My 14 yr old son, who struggled this year with some learning issues in pandemic, although he’s bright, and no additional help from teachers at private school, where entitled group of badly behaved boys peed all over a room, told me how he was only one who noticed the female janitor was crying who had to clean it up . He wrote her note of apology and gave her a gift card one evening
at school sports practice . She gave him a hug. I was proud of him for being a “ noticer” and didn’t care that his grades weren’t great. Some things are more important qualities in growing young man. He’s going to different school next year.
I have a spanish-speaking client who works in a hospital cleaning. Fortunately she was among the first to be vaccinated along with the healthcare professionals.
Thank you for reminding us about these priceless people! They do the jobs that most of us would not like to carry out on a day to day basis as they do. Further, many of these workers are minorities and/or immigrants. Their lives are challenging to say the least, but they are some of the most positive people one could ever meet. I should know as my now deceased mother-in-law was from Colombia, and she worked as a housekeeper for several businesses . She was very loved and appreciated by all who knew her! However, the toll that this work takes on the body is very noticeable. I don’t know if anyone thinks about this part of the job, but cleaning/ housekeeping is very demanding work. God bless all of the workers who fall into this category!
We owe a huge debt to those in cleaning jobs for helping keep us healthy - most definitely during the pandemic, but always. They deserve our respect and thanks - and should be paid more for the important jobs that they do.
So pleased that you have shone the light on the cleaners. I have always thought that they go unappreciated and are treated as though they are invisible. I have made it my duty to thank them wherever I encounter them. And this was before COVID. They are so essential to making our lives comfortable. They should be compensated much better.
Yes, I stand with you Mr. Rather, and say thank you for your service, to all the unsung heroes working quietly, getting us through this national tragedy.
Thank you so much for the words you pen week after week. You speak give all of hope, and give ideas to reflect on as we try to navigate our new normal.
Thank you so very much for acknowledging the folks who clean!‼👍🏿👍🏿They are truly the essential workers! The doctors, nurses, orderlies, etc. get the accolades and shout outs, but after their work is done, the people (essential workers) who come and clean up the operating rooms, bathrooms, hospital rooms etc. are often not mentioned as essential and don't get enough thanks or recognition for all they do. They have the "dirty" jobs. The jobs most of us wouldn't want to do, but someone has to,and as you said, they are usually Black and Brown folks that look like me! They are my heroes and they do the "essential" work. GOD bless them and keep them safe is my prayer!
I really enjoy reading all of your posts here. I serve in uniform, and I humbly remember my old days being a janitor before military.
I remember one day being in an airport in uniform fresh from AIT, and someone covers my tab, yet a fellow next to me who just got off a janitor shift at a local restaraunt in the airport I was talking to had to pay for his.
My Mom has been a janitor on the side of her fulltime job for decades. She raised me to leave cliffbars and cold water in a little cooler next to our garbage cans on Fridays for pickup day, and drop-off bikes to kids who were on welfare checks, cut lawns for old neighbors. I always thought "why do I have to do it, none of my friends do this they're out playing doing ABC". No one ever said thank you for your service to my Mom.
One day changed my perspective of people thanking only the military though. After a long hard wet day working at Habitat Humanity Seattle, my friend Josh and I (both serving a year in Americorps) drank a couple beers watching football at a Buffalo wild wings. Clad in our beat up, hole-chapped blue Americorps shirts, ripped-patched pants, we talked to a guy who thanked us for our service. And then he asked us what drove us to serve? How did we live? Why did we always take the bus?
This was before I ever served in uniform, and really impressed on me bc it wasn't a simple "tha k you for your service" obligation politeness. This man genuinely cared to thank us personally. Upon further observation, I noticed he was a Boeing employee, someone who clearly was well taken care of and maybe never had a hard job outdoors. I had other grassroots workers thank me for what I've done and get into why the rich are bad etc. But here was a man who showed empathy and compassion. It made me realize it's not a show of us VS them. Military VS civilian. Garbage man VS the rich dude. It was American WITH American. This man's ego-less compassion and selflessness stuck with me til today. I believe there are many stories like this we do not often hear about.
Mr Rather, the phrase that you penned in this reflection, “I imagine that many of you fall into this sacred category.” is pure poetry. I love reading your posts.
I was a K-3 classroom teacher for 35 years in some very affluent schools where children had great teachers, highly involved parents, and great advantage and privilege. Oftentimes, I was one of a handful of Black faces in the building along with the custodial and cafeteria staff. I would always refer to these crucial workers as Mr., Mrs., or Ms. to model to my students the level of respect these workers deserved. At the beginning of the school year, I would invite these men and women into my classroom to formally introduce them to my young students and have the class practice saying these honorifics with their names. I would then follow up with a "teachable moment" about why ALL jobs are important, wanting my students to think about where we would be without those who toil in some supposedly less than desirable jobs. I would ask them what would happen if our cafeteria workers and custodians didn't show up to work, then extend that to those who collect our garbage, who prepare and serve our food in restaurants, who fix our cars, who repair roads, etc. The goal was to open the eyes of children who had every advantage in the world and to help them understand the interconnectedness of life.
Your essay speaks to how often we dismiss those who work in very hard, but very necessary jobs. It is my hope that this pandemic opens wide the eyes of those who can so easily look askance at these crucial workers making their lives possible.
