled. Also, though he titles the last chapter as his life at the ARC, he continued to include part of his life in family care as well, and indeed he lived them both at the same time.