So, it now becomes altogether clear to me that the reason for this blog is not that its "sound goes out throughout the earth", is not that somehow it will earn me lots of money so that I can be the great philanthropist and restore the church organ and endow a Preservation Trust, it is not to influence the lives of many... the reason is that when I become overwhelmed with frustration (and we all know the place to which that leads), when frustration reigns I can come write about it (fairly anonymously) and vent and breathe.
Yesterday, after several confirmation 'phone calls by me, I had scheduled an eye test for 3:40pm; I arrived early just in case. Deciding that the magazines offered for my perusal were not really chosen with an elderly British Episcopal priest in mind, I closed my eyes and tried to pray for a while. That holy pursuit did not last long as I became aware that minutes were ticking by... 3:45pm, 3:50pm and then I was told that it could be another 5/10 minutes. Well, I had an appointment at 4:30m (yes, I really did) so I explained that I had to leave and when could I make another appointment. It seemed to me that my words were met with some disapproval and surprise... but is this so very strange. By keeping to appointments we show that we are professional people and that we respect the time of other people; come to think of it I don't even think I received an apology.
So maybe I'll return tomorrow at the re-scheduled time but I'm none too optimistic; perhaps I'll discover some other frames to my liking in a place slightly more geared to the schedules and needs of its customers.
Of course this is what sin is all about - an unreadiness to consider the other and an assumption that our own immediate needs are all that matters. Oh yes, I need a divine intervention - often!
Just in case you're interested and waiting for an appointment, here's a rather academic discursus on appointment keeping: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1653759/pdf/amjph00486-0025.pdf
Ah... breathe!
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3 comments:
This is my pet peeve too. There are too many doctor's staffs today who overbook and just don't care. I understand emergencies, but an ophthalmologist (unlike an obstetrician) should rarely have an emergency. If you're looking for a good ophthalmologist, I recommend Mark Pyfer (215-885-2433). He's highly rated, located at Wills Eye,and I've been seeing him for years and never waited more than 5 minutes. He's only at that location though on Thursday afternoons.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andyellwood/2012/03/21/if-youre-on-time-youre-late/
Thank you, Barbara! Actually I had the appointment yesterday. Although, apropos the Forbes article,the optician entered the building at 10am! "if you're on time, you're late".
Punctuality: the virtue of kings!
Punctuality: the only problem with being punctual is that no-one else is; well, apart from me, Barbara and A.U.G.
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