Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Obervations and Advice from the Waiting Room

I have done a bit of complaining about certain things at work but there are aspects of the job I really love. Mostly, that would boil down to the patients. First of all, I am a devoted people watcher and a waiting room is a great place for such activity. (If you have a little time or need a real belly laugh you can check out this post from when I was a patient. Of course, sometimes the health car e providers themsleves are the source of humor, intentional or otherwise, and if you have a lot more time here's a link to a series of posts about Diana's encounters with her orthodontist.) Secondly, interacting with some of the patients is a real hoot sometimes. Allow me to share.



OBSERVATIONS
  • Certain parents are going to have one hell of a rough time in the teen years if they already let toddlers run the show.
  • It's completely endearing to see a sweet, quiet, unassuming 82 year old woman shake it like a Poloroid picture when Outkast plays on the office iPod.
  • Free food brings long lost patients out of the woodwork.
  • It's a thing of beauty to see couples who have spent a lifetime together being tender with each other.
  • Some folks receive healing from a little meaningful conversation as much as from chiropractic care.
  • The older folks with a good sense of humor and who are inclined to smile the most are the ones who have the handsomest wrinkles.
  • If the doctors could offer attitude adjustments along with spinal adjustments, many parents would sign up their kids for that service.
  • Some people are just dumber than a box of rocks.
  • Other people who have so many odds stacked against them, so few resources from which to draw, and who keep persevering are very admirable.
  • I must be prepared to quickly disarm patients who pick up this implement and hold it to their temples. See also: dumber than a box of rocks.
  • Viewing x-rays and getting to see all the weird places people have piercings is pretty hilarious. Somehow all those piercings are far less "sexy" though highly entertaining on a skeleton.

ADVICE

  • From the couple who just celebrated their 61st anniversary when asked what was their secret. The husband replied, "She's a great cook." The wife added, "Kissing doesn't keep. Cooking does."
  • Another patient lets me know where all the best grocery deals are every week. I like a good bargain but I suppose given the prior advice I could also consider it a form of marriage therapy.
  • I should not wear a particular pair of pants because it makes me look "wide." A second opinion declares I should wear them because I got "good booty."
  • Finally, if I have a need I shouldn't be shy about expressing it like one patient does with this button on her purse. And yes, I had permission to take a picture of it.


26 comments:

~Dragonfly~* said...

Many endearing and thought provoking comments.... thank you for taking the time to share them.

Now... where can I get me one of those buttons?!?!?!? :)

~Dragonfly~* said...

Lime, quite often, I think back to a post you wrote about "women in glasses" (being a woman in daily need of glasses)... and I believe it might have been Suldog who had some very profound comments that I really appreciated. I would like to view that post again, if possible, but I'm not quite sure how to locate it. Might you be able to help me?

lime said...

dragonfly, is this the post you want?

Jazz said...

People watching is great. I love doing it in airports.

But the whole weird piercing thing makes me think I should change jobs and become a radiologist...

Gledwood said...

I thought that was a photograph of a TRAIN at first glance ... I really must need some new glasses..!!....

Michelle H. said...

Love that button...

Desmond Jones said...

Oh, I am with you on the people-watching. Like Yogi Berra said, you can observe a lot by just watching. . .

Molly and I have a somewhat more subtle, and perhaps less, uh, socially jarring, method of communicating the message of the button. Altho, there's something to be said for being direct, I suppose. . . ;)

S said...

Oh LOL first of all
dumber than a box of rocks rotf!
and I cannot believe someone told you your ass looked wide in your jeans. Some people have a lot of gall.
I have had two people inform me this year that I am "putting on weight".
The things I should have said to both of them:
"Oh really, I hadn't noticed when my jeans stopped zipping up and hey, arent you 5'2" and 220 and what about you miss 5'4" and 185? What are you getting on my 140 pound arse for?"
Ya know?
A little sensitive, am I?

~Dragonfly~* said...

Lime, that indeed was the post!!! Thank you so much.. and again, thanks to Suldog for his insight!!! Very thought provoking.

Craver Vii said...

I think that button set me off. I'd be mad if it was flaunted indiscreetly in front of my smaller children, or even my wife.

Visible manifestations of tenderness (in the public square) are endearing from couples who have been married many years, but not so much when it's just a couple of horny ships that will pass in the night. One is a beacon of hope, and the other is a tutorial on how to contract and spread STD's. And again, one is sweet like a warm cup of hot coco, and the other is sickening, like drinking a whole glass of maple syrup... yuck!

Bijoux said...

I like the button, but my teenaged children would disown me. Which wouldn't be a bad thing.

~Dragonfly~* said...

Sounds like Craver needs a button!!! :)

BTExpress said...

That button is too funny. I will never understand why parents let their kids get out of control like that. Like Barney said, "Nip it! Nip it in the bud!".

Logophile said...

hee hee
in light of the picture of that button I got a very funny word veri, guess guess guess...
mount
BWAH HAH HAH

Sounds like you are finding a way to make it through the day.

Ananda girl said...

Well the purse was the capper and finally pulled a good belly laugh from me. Thanks for the grins and advice.

Craver Vii said...

(grin) Dragonfly, you sick puppy! (lol)

G-Man said...

I need a puck?

Hilary said...

I'm so glad that you're a people-watcher.. and sharer.

EmBee said...

And may I ask... What EXACTLY is that implement for? *feeling dumber than a box of rocks*

And when I'm in my 80's I very well intend to continue to shake it like a polaroid picture!
:-)

~Dragonfly~* said...

Well, Craver... it was either a button or a tampon... and I'm pretty sure you don't need the latter!!!! :P *smiles*

For the record.... it is very possible to be loving and sensual and sexy in public and NOT be married for years and years!!!!

lime said...

craver, my apologies if the picture caused offense. i will say the lady who sported it kept that side of her purse against her body when she came into the office. she just flipped it around to show the other front desk girl.

embee, that implement is used to adjust patients if they can't tolerate the full force of a regular manual adjustment. it targets a small area very of the spine very specifically and gently, but if you used it on your temple it would be a very bad idea. don't feel dumb. if you've never been to a chiropractor it's not something you'd be familiar with. when a long time patient picks it up though and makes like a gun to the head...dumb.

~Dragonfly~* said...

Craver... hope you know... it was all just in fun... Didn't mean to offend. :)

Craver Vii said...

Thanks D. That was my assumption (that it was just in fun). I didn't mind the banter at all.

Meesh, it was kind of you to respond as you did. Was I being a bit of a sourpuss? Not too much, I hope.

I'm counting on you to tell me if I get too preachy for your forum.

lime said...

craver, in no way did i consider you a sourpuss or too preachy. you're free to let me know if something here doesn't sit well because you're a long time reader/commenter and you do so respectfully. i want to similarly respectful.

dragonfly, you're a dear, thanks also to you for taking the time to come back and respond.

i love that my readers/commenters can be so good to each other.

~Tim said...

You know I love buttons!

So... is she single?

Jocelyn said...

So much perspective. Your clients do for you what my students do for me.