A Night in the Museum errrr….Foothills Hospital!!!!
I recently had the opportunity of spending six and a half hours at the Foothills Hospital Emergency after an accident at the gym. I knew that I would be in store for a long wait but didn’t imagine people lined up outside the door just waiting to see triage. Luckily experience has its advantages and I came well prepared with plenty of things to keep me busy for the evening. As I stood in line, people began interacting with one another; all too eager to share their stories of misfortunes which had brought them in. Before long personalities began to surface as a level of familiarity broke down, barriers, boundaries, and protective shields, and a degree of comfortableness amongst those waiting for medical attention began to emerge. Sharing of life stories, hardships, philosophies, world views, values, and a whole host of lived experiences united complete strangers together in the human experience. Clearly the work I had brought with me was going to have to wait in lieu of how the night was unfolding- this was a far more interesting study on sociology post pandemic and it needed all my attention to capture it!!!
As the hours passed here is how some of the characters unfolded. In front of me was a middle aged lady whom in aviation we would treat in a medical emergency as a person with “positive panic”. A retired school teacher; she was busy about everyone’s business. Her empathy oozed for overworked nurses, a chilled senior with amputated legs, and anyone needing any advice or assistance; she was ready to serve. Unfortunately her own mishap with a knife while chopping watermelon kept her overzealous yearning to help others within its own limits. A bandaged thumb which seemed to need to be elevated well above her head was not all too conducive to helping others in the emergency room. Luckily she soon hit it off with an older man who proudly declared his Italian roots. They enjoyed each other’s company and with his charming and boisterous personality it really was no wonder as he livened up the entire waiting room area. As he waited patiently he described his own mishap with a hedge and cutting shears. Now a huge gash in the top of his head oozed with blood and one could not help not notice the bright blue skunk like iodine stripe which ran down the center of his scalp which his wife had generously applied at the time of the accident. He flirted with the nurses singing songs in Italian with their names substituted in the lyrics. To counter balance his joie de vivre was was a young, tall, and slender girl who was extremely friendly, outgoing, but rather uptight. She had incredible interrogating interview skills asking a myriad of questions to any captivated audience members who sat next to her. One middle aged over weight man moved over next to her to share the electrical outlet. Swiftly she moved in with her questioning conversation starters. At first glance he seemed easy going and lighthearted as he cracked jokes about his weight and waiting alone at the hospital without family. But as her questioning persisted so too did his story unfold. Upon visiting his doctor’s office earlier that day and reviewing his X-rays it showed that his cancer had returned and his doctor sent him immediately to the emergency. What followed was a whole series of very deep questions pertaining to life’s meaning, philosophy, death and dying. His answers were flippant as he had obviously faced them before while she wished to probe deeper. After he had had enough of her questioning he asked her what she did for a living. To no ones surprise she answered that she was a family therapist admitting to being good at asking questions but not so good at the application of her principles to her life!! Lots of laughter was mixed with the seriousness of life’s sometimes raw, unfair moments of uncertainty and fear. As the night wore on one by one people were called from the waiting room to see the doctor. Each goodbye was coupled with good wishes and a genuine appreciation for the companionship and human connection that has taken place between complete strangers.
As I myself got called in to see the doctor the nurse commented on the unusual bond and connection in the waiting room. I told her it had surprised me as well. I could never have imagined that my night at the Foothills would become a beautiful example of meaningful conversations, real connections, belly laughter, and that complete strangers could connect with each other in such a short amount of time. I think it speaks to some of the silent, gone unnoticed impacts of Covid and the past 18 months. As social creatures we crave human interaction. Now more than ever, we all need real connection, dependable emotional support, and a feeling of belonging — whoever we are, wherever we are.
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