I love, love, LOVE Fridays when you know it's a long weekend, all paperwork has been completed, pool is opening tomorrow and there are no annoying obligations in sight. Love, love, LOVE it!!!! I'm feeling very positive, but before I throw out more positive vibes I have to write about a few things that annoyed me this week just to get them off my chest.
Bad Drivers
These people are everywhere. Unfortunately this week I happened to cross paths with too many of them, to the point where I was loudly cursing in my car and probably driving up my blood pressure. One of my biggest pet peeves are the people who refuse to slow down and allow you to cross in front of them in a parking lot, when it's completely obvious that you are trying to cross and expecting them to slow down for you. I am not one of those people who darts out between parked cars or crosses no matter who is coming and at what speed. I'm very cautious so I always pause and never assume someone will slow down for me. I make eye contact as if to say "Is it ok if I go?"
Nine times out of ten I'll get the slowing down of the car and the wave that it's ok to go, at which point I wave back with gratitude and then quickly cross the parking lot. I'm not one of those annoying people who is given the go-ahead and then saunters across like I own the place. Those people annoy the hell out of me too, unless they are old or obviously having difficulty walking quickly for whatever reason.
Yesterday I was in the Home Depot parking lot, getting ready to cross to the parked cars when I noticed a car coming in my direction. I paused, tried to make eye contact but the jerk just kept right on going in a slow, meandering sort of way that showed me that all he was thinking about was himself and where he was going to park his car. I muttered "Thanks a lot a$$hole" as I walked across.
By the time I reached the section where my car was parked, this same idiot was slowly making his way down my row, looking for a parking spot and was pulling right up to where I was standing, getting ready to cross the row to my car. This time I stepped out and shot daggers at him with my eyes and gave him an irritated look, at which point he stepped on his brakes at the last possible second to let me go. Unbelievable.
My other pet peeve are the people who walk right behind my car when I've already put the car in reverse and am getting ready to back out. I NEVER walk behind a parked car with its reverse lights on because chances are, the driver is either not looking or has a blind spot and cannot see me. I always assume they can't see me and I tell my kids that repeatedly when we walk through a parking lot. It never ceases to amaze me how many people will just walk right behind you when you are obviously getting ready to back up. HELLO, anybody home? Half the time they are on their cell phones, oblivious to the world.
Angry Patient
I have a patient right now who is trying every last shred of patience I have. I try so hard to be understanding, especially when someone is in pain, but sometimes I just can't take it. He has a broken arm, hence the pain, but also has a long history of health issues and is known for having a difficult personality. I actually saw him about six years ago and at that time I was slightly afraid of him. Over the years I've learned how to tolerate and handle patients like this, so this time around I am much more confident in my ability to work with him. But he still tries my patience. Here is an example of the conversations this patient and I have.
Me: Ok, Mr. D, time to do your exercises.
Mr. D.: When are you discharging me?
Me: Not for a while, Mr. D. You're not even walking yet and your arm isn't healed. I'll be coming for a while.
Mr. D.:
Me: Ok, let's go. Kick your leg up. Straighten your knee - I want you to do this ten times.
Mr. D: Ok, Ok! (kicks leg up halfway)
Me: Higher, Mr. D - all the way up.
Mr. D: All right already! I AM going up.
Me: Straighten your knee, up, up, up!
Mr. D.: For crying out loud, can't you say down?
Me: Down is not the problem
Mr. D: How'd you like to go on a long vacation?
Me: Sounds good to me.
Mr. D: I'm putting you on a boat to China for a month to get you out of here.
Me: If I leave you'll just end up with another therapist.
Mr. D: Good, I want another therapist. I'm sending you to China.
Me: Kick up your leg, Mr. D - you've only done it five times.
Mr. D: Shit.
This goes on and on. The first few times it was kind of funny and the patient's wife and caregiver were laughing it up and joking around about how grumpy the patient is. But now, three weeks later, it's getting old and no one is laughing anymore. He threatens to call his doctor and request another therapist every time I see him. I don't take these things personally, but when I'm tired and my back is aching and I just want to go home it can be very difficult not to explode and yell right back at him. And he yells at me, he's not just saying these things in a calm voice.
Fortunately this is the exception - most of my patients want me to come and work very hard for me and are grateful for my interventions. I do have to admit though that when I do get this guy to do something new it's the high point of my day. It's rewarding to get someone to do something for you when they repeatedly refuse to cooperate.
Out of the Mouths of Babes: Another Gem from Ella
I could probably create a separate blog and just call it "Out of the Mouths of Babes" and I'd never run out of material. Ella is full of wonderfully innocent comments that are completely unfiltered and true. We had this conversation last night . . .
Ella: Mommy, tell me something about yourself.
Me: Ok. Did you know I was born in Florida?
Ella: Why were you born in Florida?
Me: Well, Muma and Poppy were living in Florida when I was born.
Ella: Lucky duck!
Me: We were living in Florida because Poppy was going to school there.
Ella: Wasn't he kind of old?
Me: Well, he was in graduate school and then later he got his PhD.
Ella: What's that?
Me: When you get a PhD that means you are super smart and learn alot about something. Poppy learned about the ocean so he became an oceanographer.
Ella: What's an oceanographer?
Me: Well, Poppy studied the ocean. He was a scientist.
Ella: I thought he was a scuba diver.
Priceless. Just priceless. Then it occurred to me that my dad was, in fact, a scuba diver and at one time he even taught scuba diving when he lived in Florida. So she wasn't wrong about that fact. Perhaps this photo was stuck in her mind . . .
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| My dad the oceanographer (and scuba diver!) |
Happy Friday everyone and happy Memorial Day! Hopefully I will not run into any bad drivers this weekend and I finally get a little break from my angry patient.
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