46 mins from my house, I almost want to cancel the appointment with Suzanne after learning the location of her house. I googled it and saw Ina, further from Ina Road, it should be an easy drive, I could take Swan to Sunrise…. and went for it.

She gave me directions but I went with th gps and forgot to put it on most frequently used highways. It led me to a dirt road and more dirt road and more dirt road. Oh my god, I thought, I am glad I am doing this during the day time. The road is so narrow, what happens if a car comes from the opposite direction? It seemed to take forever. This has to be where she lives, and not the home but as the location came closer, I knew with a sinking heart, it was the location of the home.

I pulled in and waited outside for a while. I was way too early, giving myself time to get lost were that to happen. The scenery was lovely, mountains and desert. I entered, a man was getting ready to sing Christmas carol. Slowly the residents gathered around the living room  area. There were some smiles but few words. I do not know if it is due to the carols being sung or it is the usual. My bet would be, it is the usual.

The place was lovely. Instantly I could tell Suzanne is a young woman with vision about creating an in care home which feels more like house than nursing home. The ceiling is high, the area spacious and not at all cluttered. I was impressed, very impressed.

She came out on seeing me. I told her, “I do not want to apply. There is no way I am going to drive that route every day.” She looked a bit surprised. I described the harrowing drive I just had. She told me that was why she gave me directions. All it takes to her place is 3/4 mile dirt road outside and that is it. Since I was there, I accept the papers for application, sat and filled it up. Then I sang a bit with the man, one resident joining in.

Suzanne called me for interview after seeing the other person out. I did not try to sell myself. She described the work to me, caregiver work. She asked me if I like to work full time. I told her yes. I could see her mentally calculating and then she told me she could give me full time day shift. After that, she talked like she was going to hire me. I asked her if I find the driving too much, could I quit ? She told me, yes there is no contract for these kind of work, but do it right and give her two weeks notice.

I drove out using her directions and the drive back was not bad though long. Once home, I started thinking on that place. It is very good in every way, when it came to me, it was quiet, too quiet. They must like it quiet, I thought, none of the residents given to much talking, when it came to me though very nice, Suzanne is quiet and serious.  The caregiver she hired serious also. I thought, were she good, she would hire me because I would bring some laughter to that place. But then she might not want noise or laughter and chose residents of like mind. All she needs is some life there and it is a haven.

I could see also why she would hire me without prior experience. That remote, it takes a certain personality to be able to take it. Anyone who likes mall would not want to work there.

Later I laughed to myself, during the interview I was more intent on knowing how she came to build this place than selling my assets. She is 42 and started the home in 2003. Before that she rented a house and had some residents there. She would have been in her early thirties when she had the place built. Quite remarkable for one so young. I asked her what got her to do it in the first place? It does not take much to figure out she had to be really driven to create this home for the elderly. She came from a family of care homes and grew up around them. That explains why and how. It came to me also, the young girl who went for interview probably would not see what I saw.