Good neighbor
Neil has been Donald’s only friend in the world ever since his sister, Anne, passed two years ago. When Donald—who is severely mentally handicapped— was evicted in October we didn’t know where he would end up. The landlords had wanted him out for quite some time as he was paying something like $11 to rent a place that would now command $2K. He was also using it to store trash, bottles, and cans. It was a problem. Still, he’d been there for thirty-odd years and it was his spot. Now it isn’t.
One of my favorite blog strings from January — friend-of-friends Molly writing about her friend (friend-of-friend-of-friends to me) Neil writing about his former neighbor. The posts are about particular people and situations, but if you've never considered the difficulties for older folks with intellectual disabilities, dealing with life after parents, do read.
A week after that, I got a collect call from Donald. Figuring I could just call him back at Bellevue, I declined the charges and called his ward. The nurse on duty told me he had indeed been discharged that afternoon. I asked where he was. She said she didn't know.
