Chair 1 we wait to be called, only 4 people waiting. We get called to chair 2 for triage. Still only 4 people waiting. We move to chair 3 to register. 5 People now are waiting. Moving to chair 4, still 5 people waiting. Now waiting becomes a game, of what to do to keep occupied. Play a game on a phone, send a text or email.
So it begins… Its called the waiting room.
A large room with chairs. Dividers between each chair. A TV for background noise. The game begins. I mom and son, a fall off a dirt bike with possible concussion, with memories of fun learning to ride. I husband with possible kidney stones, can’t sit, can’t get away from the pain. A baby with possible ear infection, and mom trying to console.
A waiting room 3 hours later
Our names are called, we move to wait again. Now its a long hallway with rooms divided with curtains. The game continues. This time only voices fill the air. A mom singing to her baby a lullaby, crying slowly stops. A older man with a bloody nose wanting to go home, he is tired of waiting. A couple talking to pass time. In my line of sight, paramedics come and go with patients. Coughing, hurting and sleeping.
An exam room 2 hours latter
Moved back to the waiting room. The room is now full. Wheel chairs and talking, sniffling with coughing.
A waiting room 1 hour later. CT scan and back to wait. Mom and daughter are separated because exam room is to full.
A boy with a swollen foot, a friend helping a friend. A dad and 2 kids playing a game to pass time. A pregnant mom pacing uncomfortably. Chairs filling with chatter and talking to strangers. Room becomes to full so a daughter moves outside to breath.
Waiting room turns into waiting outside. Its raining now. People coming and going, back and forth. The darkness fills the sky as a text sounds on a cell. I’m being admitted.
What started at 1pm continued to 8pm
The game ends. Mind shifts, and back to reality, back to a mother in pain, hurting and feeling sick. Back to a daughter keeping a mother company through a hard time. Waiting in a privet room, bed to sleep on, a door to close. A light to turn off for a dark room to close a mothers eyes to sleep.
A daughter leaves. Tired but relived with possible answers to a mother in pain. To return in the morning to start the game again.
The game is called the waiting room. Can you tell what the game is all about? How is it played and how do you win? Or do you? Next time you are in a waiting room, play this game.
All you do is sit and wait.
A Mom's Footprints 