THE DOCTOR’S WAITING ROOM
Hello, I’m back again, twice in one day. Guess I’m on a roll.
Sitting in a doctor’s waiting room probably isn’t the best place for bonding. No one wants to be there in the first place and they sure as heck aren’t going to offer to let you cut in on their appointment time even if you tell ‘em you left the iron on.
If you make an appointment with a specialist you can count on waiting a month. The more specialized he is, the longer you wait, that’s a given.
When the magic day arrives (if you aren’t well by then), you will finally get to take a seat in the waiting room with at least 15 other people, who, when you walk in, wonder if you are scheduled on their time. Chances are, you are.
There’s no need to try and figure out who is called back to the examining rooms (behind those mysterious closed doors that you cannot enter unless IT IS YOUR TURN,) first or last, or when it will be your turn. The office cleaning people are instructed to come in and take a seat with the waiting room group on their break so you can’t keep track of how many people are going in or out.
No longer is a waiting room quiet, with only a mumble or two, or the sound of someone turning a magazine page. Now you step into a world of sound with cell phones going off, people text messaging (what are they saying, “”I’ m still waiting?”), and hand held video games zinging and pinging. We’re not talking children here, we’re talking adults whose cell phone play everything from the National Anthem to When The Saints Go Marching In, for all of us to enjoy. And, if that’s not enough, we’re all privy to their phone conversations. “Well, it was your turn to put gas in the car, I can’t help it if it was on empty, besides you didn’t take the trash out last night. No, I don’t know when I will be home, it’s time you took some responsibility. You take Ben to basketball practice…” and so on. Nothing you want to hear.
The receptionists sit behind a sound proof shield as far removed from the scene as possible and refuse to make eye contact even if you have been sitting there for two hours. And when you finally get in to see the doctor you dare not complain about the long wait, he’ll only tell you about a couple of emergencies he had to take care of and the word “overbooking” never comes up.
Doctors charge by the number of symptoms they have to listen to, so you might want to limit yours to two or three . Besides, if he hears anymore than that he walks out of the room to write a prescription and you never see him again.
TRIVIA
Hello, glad you stopped by. Here are some bits of trivia that for some reason I can remember better than I can remember your name.
TOWEL IN A FRIEND’S GUEST BATH – If I die in Walmart, move my body to Neiman Marcus.
SIGN ON A LOCAL MERCHANT’S FRONT DOOR – If you are talking on your cell phone we won’t interrupt to wait on you.
AD FOR DOG FOOD – Real dogs ride in pickups not purses.
(I didn’t say they were brain teasers)
PARTY PICTURE and DATEBOOK OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Karen Keith, Annie Bohanon and Renee Knox attend a wrap-up party for the recent Juliette Low Leadership Society luncheon at Annie's Heritage Hills Home. Luncheon co-chairmen Ann-Clore Duncan and Linda Whittington indicated net proceeds from the luncheon were $235,255.
FUNDRAISER DATEBOOK:
Treasures for Tomorrow, The Petroleum Club, 100 N Broadway, business attire, 6:30 p.m. April 8; honorees are Henry Bellmon, Tom and Brenda McDaniel, Jim and Christy Everest and Jordan J.N. Tang; $250 per person; 271-2200.
Sports Headliner Awards Banquet and Auction, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, black-tie, 6 p.m., April 8; headliner is Kevin Durant; honorees are Mike Gunday and Dave Smith; $125 per person; 943-1025.
The University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts “Blown Away by the Arts! Arts! Arts!,” 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd. Norman; dinner, auctions, entertainment, business attire; $150 per person, 325-7376.
Junior Hospitality Club Chips for Charity, 50 Penn Place, 8 p.m. Saturday, $50 per person, 410-1846.
