Trying to make the daily trips to the oncologists for Dad's radiation treatments an adventure.
The Christmas tree, which I'm leaving there, is enjoyed by all, except it appears the cleaning staff who unplug it on the nights they clean. I plug it back in, and the tastefully decorated tree with flashing strobe lights brightens the place right up.
There are several patients that are scheduled close enough together that we all spend time together in the waiting room.
The cast:
Henry (patient) is wheel chair bound, and lives at the vets home out by the airport. His medical transport ride is often late picking him up. We all have medical transport on speed dial now. Henry is quite a cheerful talker, and as it turns out a very good harmonica player. I asked him to bring it and play for us. The others in the waiting room tried to give me the stink eye, but as I smiled and nodded to each of them in turn they consented to go along. "I would love too," said Henry! Next visit he brought it, and oh the sweet, sweet music that came from that harmonica. We got a bit loud with calling out tunes for him to play, everything from hymns to beer hall polkas. A standing ovation followed. Henry got a squeezebox for Christmas! The music will play on...
Charlie brings his nice wife (patient) each day. Charlie never takes off his ball cap, has a ponytail, a long Fu Manchu mustache, and a perpetual look of being startled. Can't quite figure him out, he never looks you in the eye. Dad always yells at him, "Hi Charlie!" and the man nearly levitates. I've asked Dad to go easy on him, as not everyone wants to be his friend. Dad's response is better not repeated.
Lucy (patient) is an elderly little sprite of a woman, always wears red, and always has a tam o' shanter on her bald head. She is up beat and loves to set by me and tell me stories. She walked out with us today and I heard Dad say, "I don't want to appear rude Lucy, but how old are you?" Her perfect reply, "old enough!"
Maude (patient) and her husband sort of wander in each day. She can't talk much, but those eyes spark up when she finds something we've said funny. Her husband is a tall drink of water, and packs Maude's huge purse for her with all the aplomb of a well pecked rooster.
Today I brought a bag full of Christmas Crackers for all of them. I had mentioned that the grandkids & I had a tradition of having them at Christmas, and how much fun they were. None of them had ever even heard of Christmas Crackers. So today they got to have fun. I handed them out to those in the waiting room, and the office. One of the office girls said she hadn't had one since leaving England, where they had really loud ones. Next year, I'm ordering from England, more bang for my buck! After popping them open there were quite a few people wearing crowns and playing with the games and toys. They might have looked like dysfunctional chuck cheese kids, but they were all laughing...
I don't think of myself
as Trouble, but the office staff seems to have a different opinion. They
let that slip today, when secretary Barbie slid open the window and
said, "I'll sign in Dad for you, Trouble!" aaah, thanks.
