At the Health Center, Multi-tasking

[thisnewday]

The nurse practitioner, who took care of my grandson at the community health center, glanced at my book, Peter Heller's The Dog Stars, as she was about to leave the examination room for the last time. It was lying on top of our jackets, mine and his, that we'd been carrying with us as we moved from floor to floor, room to room, for the past three hours.

He'd had a flare-up of his asthma, probably triggered, she said, by the respiratory infections we'd all been struggling with lately. I liked her manner, very professional, and when she asked questions she listened to what we had to say. Some of us feel that's an important attribute in a healthcare professional.

She had a nice smile and an interesting face, too, but I valued the care she'd given my grandson above anything else. Odd thing to say, maybe, but just wanted to be clear that I still have priorities, even when multi-tasking.

So as she's leaving she says, refering to the book, "Is it any good? I have it on reserve at the library."

And I said, "Yeah, I think so, I'm on my third reading."

And she said, "Really! That good?"

And I said, "I dunno, maybe. There's just something about it that keeps bringing me back to it."

After a pause, I said, "Could also be that I used the last money on my Barnes & Noble gift card to buy it and I don't have any choice."

She laughed then, flashing that smile, and walked out the door...

LPK
LiveJournal
10.24.2012

Comments

[insanezanne.livejournal.com]

I hope your grandson is doing better now and I both you both had a good Thanksgiving holiday.

[olbuksings.livejournal.com]

Thanks, we are doing better and we had a nice Thanksgiving at home this year. Little Jay played in a holiday soccer tournament and seemed up to speed but keeping him healthy is a constant concern with all the stuff they get exposed to in school. But, you know, that's life.

Hope you and your daughter and granddaughter had a healthy and enjoyable Thanksgiving as well!

[insanezanne.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I saw this after you posted but made no reply. I spent Thanksgiving at my daughter's house (where she lives with her EX.) Her father-in-law was there also and my brother and niece. It was a pleasant day but I spent the entire next day in bed, sick with flu or whatever this bug is that everyone has right now. I'm STILL fighting it even now! ugh!