My 14 yr old son, who struggled this year with some learning issues in pandemic, although he’s bright, and no additional help from teachers at private school, where entitled group of badly behaved boys peed all over a room, told me how he was only one who noticed the female janitor was crying who had to clean it up . He wrote her note of apology and gave her a gift card one evening
at school sports practice . She gave him a hug. I was proud of him for being a “ noticer” and didn’t care that his grades weren’t great. Some things are more important qualities in growing young man. He’s going to different school next year.
Thank you for writing this essay paying tribute to all the people who provide services to the rest of us.
I have a spanish-speaking client who works in a hospital cleaning. Fortunately she was among the first to be vaccinated along with the healthcare professionals.
Thank you for reminding us about these priceless people! They do the jobs that most of us would not like to carry out on a day to day basis as they do. Further, many of these workers are minorities and/or immigrants. Their lives are challenging to say the least, but they are some of the most positive people one could ever meet. I should know as my now deceased mother-in-law was from Colombia, and she worked as a housekeeper for several businesses . She was very loved and appreciated by all who knew her! However, the toll that this work takes on the body is very noticeable. I don’t know if anyone thinks about this part of the job, but cleaning/ housekeeping is very demanding work. God bless all of the workers who fall into this category!
Yes, thank you to all our essential workers. Job well done!
We owe a huge debt to those in cleaning jobs for helping keep us healthy - most definitely during the pandemic, but always. They deserve our respect and thanks - and should be paid more for the important jobs that they do.
So pleased that you have shone the light on the cleaners. I have always thought that they go unappreciated and are treated as though they are invisible. I have made it my duty to thank them wherever I encounter them. And this was before COVID. They are so essential to making our lives comfortable. They should be compensated much better.
Their should be a Parade in Washington DC this Labor to Celebrate All Essential workers.
💗💗💗
Yes, I stand with you Mr. Rather, and say thank you for your service, to all the unsung heroes working quietly, getting us through this national tragedy.
Thank you so much for the words you pen week after week. You speak give all of hope, and give ideas to reflect on as we try to navigate our new normal.
Thank you so very much for acknowledging the folks who clean!‼👍🏿👍🏿They are truly the essential workers! The doctors, nurses, orderlies, etc. get the accolades and shout outs, but after their work is done, the people (essential workers) who come and clean up the operating rooms, bathrooms, hospital rooms etc. are often not mentioned as essential and don't get enough thanks or recognition for all they do. They have the "dirty" jobs. The jobs most of us wouldn't want to do, but someone has to,and as you said, they are usually Black and Brown folks that look like me! They are my heroes and they do the "essential" work. GOD bless them and keep them safe is my prayer!
I really enjoy reading all of your posts here. I serve in uniform, and I humbly remember my old days being a janitor before military.
I remember one day being in an airport in uniform fresh from AIT, and someone covers my tab, yet a fellow next to me who just got off a janitor shift at a local restaraunt in the airport I was talking to had to pay for his.
My Mom has been a janitor on the side of her fulltime job for decades. She raised me to leave cliffbars and cold water in a little cooler next to our garbage cans on Fridays for pickup day, and drop-off bikes to kids who were on welfare checks, cut lawns for old neighbors. I always thought "why do I have to do it, none of my friends do this they're out playing doing ABC". No one ever said thank you for your service to my Mom.
One day changed my perspective of people thanking only the military though. After a long hard wet day working at Habitat Humanity Seattle, my friend Josh and I (both serving a year in Americorps) drank a couple beers watching football at a Buffalo wild wings. Clad in our beat up, hole-chapped blue Americorps shirts, ripped-patched pants, we talked to a guy who thanked us for our service. And then he asked us what drove us to serve? How did we live? Why did we always take the bus?
This was before I ever served in uniform, and really impressed on me bc it wasn't a simple "tha k you for your service" obligation politeness. This man genuinely cared to thank us personally. Upon further observation, I noticed he was a Boeing employee, someone who clearly was well taken care of and maybe never had a hard job outdoors. I had other grassroots workers thank me for what I've done and get into why the rich are bad etc. But here was a man who showed empathy and compassion. It made me realize it's not a show of us VS them. Military VS civilian. Garbage man VS the rich dude. It was American WITH American. This man's ego-less compassion and selflessness stuck with me til today. I believe there are many stories like this we do not often hear about.
Mr Rather, the phrase that you penned in this reflection, “I imagine that many of you fall into this sacred category.” is pure poetry. I love reading your posts.
Dan, you are a kind, thoughtful, and compassionate human being. Thank you for your service
I was a K-3 classroom teacher for 35 years in some very affluent schools where children had great teachers, highly involved parents, and great advantage and privilege. Oftentimes, I was one of a handful of Black faces in the building along with the custodial and cafeteria staff. I would always refer to these crucial workers as Mr., Mrs., or Ms. to model to my students the level of respect these workers deserved. At the beginning of the school year, I would invite these men and women into my classroom to formally introduce them to my young students and have the class practice saying these honorifics with their names. I would then follow up with a "teachable moment" about why ALL jobs are important, wanting my students to think about where we would be without those who toil in some supposedly less than desirable jobs. I would ask them what would happen if our cafeteria workers and custodians didn't show up to work, then extend that to those who collect our garbage, who prepare and serve our food in restaurants, who fix our cars, who repair roads, etc. The goal was to open the eyes of children who had every advantage in the world and to help them understand the interconnectedness of life.
Your essay speaks to how often we dismiss those who work in very hard, but very necessary jobs. It is my hope that this pandemic opens wide the eyes of those who can so easily look askance at these crucial workers making their lives possible.