"Mike"

Yesterday we had an appointment with a man who told me his name was Mike.  I chuckled to myself because I knew that was not his real name from his accent.

Rick was there yesterday and he goes back next week for another room.
This guy drove me nuts on the phone. He called me every 3 days or so to remind me we were coming to his home. Yes, I know that Mike. At one point he told me he was 77 and I don't know why. So on Rick's paperwork, I wrote that this man is 77, very nice but either confused, forgetful, or just needs control. Heads up. 

Rick laughed when he read that he needs control.

He said to me, "well it takes one to know one."

Ok, funny boy.   But then he got there. 

This man is very nice but he is overbearing. "Mike's" name is really Mohammed. So Rick refers to him as Mohammed Mike. He told Rick he came to the name of Mike in the '70s when he moved here. The man at the gas station where he was hired told him he couldn't be a Mohammed so he would call him Mike. So, Mike, it was. It stuck and he began to like it and feel more American. I find that sad but I always understand it. In 1970 things were different, not much sadly, but enough to understand why they told him to change his name. 

Mike came to this country and worked his butt off with 3 jobs to get his American Dream. Gas station and 2 restaurants. One restaurant was across the street from the gas station so he could just go from job to job.  

He then worked for Delta Airlines for just over 20 years. As with all travel industry jobs he was downsized and lost his pension (gee Peg knows something about that!) 

He went back to waiting tables and he loved this one place he'd go to eat wings. He asked for a job there. He worked his butt off and became a manager and then bought a franchise. He now has 4 franchises. But still too cheap to turn on the A/C yesterday in his house. His poor wife Rick said was standing in front of a fan and when he came downstairs she moved it to the kitchen while she stood at the sink. My goodness, yesterday was hot if you have A/C and you can afford it, turn it on!   He didn't think they needed the A/C he told Rick who was standing next to him in a dripping wet T-shirt. Stuck to him in fact from water. I guess coming from a desert setting this may not have been hot to him. Who knows. 

Mohammed Mike stood over Rick all day. Kept telling him stories and watching him work. When Rick went outside to mix chemicals at his truck he followed him. When Rick was done he had him come in to see the work that was done and to approve it. He then took out an outdoor type light and a magnifying glass to review Rick's work. Rick said to him, "Mike if you're that attentive to detail you might want to come work for me."   

Of course, he just laughed. Rick passed the inspection and he shook Rick's hand. Rick said it was weird because he has not shook hands with anyone in over a year. 

He told Rick how he just loves America and how he has achieved the American Dream and he was so patriotic until he spoke of our last poor leader in charge.  He did not like him! So he and Rick bonded over that too.

Rick just loves when he hears these stories about how someone comes here to our country with $100 in their pocket and makes something of themselves with no handouts, just damn hard work. We tend to be surrounded by entitled people who just won't work for their money. They just want the money. Sad that an immigrant gets that and we as American's don't always get it. 

When Rick got home he said he felt he now knew the man's entire life story. Rick said he was a bit of a pain but he was a very, very nice man as I told him. He also told me he understood my notes on the work order after spending 5 minutes with the guy. That made me laugh.

So Rick will go back to see Mohammed Mike next week. I am certain his story will continue. Rick doesn't mind the stories, standing over him drives him nuts though.

Only 21 more days.