A 911 dispatcher found a nasty note on her car’s windshield from a neighbor who misjudged the essential worker without finding out the truth.
Heather Silchia discovered the nasty note left by a nosy neighbor who saw her coming and going and jumped to a wrong conclusion.
Heather is one of the essential workers who are working non-stop on the frontlines combating the novel coronavirus pandemic.
She was working as a 911 dispatcher during the graveyard shift which was difficult as a mom, but a nosy neighbor who saw her moving about at odd hours, assumed the worst and led to Heather finding a nasty note on her windshield.
The letter started off, “Please stay home.”
And as she continues reading, it was clear that the writer wasn’t aware that Heather was working as a 911 dispatcher.
“I noticed a few days a week you leave home with your baby and return a short time later without it. Then I see the man of the house arrive with the baby later in the afternoon while your vehicle hasn’t moved all day. This leads me to believe that the kid is in daycare.”
The note goes on to make a lot of assumptions, without contacting Heather or her husband.
The note goes on to say, “Stop. I am assuming that man has an essential job since he is gone all day but if you are home there is no reason for your child to be in daycare at a time like this. I also see you leave shortly after your husband (I assume) gets home. You aren’t wearing any sort of uniform and I have never seen you wear a mask. Bars are closed and you couldn’t possibly be getting groceries every night (which would also require you to wear a mask) so I again ask you to please stay home.”
The letter ended with, “Also, do everyone in the neighborhood a favor and keep your older kids inside,” the letter demanded. “They are loud. Help do your part in keeping our town safe and STOP LEAVING YOUR HOME.”
The note was upsetting for Heather Silchia, as she was trying to serve her community by leaving her home and family. But she took it in her stride and showed grace towards the nosy neighbor.
“If somebody’s having a bad day, and they’re taking it out on you, just be kind,” she said. “And that’s something I have to do every day in my job. Even though we just answer the phone and we don’t respond to the call ourselves, we are the first to respond to people’s cry for help.”
We salute the brave essential workers like Heather for the work she is doing and the way she responded in love to her neighbor.
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