I’d had the same assistant for 5 years. He was a 25 year younger than me soulmate. He anticipated what was needed. He was never sick, late or on his phone during class. However, all things come to an end. “You’ll never find another Joseph” everyone said and I knew they were right

My next assistant Ann, was late, was sick and talked on her phone in class but she was OK.

What I can offer someone is just gig work. To post a Craigslist ad for help with a gig is $10. For help as a job is $75. I need someone to help Monday, Tuesday & Friday for 2 hours each afternoon. It’s 6 hours a week and even though I offer a way better than average hourly wage, it’s not gonna pay your rent.

The crazy thing is on Tuesday I teach 20 kids in a public school. I teach an afterschool class. Just an hour. For that hour myself and my assistant must have a TB test, a fingerprint scan, liability insurance, and most difficult: take a course and pass a test about children being neglected or abused. It’s a lot of fun.

Imagine the prospect of getting someone to jump through those hoops for a few hours a week. And yet there are people who need this job. Recently the best man for this job is a cheery 36 year old from Africa. He’s way overqualified but is in a pinch.

He jumps through all the hoops and only has the TB test to go. Seems simple, right? Not so. The only place you can get a free TB test is in the Village Free Clinic. It is the only free clinic around for many towns.

Everywhere else charges anywhere from $100 to $300 to get an office appointment with a TB test. Highway Robbery. The test itself only costs $5.  The Free Clinic only does the TB tests on Thursdays. It is mobbed. Cherry can’t get in. 

My friend said she used to work for a startup that did insurance billing for doctors and they horrifically would try to charge $100. for a bandaid and $200 for Advil.

When Saturday Night Live mentions Luigi Mangione  on weekend update, the audience immediately cheers a loud “Yaayy!!!” and Colin Jost makes eye contact with us in the fourth wall and says “Woooooo…”     And I’m right there with both of  them.

In an insane world, what’s sane?