The day is over. Mary left. I wander out in the hallway and am waiting for the elevator.
An older gentlemen in a tweed cap comes up to me:
Tweed Cap: "Excuse me, where is the cardiology suite?"
Dr. Grumpy: "Um, there's a cardiologist on the 4th floor, and another on the 8th. Do you know the doctor's name?"
Tweed Cap: "No, my sister had a heart attack earlier, and they told me she was here, in room 745."
Dr. Grumpy: "Oh, you're looking for the hospital. That's across the street."
Tweed Cap: "This isn't the hospital?"
Dr. Grumpy: "No, it's an office building."
Tweed Cap: "It looks like the hospital."
Dr. Grumpy: "No, you have to go outside, head east, and cross the street. There's a foot bridge over traffic."
The elevator opens and I get in it. So does Tweed Cap. I go down to the parking garage under the building and get out. So does Tweed Cap.
Tweed Cap: "So now we are in the hospital?"
Dr. Grumpy: "Uh, no, this is a parking garage."
Tweed Cap: "But it connects to the hospital, doesn't it?"
Dr. Grumpy: "No. See that staircase over there? Take it up 1 flight, and you'll see the hospital right in front of you. There's a bridge across the street there, and you can take it right over."
Tweed Cap: "Thank you."
He got back in the elevator and the doors closed.
That's a sad story. I have walked lost and confused people all over this hospital. It seems the older I get, the more I realize it could be me someday and I hope someone nice helps me when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteSounds like he was there to see you...
ReplyDeleteFollow the blue line...
ReplyDeleteOh sad. I don't suppose there's anything we can do in the community to get these people brought to attention so that they can get help/supports? There's a guy I see at the grocery store from time to time who clearly needs a comprehensive geriatrics assessment but I obviously can't refer him for such
ReplyDeleteC'mon follow me.
ReplyDeleteSounds like me trying to find my morning coffee.
ReplyDeleteYou mean that time I was trying to find Paradise and I spent all day wandering around the parking structure, I might have just been lost? Boy, is this embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteJoni- it was over by the dashboard light, you moron.
ReplyDeleteA more compassionate approach would have been to walk him to where he was going. Pay it forward; we will all be where he is someday.
ReplyDeleteNext time, please do take a few minutes out of your busy schedule helping humanity via fee for service to actually help another human being for free
You're assuming he doesn't already do this which doesn't seem fair to me. Just because Dr grumpy may not have walked this gentleman to the hospital, does not mean he doesn't help other humans without charging a fee. I've been reading his blog for several years now and there have been many posts about his kind acts along with many posts that are funny and many on his love of history.
DeleteWould you like to be judged the same way?
Stop picking on Dr. G. At the end of a hard, stressful day when you are exhausted, on auto-pilot, and think you are done, it's very hard to summon up just a little more compassion. Especially when people who just don't listen turn right when you have just told them left.
ReplyDeleteWell, hopefully this is one of the stories that are fictional; that he actually did help the fellow, but wrote it this way because the closing of the elevator doors visual is more poignant.
ReplyDeleteSad. Hope he made it okay :(
ReplyDeleteI take my mom to all of her Dr. and hospital appts. Two years ago, brand new rebuilt hospital and parking garage, opened less than a week she had an appointment. We parked just a few spots from the elevator, get in push the button, and when the door opens, I look out and see my mom's car. Scratching my head, I push the button again and when the door opens again, same thing, her car is right there. We kind of look at each other but gamely I push the button once more thinking third times a charm. (we thought the elevator maybe being new still had some glitches in it) This time, I look out and see her car, but this time, I realize it's not her car but one identical to hers parked in the same spot but on the floor we wanted. Even two years later, my Mom and I get a laugh out of it.
ReplyDeleteI think cynical pharmacist had a visit from your customer today....http://thecynicalpharmacist.blogspot.com/
ReplyDelete