The Waiting Room

Before 7 am, the hospital is relatively quiet. Now that the Middle-Aged Woman has been ushered behind closed doors by a nurse, I'm alone in the waiting room. Of course, the ever-present television is a constant companion - but we're not on speaking terms - so I'm mostly ignoring the stream of information spewing forth from the local morning news show (The tanker accident on I-75 last night which has a couple miles of the freeway closed is the story du jour. The wreckage that used to be a bridge over 9 Mile Road is still smoking.). I've spent a good deal of time in waiting rooms over the past two years. The different tests and treatments that the MAW has undergone normally involve drugs that make operation of a motor vehicle inadvisable - so I'm the designated driver,

I also do comedy relief when necessary. Whenever The Patient is nervous (rarely) or agitated (more frequent - but this can be caused by so many things...), I will often attempt to lighten the situation with humor. And I'm not above making fun of The Patient (let's face it - wearing one of those gowns with the exposed caboose can turn you into a joke magnet) when necessary - or convenient.

When I'm not driving or working on my stand-up routine, I'll read - or try to sleep. Actually, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea right now. Once The Patient emerges, I'm sure you'll get a Twitter, Facebook or blog update on her condition. Look sharp and...

Take care.