Doctor’s Office Observations
By John R. Greenwood
Shuffled steps of comfy velcro walking shoes eager for someplace new to go (other than down the hall for dry bologna sandwiches and peel-top puddings), enter through the heavy pretend oak door with the cool silver handle. “Let’s make an adventure of this”, soft beige right says to soft beige left.
In the seat across the lobby, meticulous-man sits upright and soldier ready, just waiting for the call to come. “Mr. Jackson, the doctor will see you now.” His paperwork neatly packaged, alphabetically, chronologically, by size, by importance.
Two seats north and at right angles are mother and daughter. Two-for-one perms of curly gray and grayer sit quietly, clutching suitcase size pocketbooks filled with kleenex and pill bottles. Small talk of, Did you hear about? Did you see the news? ping-pong on and on. It’s 8:45, the sun barely up.
Perturbed youngster of 38 sits impatient with phone in hand, eyes glued to the screen as if a text from the president was overdue.
Muffled giggles and pacing float from behind the neck-high laminate counter. Overheard conversations of day off have-to’s and vacation want-to’s take a trained ear to decipher.
Lottery winner of exam room #3 sits in quiet repose, head slowly nodding and bobbing like a sleepy baby in a high chair.
As I sit and contemplate how many rare diseases are spread by the ratty, cover-rumpled magazines piled high in the corner, a softened calm overtakes me and a gentle grin takes place.
This is my submission to this week's: Poetry Pantry
This is my submission to this week's: Poetry Pantry
there is art everywhere...
ReplyDeleteOOOh, John, I will never read a magazine in a doctor's office again without thinking of what I might be touching on those pages.
ReplyDeleteAt least you made something good (this humorous write) from your visit to the doctor's office!
This is wonderful, John. Great observations captured by the writer's pen.
ReplyDeleteI like the descriptive phrasing,and,as usual very clear, concise observations. You put pen to paper and say things some of us would never think of, or write about. Like I tell my husband, "My wheels (in my mind) are always turning" (I'm always thinking).It seems to run in the family. Dad and Grampa G. were like that.
ReplyDelete