We’re waiting–waiting and waiting
First out in the doctor’s lobby
Now in our appointed room
You’re dressed in the drafty, paper uniform
Sitting on the end of the exam table
Feet dangling childlike not meeting the stool
I sit in the lone chair against the wall
Nurse takes your vitals–doctor should be just a few
Nothing to look at–just four blank walls
We’ve been in here before–nothing interesting at all
We make chit-chat–we talk about family
Then take on TV and movies we’ve seen
We’re waiting–waiting and waiting
You start to get antsy; your back starts to ache
Your face has that annoyed look, with a grimace and pout
Irritation in your voice says you’re now aggravated
What’s keeping that doctor!?–you grumble aloud
The nurse pops her head in
It shouldn’t be much longer
You ask to lie down–you can’t sit any more
Obliging nurse asks if the backrest will do
You’re relieved and pleased to have the support
Your scowling face softens letting go of your frown
We’re waiting–waiting and waiting
Bodhirose's Blog 
jgavinallan
/ July 28, 2011I am so afraid of doctors and offices…I bring a novel to read
Why do they make appointments? So they know when to not see you on time?
Jaye
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011Hey, I think you’ve got something there! Now I’m sure that’s exactly why they make appointments. Very funny, Jaye!
Hugs,
Gayle
LikeLike
mish
/ July 28, 2011You captured the boredom & irritation perfectly ! The wait is really long and drawn-out … it’s the worst part of the visit …and it doesn’t help when you really feeling sick …
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011Well thanks very much, Mish–I’m glad the feeling came through. You are so right–feeling sick and long waits don’t mix very well at all.
LikeLike
Jingle
/ July 28, 2011amazing…
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011Hehe… thank you, Ji!
LikeLike
booguloo
/ July 28, 2011Time for a new doctor that actually cares enough to be on time.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011Most of the time, this doctor is very prompt–I don’t know what happened that day.
LikeLike
Heaven
/ July 28, 2011I feel depressed in that sitting room…ha..ha…
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011It depends for me–sometimes I feel quite anxious. Gulp!
LikeLike
charlesmashburn
/ July 28, 2011I could have sworn you were talking about me. Especially when you got to the back hurting part. Very realistic and well written.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011I was talking about all of those who can relate to being stuck waiting at the doctors office. That probably includes everyone!
Thanks for your compliment, Charles.
LikeLike
wordcoaster
/ July 28, 2011Doctors don’t have a good sense of time. My father’s a pediatrician, but he tries his best to be efficient. His patients love him, so I don’t think this scene happens too often in his office. (Unless you’re his first appointment. He’s always a little late then.) 🙂 Enjoyable read–I think all of us have been there. Those paper robes are the worst things to sit around waiting in.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2011My mother and I share this same doctor. We really like her because she spends a lot of time with us explaining things and answering our questions. I can imagine that someone might be waiting for her while she attends to me too–and things do come up that mess up their best laid plans to stay on time. I don’t mind waiting a little while but…
Those paper robes are a bit rough to sit around in–I agree.
Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts.
LikeLike
dsnake1
/ July 29, 2011yes. the waiting can be terrible, especially if you are very sick. i can relate to this poem.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2011I think most people can relate to this–unfortunately!
LikeLike
Inside the Mind of Isadora
/ July 29, 2011This is so on-target.
I was in the waiting room for two hours before I got into the exam room. I was reading a book on his cushy sofa – he has overstuffed chairs and sofa’s, can you guess why??? – and I never noticed that much time had passed.
When I mentioned the long delay to him he said he was all by himself that week. All the other doctor’s were on vacation. He was taking care of the whole office alone. Aaaaahhhhh …..!!!!!
Mmmmm ….. I must ask about that before making an appointment next time.
Hint : plan on having a long doctor day and then you won’t be edgy about delays. ~~~~~ : – )
Happy Healthy Days ..
Izzy xoxox
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2011Two hours is totally unacceptable–I would have rescheduled! Or out of courtesy, the office personnel should have told you what the circumstances were and let you decide if you wanted to wait. Wow–that’s a long wait!
But I guess if you’re in dire need to see the doctor what are you gonna do?
A good book or other reading material does help!
Thanks for your thoughts here, Izzy.
Hugs,
Gayle xoxo
LikeLike
liv2write2day
/ July 29, 2011Boy, does this sound familiar! I totally relate to the back ache. Quite clever, Gayle. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2011Everyone can relate to this one, Victoria! Thank you too…
LikeLike
Aaron Smigielski
/ July 29, 2011Doctor’s offices can be so frustrating. Very well done poem!
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2011Yes they can be! Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts, Aaron.
