Friday, February 14, 2020
Yesterday, when I arrived to get my blood draw there were seven patients waiting in line ahead of me to check in. There have never been more than four patients waiting ahead of me on any of my many, many other visits. The regular woman who checks patients in was not there and I heard her fill in tell several patients her computer had crashed four times and she apologized for not knowing them by sight so she could check them in faster. A few of the patients were rather rude to her.
I was extra polite to try to brighten her day and I asked her if she knew why the regular woman was gone. The regular woman usually warns the regular patients before she takes time off. The replacement told me the regular woman’s mother had died. I felt so sad for the regular woman. I know I would be devastated if that happened to me. I will express condolences when I see her next week.
There was, of course, a crowd in the waiting room and I was very happy I bring my own chair. A woman who shares Dr. Doom and Gloom with me is currently doing a treatment very similar to my slash and burn treatment, so she comes in every third Thursday. She struck up a conversation with me and we exchanged chemotherapy side effect stories. The slash and burn chemotherapy has not been as gentle for her as it was for me. She does have a different type of cancer than I do which may make a difference and everybody reacts to treatment in a different manner.
We chatted for about 15 minutes until she got called back for treatment. Five minutes later, I was called back for my blood draw. Of course, I was complicated on a day they were already running behind. The nurse had trouble getting blood to come out of my port after it was accessed. The second nurse did not have any trouble getting the blood to flow for my tests. I was ready to roll back home.
As I went by the office of the woman who checked me in, I noticed she was not busy, so I stopped in to ask if her day was getting better. She thanked me for being kind and told me to choose from four colors. When I chose purple, she gave me a Valentine’s Day cookie with purple frosting. She told me a co-worker was starting a baking business and she had bought $100 worth of cookies to distribute to other co-workers and patients to support the co-worker.
I accepted my cookie and rolled out to catch a bus. As I rode home, I thought about what a great friend she was to her co-worker. I am wondering what I can do to better support my friend’s businesses. Sometimes all I can do is refer other people to them. I am not looking to buy or sell a house, so I am not able to do business with any of my REALTOR friends. When my daughter was house hunting, I hooked her up with one of my friends to help her buy her home.
Three of my clients came from referrals from a friend who did not need my services, but felt I offered value for others. When one of my friends sold jewelry through a direct sales company, I hosted an online party for her, even though I no longer wear jewelry and did not want any hostess gifts. I try to always buy books my friends publish. Occasionally I will purchase a product I do not want to gift to another friend.
My piece of advice to you is to find out how you can support your friends and their businesses, and then do it. Use your baker friend for your child’s birthday party instead of the grocery store. Buy your friend’s book even if it is poetry. Put a sticker inside the cover telling people where they can buy the book; and ask your doctor if you can leave it in the waiting room. A little bit goes a long way, and your friends are worth it.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
Yesterday, when I arrived to get my blood draw there were seven patients waiting in line ahead of me to check in. There have never been more than four patients waiting ahead of me on any of my many, many other visits. The regular woman who checks patients in was not there and I heard her fill in tell several patients her computer had crashed four times and she apologized for not knowing them by sight so she could check them in faster. A few of the patients were rather rude to her.
I was extra polite to try to brighten her day and I asked her if she knew why the regular woman was gone. The regular woman usually warns the regular patients before she takes time off. The replacement told me the regular woman’s mother had died. I felt so sad for the regular woman. I know I would be devastated if that happened to me. I will express condolences when I see her next week.
There was, of course, a crowd in the waiting room and I was very happy I bring my own chair. A woman who shares Dr. Doom and Gloom with me is currently doing a treatment very similar to my slash and burn treatment, so she comes in every third Thursday. She struck up a conversation with me and we exchanged chemotherapy side effect stories. The slash and burn chemotherapy has not been as gentle for her as it was for me. She does have a different type of cancer than I do which may make a difference and everybody reacts to treatment in a different manner.
We chatted for about 15 minutes until she got called back for treatment. Five minutes later, I was called back for my blood draw. Of course, I was complicated on a day they were already running behind. The nurse had trouble getting blood to come out of my port after it was accessed. The second nurse did not have any trouble getting the blood to flow for my tests. I was ready to roll back home.
As I went by the office of the woman who checked me in, I noticed she was not busy, so I stopped in to ask if her day was getting better. She thanked me for being kind and told me to choose from four colors. When I chose purple, she gave me a Valentine’s Day cookie with purple frosting. She told me a co-worker was starting a baking business and she had bought $100 worth of cookies to distribute to other co-workers and patients to support the co-worker.
I accepted my cookie and rolled out to catch a bus. As I rode home, I thought about what a great friend she was to her co-worker. I am wondering what I can do to better support my friend’s businesses. Sometimes all I can do is refer other people to them. I am not looking to buy or sell a house, so I am not able to do business with any of my REALTOR friends. When my daughter was house hunting, I hooked her up with one of my friends to help her buy her home.
Three of my clients came from referrals from a friend who did not need my services, but felt I offered value for others. When one of my friends sold jewelry through a direct sales company, I hosted an online party for her, even though I no longer wear jewelry and did not want any hostess gifts. I try to always buy books my friends publish. Occasionally I will purchase a product I do not want to gift to another friend.
My piece of advice to you is to find out how you can support your friends and their businesses, and then do it. Use your baker friend for your child’s birthday party instead of the grocery store. Buy your friend’s book even if it is poetry. Put a sticker inside the cover telling people where they can buy the book; and ask your doctor if you can leave it in the waiting room. A little bit goes a long way, and your friends are worth it.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.