Is That A Needle?

I am way too old to be chased around the exam room by a nurse with a needle. 


I can laugh with the best of them when regaled with stories of teenage girls hiding under their coats 
or how they had to drag the star athlete out from under the desk by their foot to give college-bound immunizations.


But I gotta say, when the doctor told me a shot would help me get over a sinus infection my immediate response was, "with a needle?"


Now I know where the phrase "slap them silly" began. That is exactly what I wanted to do when I looked over to see the doctor and nurse trying hard to keep straight faces.


It took all my "adultness" to, oh so casually, stand and offer the requested part of my anatomy. 
I waited and waited after she swabbed my skin and then finally belted out "Just do it already!" 


Looking over my shoulder I saw them snickering. It was already done. And I had just become the latest exam room comedy sketch.


Okay... next time they can just chase me.

Sunday Mornings At the Diner

Sunday mornings often find me reading the paper at a local diner. I get there early so I can dally over my coffee and not feel guilty about taking up the booth for an hour or so. 


I am not alone in this Sunday morning ritual. There is one couple in particular I find my eyes wandering to. Last week I looked up to see them crossing the room. He stayed right beside her and helped her ease into a nearby booth.


"Would you like some coffee?" the waitress asks. 
"Yes, with cream," she replies.
"None for me," he says.


Then there's some hand holding and smiling going on across the table. 
Clearly they only have eyes for each other.


The coffee comes and he slides it to the center of the table.
She empties in the sugar and he pours in the cream.


It sits there between them, that steaming cup of coffee. 
Finally he takes a small sip, nods and places it back between them. 
She takes a sip, smiles and they talk while drinking the coffee.


The teamwork continues when they leave. 
She rises first and places his walker in front of him then steadies his elbow as he gets up.


They don't need a Sunday morning paper, they so completely have each other.