LikeLike
The Lonely Recluse
/ July 30, 2011Hahaha, really enjoyed this. It’s so true, thats why my mp3 comes with me. Great poem, bought a smile to my eye.
The Lonely Recluse.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 30, 2011So glad that you enjoyed this and that it brought a smile to your eye, TLR. Thank you.
LikeLike
mindlovemisery
/ July 30, 2011Waiting for the doctor is the worst. I once went to the doctor’s office was left to wait was so long I fell asleep when I looked at the clock 3 hours had passed! No one had come to see me my husband was in the waiting room that whole time. I left without being seen.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 30, 2011Wow! That’s by far the worst “waiting” story I’ve ever heard. Shocking! I was once left in a waiting room–undressed, in the paper gown, for over an hour. I poked my head out the door and questioned the nurse about the delay–I strongly felt like I had been overlooked and forgotten–the doctor showed up soon thereafter.
Thanks for sharing with me.
LikeLike
tigerbrite
/ July 30, 2011Very expressive poem. Sad words, I felt the tiresome wait. Hope your Mum is ok.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 30, 2011Thank you. Waiting is harder for some than others. Mom is doing pretty well–thanks for your concern.
LikeLike
Broken Sparkles
/ July 31, 2011Waiting no matter where isn’t my forte, but yet, I’ve learned that when I have to wait there is nothing you can do …
Waiting outside the doctor’s can be painless especially if you are sick and you need immediate help, but sometimes they seem not to care about your pain …
Very clever Gayle!
Here is my Rally http://brokensparkles.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/musings/
Thanks!
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 31, 2011Yes, sometimes we are “captive” and don’t have much of a choice but to sit and wait. I do, however, make a point to let the doctor or someone know if the wait was outrageously long. That’s the least I can do.
Thanks for coming by, Blaga!
I enjoyed your clever write with Hugo very much. xoxo
LikeLike
danroberson
/ July 31, 2011Doctor’s offices, some emergency rooms–have much in common. If it doesn’t look like an emergency, it probably isn’t.
If you act like you’re dying,
And antics you’re trying,
If you’re not near the grave,
just relax and behave,
If you’re just seeing red,
count your blessings instead,
Think about moments in times past,
when you worried that time was too fast.
When you’re claustrophobic, drugged up or you’re never going to be in that tube anyway, and getting a MRI and the techs leave for the evening–and you wake to the sound of the housekeeping crew, that’s when time is excruciatingly slow and your heart beats incredibly fast. But that’s another story.
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 31, 2011Wow, Dan–you are so right–put it in perspective! I love your cute poem–thank you.
But your last paragraph is a scary thought indeed–see Mindlovemisery’s experience above!
LikeLike
A.B. Thomas
/ July 31, 2011A very astute and fantastically clever write! I can’t sit for long at the best of times so even my doctor hates to have me in the little paper smock which I always put on wrong to give the nurses a show that I’m sure gives them nightmares for days afterwards – serves them right for making me wait like that…..
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 31, 2011Haha–that’s so funny–putting your paper smock on backwards on purpose–that’s showing ’em! Serves them right… *&#%!
LikeLike
genebrother
/ July 31, 2011Oh My….
I do not go the the Doctor often however you have placed the face of reality on the “doctor visit”
Thanks for the smile
Genebrother
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ July 31, 2011Luckily, I don’t go very often either for myself but I’ve been going with my elderly mother on all her visits lately–she goes a lot!
Thanks for coming by and sharing with me–glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Daydreamertoo
/ August 1, 2011Oh, I think we’ve all been there and done that. Never thought to put it in poetic form though! LOL
I was at the ER for over 8 hours a few weeks ago. If you aren’t ill when you get there, you are by the time they see you.
Your prose is fabulous. I hope the person was seen and isn’t in pain anymore!
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ August 1, 2011I guess the inspiration for a write can come through anything–even the boredom of waiting for a doctor! I’m happy you enjoyed it. The doctor is still working to help my mother feel better–thank you for your concern.
The ER always seems to be an interminable wait. I hope all turned out well for you too.
LikeLike
Sharmishtha
/ August 3, 2011🙂 why do we all have similar stories about doctors and lawyers all over the world?
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ August 3, 2011I don’t know–it seems to be a universal problem doesn’t it. So happy to hear from you again my friend!
LikeLike
Sharp Little Pencil
/ August 3, 2011Gayle, found this and thought of when my family was on Medicaid for awhile after I got laid off and Lex was in school full-time. Those damned plastic seats… but the final cartoon made me laugh out loud! At least we escaped in better shape than that! Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/normal-is/
LikeLike
Bodhirose
/ August 3, 2011Yeah, so far I’ve never turned into a skeleton while waiting–but almost! 🙂
LikeLike