Sunday
Aug152010
Is The Patient In?
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 1:47PM A short tap-tapping at the door as I’m leaving my room to make the mile lap around the ward reveals a couple candy-stripers with The Cart. One can purchase chocolate, salty snacks, little games, weekly news magazines or maybe some illicit drugs if you know the right code words. You can’t get Belgian beer or pizza from The Cart; I’ve checked.
The two young ladies, hardly twenty, look at me then peek into my room and ask, “Is the patient here, he may want to buy something.”
Moments later, the nurses on the ward comment on how fast I’m walking those laps and how robust I look.
Reader Comments (4)
Sounds good, buddy.
BTW, I liked your thoughts on focusing on a good future. The scene reminded me of something I wrote when my grandma died (this was about 17 years ago). She'd been ailing for quite some time. Nothing specific. Just the slow deterioration of physical systems that can't be stopped. But I had this vision, as my uncle sang with his basso profundo voice so deep that he could still find room beneath the notes of The Old Rugged Cross to sing flat, of my grandma opening her eyes in a very pleasant place that I'm not even sure exists.
I'll have to send it to you some time.
Now I want you to be nice to those Candy Stripers. They may be your future nurses, because God knows your gonna be around a long time. I was one of those Candy Stripers once myself. Thinking about youa nd praying for you and the gang.
...and I agree on your speedwalking--I have straightened the prints on the wall after one of your qualifying laps! And I love the fact the cart girls didn't recognize you as a patient...you do have that "just visiting" look about you--Robustman! See you later today!
You mean you weren't quick enough to invite those candy strippers in to keep you company for awhile. Are you that old that you didn't think about flirting with twenty year olds?