Stories

You can't walk out of a hospital without having stories. Your stories, other people's stories, everything. You meet someone in the lobby and they're going to have a story. Why are they here? Well, unless they work here, someone they love is getting special care, something that can't be cured with a box of tissues and meds from the drugstore. It's a level up.

The lady sitting across from us pointed her chin at the door. "You just keep an eye on that. This beeper doesn't work." She held up the flashing lighted device in disdain. "The surgeon came out and it never notified me!"

We looked at each other for a beat, each wondering why the other was here but not really wanting to chat. She went first.

"I've been here 10x so far in the past several months."

Ouch. We all winced. 10x? Must be serious. Fuck.

"Cancer. Stage 4. The treatment isn't working. After this surgery I'm selling everything I own and taking him to Mexico for a treatment they don't approve here. It probably won't work. I don't care. We've run out of options and I just can't give up."

We nodded gravely. We hugged, complete strangers in a strange waiting room. Something caught in my throat and I turned away. Worlds collide in hospitals and people are never the same when they collide. We become amalgamations of each others' experiences. In this way, we are never truly separate, and never truly alone.

GO AWAY (solicitors not welcome!)

People just came to the door, complete strangers. I cracked open the door suspiciously and saw two young girls standing several steps away. I instantly regretted not having the proper welcome mat.

Strangers: "Hi! Oh don't you look comfortable!"

I looked down self-consciously at my telework outfit.

(Just kidding but I will fucking buy this
and keep it by the front door for next time!)

Strangers: "Well anyway we are walking around the neighborhood today. Isn't it nice out?"

Me (interrupting): "So how can I help you?"

Strangers: "Oh! Well we are here to talk to you about your energy bill."

FUCK, I thought. They're about to get into it. They had that look.

Me: "Just so you know, I don't buy anything, sign anything or give out any information."

Strangers: "Oh! Of course. We aren't selling anything. Anyhoo, you know how there's a label on your electric bill? Be a doll and why don't you login to your account and we'll show you. It restricts access to clean energy but we can help."

Me: "I don't have a login."

Strangers: "OHMYGOD what?? You still use a <gasp> PAPER bill?"

Me: "Yeah. Anyway so thanks..."

Strangers: "Oh that's okay, if you want to go find the paper bill, we'll wait!"

Me: "I don't have one right now. Anyway, thank you but..."

Strangers: "Oh that's okay, you can go look for one!"

Me: "Um, no thanks, I don't have one, and anyway..."

Strangers: "Well, we can come back in a few weeks!"

Me: "No, that's okay, I don't give out info, buy anything, sign anything or receive house calls."

They looked crestfallen.

I softened slightly.

Me: "Well, if you want to leave brochures or business cards or whatever, I'll look at them later."

Strangers: "Oh funny you should mention that, we don't have anything, we just ran out. Anyway, think about it. Clean energy!"

Me: 

They finally left and I told hubby. "The whole time, they were standing right next to the trash can probably wondering what the heck is wrong with these people because it smelled so bad!"

He said, "ha, oh you should have said, "Sorry about the smell, that's just the last people who came here trying to sell something. Boy they put up a hell of a fight. Anyway, what can I do for you?"

In the meantime, we are now looking for special police DO NOT CROSS tape for the front door!