Our appointment is at 1:45, perfect timing to complete the oldest one's post-surgery follow-up visit, stop for a snack afterwards, then drop him off before picking up the youngest for his tennis match.
The waiting room is large and full. There are ten rows of chairs about 12 deep and there's a coffee pot in the back and a large flat screen on the wall in front, and when I make these observations I have a sense of foreboding.
Forty-five minutes into our wait–and after our scheduled appointment–I check in with reception to let her know how long we've been waiting and that I have another child to pick up and could she PLEASE check with the nursing staff to see where we are.
Our chart has been "taken back" so it "shouldn't be long now."
I believe her sincerity but doubt her word.
I'm VERY thankful CNN and not Jerry Springer is playing on the TV; there's coverage of the devastation in Japan. People who've lost everything, and in some cases…
everybody.
One hour and 15 minutes into our weight, inner conflict is raging–I DO have to be somewhere after all, my youngest will be waiting! But looking at the loss broadcast across 42" on the wall, thousands of miles away…
my inconvenience seems very small. It IS very small.
But that doesn't mean my blood pressure isn't rising into the danger zone….
* * * * * * * *
Ack! My timer went off! Five minutes FLIES when you've had a story you've wanted to write for DAYS and, as providence would have it, Lisa-Jo's weekly prompt deals with this very thing: Waiting.
The above is me speed-writing and a quick read after I'm done makes me cringe with at least one typo (YIKES-OWIE-BLECH); plus, I would have written this VERY differently if I actually took time to develop the thought, conflict, etc. But that's not the point of 5-Minute Fridays so I'm letting it stand as is, typos and all. I added the picture and link to Thomas' injury after the fact.
Pop over to The Gypsy Mama to see some more thoughts on "Waiting–I'm SURE she was inspired to choose this theme because she's due with her daughter next week! Details:
1. Write for only five minutes.
2. Link back here and invite others to play along.
3. Go high five the word artist who linked up before you with an awesome comment.
Yes, everything is in perspective with images of tsunamis and earthquakes dancing in our heads.
Love you girl.
Hey Robin! I’m hopping over from The Gypsy Mama. Great story and I totally get what you mean about perspective…and how hard it is to keep it!
I hope everything worked out okay!
This is such a great story – and yes, that perspective is so important. You’ve inspired me to think about my own inconveniences in a different light. Thank you!
Hilary (I hopped on over here from Lisa-Jo’s – and so glad that I did)
I can completely relate to that type of waiting…four daughters…two parents with Alzheimers…I’ve done a lot of waiting in my life! But you’re right – seeing what is going on across the world certainly puts it all into perspective!
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! It’s funny how a little perspective changes everything – but the big picture is SO hard to grasp when you are right there in the trenches!
Personally, I don’t know why doctors even bother giving appointment times – I’ve never known one to actually stick to it. Impressed you could keep a sense of perspective – usually I just want to give the nurse the stink eye and mutter under my breath about the hours I could have spent elsewhere.
Yea, it’s the truth. 🙂 Can you tell I’ve been in waiting rooms a lot lately?
~LJ
the longest i ever waited for the doctor was four hours. it was infuriating and i was in so much pain… but then i’d see the faces of those who left and realized they needed every minute. it wasn’t right, my waiting, but i always tried to remember it was because someone else was in need. constant internal struggle…