Sometimes I get calls from panicked people, people in crisis, people on neptune. Today Karen calls me up:
Karen: The electric company cut my power off and I don't know why!
Me: [I think to myself, I don't know why either, dear...] Well, have you called them up yet to see what the deal is?
K: No. I just got out of the hospital. I've had surgery and been away from home for a week or so. My son said there were some letters, but he's at school and I don't know where he put them. They increased my budget billing payments on me.
M: Why don't you try giving the electric company a call? I don't know anything that you don't at this point.
K: Well, here, let me see....yes, here's one of the letters they sent: "Due to a review of customer actual usage to adjust Budget Billing projections, we show you would owe approximately $215 at the end of the 12-month billing cycle in March. To adjust for this, your Budget Billing payments will increase from $113 to $149 for the next six months." How can they do that? *sobbing* I don't know what I'm going to do! I just hate these people!
M: It sounds like that's not related to why you were shut off, especially if it's not an actual bill. They're just letting you know that your next bill will be more than what you're used to paying. How about you try giving them a call and ask what you need to be turned back on. Their number is 1-800-ELECTRIC.
K: Okay. I'll do that and then I'll call you back.
M: I want to let you know that I won't be able to help you again with any emergency funds at this time. I'm all out of money for the month. If you're needing some referrals for assistance I'll be happy to give you some phone numbers and a referral letter. Remember to try and stay calm with the representative when you call. I know you're angry, but the worst thing you can do is raise your voice to them. Ask to speak with someone in Collections if you're not getting anywhere with the person who answers.
K: Okay. Okay, I can do that. Thanks.
After hanging up with her, I shake my head. Why do people always call me first. I don't have magical powers. I don't know things they don't. Why do they call me? Part of the reason, I think, is that they've come to me before and I've done the talking with the utility company and get them hooked up again. The utility companies are always a little nicer with us than with the customers. Mostly, I think, because we're nicer to them than the customers are.
People must just get so upset and start feeling so hopeless and powerless that they just completely lose the ability to think about causes and effects. They need someone to think for them for a minute. To give them some hope, some paths, some options. Sometimes I lose sight of my role as path sweeper. Some people have let the sadness of their situation scatter leaves and brambles across the rational path, the solution path, the path of possibilities, the path of responsibility. I need to remember that they don't expect me to work magic; they just need to borrow my sanity for a moment. I'm not in Hazy Shades.
