Pickles by Brian Crane for February 19, 2024

About the time the long awaited appointment time comes around, I always feel better and feel silly keeping the appointment.

Cheer up. Maybe you had an appointment and already cancelled it.

I’ve been doing physical therapy and they had me sign a form saying if I canceled less than 24hrs in advance I’d be charged anyway, my 1st appointment they texted saying they’d switched my appointment to 2 hours earlier and to call and confirm. I was in the shower when they sent it so I responded about 20 minutes later and was told “oh we already filled that spot!” Argh I can’t stand how people in the medical field apparently think only their time is important!

I like doing that with the dentist, Opal!

Cancelling TWO doctor appointments make her feel even better. It’s a pair-a-docs.

Todays strip takes on another meaning when you consider who or what Doc Johnson might represent.

Me too.

Next, Opal will be telling us that it cheers her up to tailgate the car in front of her on the freeway. Or that it cheers her up to say “Stick it!” when the cashier at the grocery store says “Have a nice day!”

Years ago, I was called after waiting about a half hour in the doc’s waiting room. The nurse and I were friendly so I casually mentioned to her that she had just missed my time line. I said, ‘my time is important too. Another minute and I would have been gone.’ She just nodded.

Six months later, another appointment, new sign said, ‘if you have been waiting longer than 15 min, tell receptionist.’ Was called after 15 min, which was good, but spent another 20+ in the exam room waiting. Fast lateral shuffle. Those people are tricky.

What’s on the calendar? President’s Day if it’s an American calendar, otherwise it’s just Monday…

Wow – that’s odd……. but, I understand

Or dentists.

That explains cancel culture.

Me too, especially specialists … and what’s with the co-pay when I see them more often than my Primary Physician?

I am “lucky” dr & pt both called in sick!

Cancel culture at its finest.

One nice thing about our very nasty winters – if we get a really bad day outside, I can call a doctor’s office and move my appointment up because someone is going to cancel.

we have universal health care in japan and many folks treat the hospital as their local community center, whiling the day away chatting with similar-minded acquaintances in the waiting area…