Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Well, duh.
I’m wonderful. My patient just told me so. “You’re wonderful,” she said, and in case I hadn’t heard, she repeated it twice, and when I asked her to repeat this to my medical assistant, she did so. Happily.
“He’s wonderful,” she said.
“I know,” said my assistant.
Which raises the question, why doesn’t my wife ever say this to me? Have I not given her ample evidence of my wonderfulness?
Maybe Karen would tell me I’m wonderful if I cleaned the wax from her ears, too.
D.
Those we are closest to are the last to appreciate us.I know you realize this on some level.
Today, without any encouragement, several of my 3rd period 10th graders blurted this on their way out of the room, “I love this class.”
Like your patient’s praise, praise from a couple of teenagers helps to reassure me that all is right with my world.
Of course I can’t really compete with the satisfaction that comes from saving a patient from ear wax.[:
I love you, man! Does that help?
I tell my husband he’s wonderful quite a lot (he seems rather sceptical, but then that’s how I react to compliments).
Where I work compliments are not a big part of the culture. I reduced an admin assistant to tears with a small Christmas (oops, holidy!) gift and note thanking her for her work. I’ve also started the welcome plant tradition (every office is better with a plant) for all new staff members. We are still struggling with the birthday issue, which can turn ugly quickly. Latest concept, have a group celebration on the last day of each Zodiac sign (it’s bad luck in many cultures to celebrate in advance) and the astrological things adds a nice element of silliness.
And why don’t you clean the wax out of Karen’s ears? Do Vulcans not make wax?
And a closing question – who cleans the wax out of the ears of the ENT?
Had you been the one to unblock my wax impacted & infected ear thereby bringing instant relief to my unbearable pain and near deafness, I would have covered you with compliments too! That happened to me just last week. When symptoms began I tried to get an appointment with an ENT. The earliest appointment I could wrangle was two weeks out. Two weeks!! No way could I endure it that long. Not wanting to go the ER route, my husband prevailed upon an old friend who actually made a house call that same evening. The next day I went to his office where he performed the above described miracle. I shook his hand, said thank you a million times and I even sent a proper thank you note. My husband also scored big points for making the arrangements, holding my hand throughout and (oops!) lending me some of his high power pain pills. And then, I almost forgot our anniversary (was reminded by my daughter who sent greetings from a time zone 10 hours ahead of ours) and, as usual, had no card or gift when he arrived with red roses, a card, and a lovely gift. In my defense, 24/7/365 I take care of my husband which I would not do if I did not truly believe he was/is wonderful.
Sis: I sometimes wonder whether your generation of teachers, once gone, will never be replaced. Just seems like the younger teachers lack that idealism thing.
Kira: Karen says no, Vulcans do not make wax. (Interesting about the office gift-giving.)
Lucie, sounds like you had a little more going on than wax. Glad you’re feeling better!
You’re right…that generation will never be replaced. Not only do they lack idealism, they lack a work ethic and have instead a sense of entitlement. Maybe that period of pushing a child’s self-esteem did some damage. I am sure not ALL younger teachers are like this (just wanted to throw that in before people took offense).
I want to add that I got a letter today from my wonderful Dr. X (father of an Oscar award winning actress whose name I cannot reveal) saying “the wax impactions in your ears are very dense and problematic as far as causing pain. I hope by the time you receive this letter, we have taken care of this for you”. I think adding “only in the South” would not be exaggerating.