On getting lost, finding The Gerrys, and the day I became a celebrity
A little while ago I watched part of an awards ceremony. As each nominee’s name was called, fresh applause broke out in the audience. When the winners were announced, people stood and cheered wildly as the winners made their way to the front to collect their awards. Wow, I thought. How amazing would it feel to be that appreciated? But later it occurred to me that I do know that feeling. I just had to reach back a ways to find it.
When I was in my twenties, I worked as a resident counselor in a group home for people with developmental disabilities. Our house was for the over- 60 population, affectionately known as The Gerrys. The house was on a pretty, wooded lot in the country, about fifteen miles from the closest city, where most of their appointments and activities took place. A city that was unfamiliar to me at the time.
This was before GPS. Before everyone had cell phones. One day, about two weeks into the job, I was tasked with picking The Gerrys up from the bowling alley. Our agency had eight group homes in the area and the residents of those houses had formed a league of sorts. After writing down the directions, I jumped in the house van and took off. Just inside the city limits I took a wrong turn. Then I took another wrong turn. Before I knew it I was trapped in a maze of one-way streets and dead ends. As the minutes slipped away, I grew more and more anxious. The Gerrys liked their routine, liked things to go according to plan. Would they be upset when I wasn’t there to pick them up? Would they be angry? I finally pulled into a gas station and used the pay phone (Yep, it was that long ago!) My supervisor was able to deduce where I was and get me back on track.
When I arrived at the bowling alley the clients had finished their games. I was about fifteen minutes late, and though I was stressed and anxious, The Gerrys were seated at a table, contentedly sipping Cokes and eating popcorn. And then a beautiful thing happened. My favorite client, Alice, caught sight of me and announced joyfully, “She’s here!” Alice started clapping, which caused all of the other Gerrys to start clapping, This created a Domino effect throughout the bowling alley. Seeing a celebrity had arrived, all of the clients from all of the houses stood and cheered and applauded. It was one of the loveliest moments of my life. The day I got a standing ovation just for showing up 
