Merica House - a Place of Laughter

Merica House is full of laughter with residents and aides having a great sense of humor. Sitting and working around my workstation in 106 S, I listen to some of these aides working with Deirdre. Deirdre, apart from her obvious physical disability, is also visually impaired. Yet, she will call the aides by their name when they pass by. She will tell them what's cooking in the kitchen. And sometimes I walk quietly into the apartment and the aides attending to her will make comments like, "Orlando is late today, we hope nothing is wrong," and Deirdre will reply that I am in the apartment already. Then one of them will come out to see if it is true. Upon their return to the room, I can hear the same question from the aide, “How did you do that?” and she will reply, "I told you."

This drama went on for some time until recently when I disclosed the secret. I explained to the aides that during my time as a special education teacher I too, underwent the same curiosity. I explained how my students could tell whenever I walked into that classroom and addressed me by name. I told them that upon losing one of your senses, the remaining senses are very active. Therefore someone like Deirdre will utilize her sense of smell, taste, and hearing, far more than any of us with active five senses. The trick is that she can identify people around her by listening to their foot steps, perfumes, body odor, voices etc. At the end of my explanation to the aides that Deirdre doesn't have a sixth sense, I turned to Deirdre and apologized for disclosing her secret. The room almost collapsed with laughter from Deirdre and the Aides.