(The following is a true story I experienced over a year ago and wrote about on one of my other blogs)

I was asked to help a friend who is having a colonoscopy today. She needed a driver and I am free to help. So, here I sit waiting for the doctor to come out and tell me about the procedure. Before my friend (who will remain anonymous) was called back for her procedure, I noticed a sign in the waiting room that reads, “Please be respectful of our patients. No food is permitted in the waiting room.” I read it out loud to my friend and started to giggle. She hasn’t consumed anything for two days other than a very high powered laxative.

The entrance door opens and two people come through it. I am noticing that every person who comes through the door to check in immediately asks for the rest room. Anyone who is sitting in this room right now who does not have someone sitting next to them is affectionately referred to as “the driver”. We are not allowed to leave the room no matter what. We are here to get all the details of the procedure once it has been completed. We are here to make sure they get home OK. We are the ones who are supposed to remember all of the instructions from the doctor. Well, I am observing a particular “driver” in the room who keeps asking questions to others. Questions like: “Is today Thursday?” ”Why are you here?” And, so far my personal favorite, “Are you having a tooth pulled?” I am so very nervous for his family member or friend who is in the back having this oh-so-lovely procedure done and is entrusting their care and well-being to this not-so-lucid individual. Everyone is trying to be so polite with this man, but can’t seem to keep themselves from laughing at his questions.

My friend said earlier she hopes medical advances enough by the time her children are old enough to go through this test that there will be a better, less invasive way to observe the colon. Shoot, I hope by the time I’m old enough to go through this test the advances have happened already. They have 10 years to make it better!!

So, as uncomfortable as the patients are in this room and as bored as the “drivers” may be in this room, I am going to sit here and find the humor. No sense in getting upset that my afternoon is being spent sitting in an endoscopy office. I am happy to help friends when I can as I know they would do the same for me.