I was at the doctor's office yesterday where I get a regular allergy shot every few weeks. This office has an elaborate system set up that enables allergy-shot people to have plenty of opportunities in the week to get their shot. There are three offices through Mercer, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties with an array of hours starting as early as 8:30 in the morning through 7 at night. And if none of those days or times work, you can ask to get your shot in another office. Fool-proof. Almost.Yesterday, at 7:03PM, a woman walked in and expected service. She ran the gamut of trying to get her shot by acting:
- apologetic & cutesy that she ran in at the last minute (it wasn't)
- confused that she was only one minute late (she wasn't)
- insistent that someone had told her it was ok (they hadn't)
- mad that she had rushed over and wasn't going to get her service (they weren't)
- lather, rinse, repeat.
This awkward debacle went on twenty minutes much to the (non) enjoyment of those few of left in the waiting room. The receptionist did her best to stay calm. The woman insisted on seeing a nurse before leaving (as if the receptionist was unable to relay all the medical communication correctly -- not winning any brownie points with the front office today!)
When she left, there was a collective sigh of relief.
Should I have said something? Believe me you, people, Toni Ryan was oh so close from saying something. I don't know why I held back. It was so ridiculous.
I would understand if someone had made a mistake, but the simple truth of the matter was -- SHE WAS LATE! She could've called, she could've tried to come earlier, and well hey, she could've accepted that she was late, and politely accepted the consequence: NO SHOT FOR YOU!
But she tried to say that she had spoke to someone that had said her coming late was ok (they hadn't) and she only got there one minute late (it was three) and what was the big deal anyway (it was, they had already started shutting down).
And furthermore, have some respect for the rest of us! We bothered to get there before 7! It's not like 7:03P on a Thursday was the only time they gave out shots! There were many other opportunities available, it all just simply took a matter of planning - heck, anyone who gets shots does this at least once to twice a month for years... why the sudden amnesia?
On my way out, I gave the receptionist a little congratulatory pep talk for standing her ground and not losing her cool. I've been there behind a desk, facing off with irate people, I know it takes a lot out of you. She thanked me and pointed out that with all of us in the waiting room witnessing this, she couldn't start a precedence for letting late people slide, it wouldn't be fair to the rest of us.
She was right. And I had to agree with her, even though I don't consider her the nicest receptionist I ever encountered -- heck, twenty minutes prior to The Incident, she had tersely pointed out that I had an outstanding balance, and now suddenly we were BFF's.
And then this gem:
She said, "Well, to be honest with you.... if she had just been nice to begin with, I probably would've let it slide."
Hahahah, aaah karma.....
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