In the waiting room.

I can't stop thinking about her. Last week I had an unexpected trip to urgent care. I didn't want to show up at work if I had something that was contagious. I am so bothered by people who bring their germs to work and kindly share them with the rest of us who are healthy. Seriously, no work is that important. So instead I coughed my way to the med center and found myself in a waiting room with other sickies, desperately hoping for the immediate cure.
I had a call into my family physician seeking some direction that just maybe he would call in a prescription. This would save time and another dent in my pocket to pay for medical bills. Of course I thought of calling him when I was next in line at urgent care. I was confident my doc would either squeeze me in or knowing my medical history, he would call in a "quick fix" into the pharmacy.
I moved out of the urgent care waiting room into the main lobby of the med center so I wouldn't bother the other sickies while I waited for the doctor call back.
That's when I met her.
I could see an older lady standing near the bench where Barkley and I waited. It is not uncommon for people to stare at Barkley. He is a handsome dude. Before I knew it, I was engaged in a conversation with this stranger. She proceeded to tell me her history with dogs.  She was a dog lover. Particularly black labs. I was immediately drawn to her. Her questions were energizing and certainly not annoying. Her curiosity with Barkley and my disability completely respectful and not at all patronizing. I really liked her.
As many of my friends point out, I ask a lot of questions. Call it the therapist in me but I learn a lot from people. And Jerry was no different.
She had just moved to a nearby retirement community. I asked her how she liked it. "It's a nice place but I am really, really lonely. One of my dogs died three months before I moved and because of the move, I had to adopt the other one out."
I have been wanting to get rid of my cat prior to this. I am a huge animal lover and therefore can't give her away to just anyone.
"You need my cat. She's fat but she'll keep you company." Unfortunately she couldn't. She has allergies to cats. Our conversation continued and I quickly became fond of Jerry. Although she is not dealing with FA, she is working through struggles that she has no control over. And the challenges she has, she obviously is doing something about them. It is true, I don't know Jerry's whole story. But the part of her story that I did hear in the waiting room of the med center has stuck with me.
She was real in her sadness yet not a Wendy whiner. She didn't suck me dry with her troubles but was honest and raw. I value that in people. I strive for that in my life.
The waiting in urgent care lasted an hour. My doc did call back and advised me to be seen there for my symptoms as he was unable to see me that day. Jerry's ride arrived, we said our good-byes and I headed back in the line at urgent care. Thirty minutes later I was diagnosed with an Upper Respiratory Infection. The virus needs to run it's course. I'll be fine. But it's the waiting room of  FA that makes me wonder if I'll ever be okay. I have no doubt that's it's running it's course.
I just hope I can meet more Jerry's while I'm waiting.

Phat Phoebe.

Anyone want a fat cat?.