Dear Editor,
When the COVID-19 drama unfurled upon us, and the directors of the long-term care home where I work announced that visitors were not allowed in nor residents out, I decided to wear a funny hat each shift to bring some joy and laughter, a little distraction for the residents and my co-workers.
The first hat was a white, fluffy polar bear hat that matched the bears and penguins on my uniform jacket.
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Since then, I have accumulated a large shopping bag full of hats and different head-pieces that I have worn.
I switched from cloth hats that required washing to hats made of plastic, paper, or foam as these are easier to disinfect by spraying or wiping.
By coincident, on the Thursday before Queen Elizabeth gave her speech, I wore a silver and purple plastic tiara.
Even from the parking lot, I was asked if it was my birthday?
I informed everyone that I was sent by the Queen to give a royal wave, then proceeded to wave my blue gloved right hand.
At times, I would ask a resident to rate my waving if I was doing a good job or not.
One senior had a roaring laugh when I told him he would be recommended for knighthood since he gave me such high praises.
Upon my return to work on the Monday, I was asked where was my tiara? I responded that I had to quickly send it to England for the queen to practise her speech – which she gave on the Saturday.
Another head-piece was made from the yellow and black caution ribbon that is so prominent now in our playgrounds and parks. On it I spelled out the words, “w a s h h a n d s !” with foam letters and attached a rubber key-ring shaped into the word “h o p e.”
At the back was taped a plastic clown face, cut from a party decoration banner.
I proclaimed that it was – HOPE the CLOWN, praying that the coronavirus would go away and things would return to normal.
Little did I know that the following edition of The News would include a poster for citizens to use as they post their wishes during these difficult times.
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and
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Lynell Adams (a.k.a. UC the JOY SPLASHER Clown), Maple Ridge
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