Waiting Rooms

Who Are You

The next time you have an appointment at the doctor take a look around the waiting room. People are so interesting. If you are anything like me, you wonder about them. Like the older lady with the blue hair. When I’m saying older you know it’s someone in their 80’s. A smile a mile wide, she likes to talk and engages with everyone that comes in the room. 

Don't Bother Me

Then there is the older gentleman who sits quietly by himself. His mannerisms tell me he is a bit closed off and would rather not speak to anyone. His arms are folded across his chest, and he has a don’t bother me look on his face. There is always the young guy talking into his phone. Buzz cut; maybe military he sits straight forward with his phone up to his ear until he gets called by the nurse. 

Kids

Kids, there are always kids. The kind that sits by their mom not saying a word, or the child with ADD who constantly runs around the waiting room with their arms wide out pretending they are an airplane. They don’t stop moving, except to stop and stare. They ask questions brokering an answer. Whether you want to or not. There is no choice since they will keep repeating the question until they get the answer, they so desire.

Mystery Man or Woman

Then there is the mysterious one, the one who has an air of mystery surrounding them. Middle aged man or woman who you just can’t figure out. They are dressed neither outlandishly nor shabbily. But just so. Everything is ordinary about this person. From the top of their head to their shoes. Trying not to stare, you stare anyway. There is something unsettling about them. But for the life of you, you cannot fathom what it is. They are neither on their phone, nor are they engaging in any conversation. They just sit staring straight ahead. You look away and then look back. Are they even blinking? 

Normally there will be a couple, a young excited pregnant female along with her enthusiastic husband. Me, being older, think their excitement will fade over the years. But for now, they are young, fresh and ready to face the world. No disappointments yet, nothing to give them a jaded outlook on the world around them. 

The Elderly

There is usually someone in a wheelchair. Who has just been pushed in and discarded in the waiting room. Their face worn and weathered by the sun, their eyes blue and watery. An oxygen tank placed beside them. A look of resignation on their face. The child running around the waiting room even steers clear of them. Not wanting to engage or get entangled in their orbit. A seemingly sad elderly person who has been spit out by life. Rejected and cast aside for a newer model. God help us all; getting old sucks.

People Watching

Most people are on their phone, but I like to study others. The kid running around needs to be corralled by her mother. But this doesn’t seem to be happening. The mother is on her phone, texting. A cup of coffee by her side. Perhaps this is her moment of peace, her child in perpetual motion but bothering everyone else instead of her. Me, I keep waiting for her to fall down the stairs as she comes petrifyingly close as she runs by. She cannot be more than four years old. Her life is just starting out, maybe that’s why she steers clear of the person in the wheelchair. Not understanding the why of the chair or the oxygen tank sitting next to them. She seems to realize they do not want to be bothered by her. Giving them a wide berth, she is now singing at the top of her lungs. Mary had a little lamb. Those are the only words she knows to the song, so we all hear them on repeat. Her mom is off her phone and telling her to stop and come and sit down by her. She may as well be talking to the wind. 

The waiting room is an interesting place if you let it be. All of us are different from each other but bound to one another because of an appointment. 

Awe

A woman and I’m assuming her mother sits down next to me. The mom is a loud talker. Maybe she thinks her daughter cannot hear. It brings a smile to my face. She seems like a dear. They were only sitting a little while and the nurse came to get them. Come on mom, her daughter says as she grasps her hand and leads her away down a long corridor. 

Studying people is what I love to do and hospital waiting rooms are just the place to do it.

Next time you are in a waiting room, waiting, take a look around you. People are super interesting.

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