The Times They Are A'Changin'

Scenario # 1: Friend has used the same gas company for forty-two years. The fill up guy came a few weeks ago, but told her he couldn't put gas in the tank because it was too close to her house.

This poses the questions: Did Friend  move  her house? Has the tank somehow grown legs and scampered closer to the house?

No, and no.

The law says it must be ten feet away from her house. Now, I have heard that law quoted before. We were told that when we built our house.

In 1987.

Needless to say, she changed gas companies right then, even if she had been with the company for forty-two years.

It ain't safe to do business with idiots.

And speaking of:

Scenario # 2:  Daughter has been having stomach pain after taking antibiotics akin to the same pain that happened when she was a child. So we thought the logical thing to do was to find out the name of the specialist and the medication prescribed then, so that perhaps her present physician could prescribe the same.

Sounds simple, doesn't it?

May I take a moment to say "Ha."

Of course those records were in the archives, as she was under the care of a pediatrician who stopped seeing her at age twenty-one. She received instruction on how to sign a release and get records from the archives.

She went there, did that, they even marked the release 'urgent' because she was in pain.

That was last Wednesday. The lady said we'd probably get them the next morning.

Uh, no.

Monday morning Daughter called to inquire as to the progress. First they said they couldn't find a release. Then Daughter was put on hold, referred to "Jamie" who never answered, but a beep finally occurred and with fingers crossed, she left a message.

Which was not returned.

Yesterday, while we were all gone, they finally called back. (This is exactly one week later).

I want to quote to you exactly what this message said. And by the way, the girl sounded like she was all of eight years old, but what do I know.

"Hey. This is Dana from ______________. We have your records. They've been copied and you can pick them up at the front desk. We've just had a hectic week. We had a Christmas party and an Open house. But anyway, they're ready now. Bye!"

Husband ran up to the town they are in and picked up those 'urgent' records today. (which, by the way were not even in chronological order).

As he left, the older woman sitting behind the desk said, "Happy Thanksgiving!"

It's December 12.

I am stopping now because I'm  not sure, dear reader, how much more either of us can take.

Over and out.