Went to the doctor yesterday…for the yearly which is really, ummmm more like a 17 monthly because I am overdue with it. It’s funny, once I found out I was diabetic, all those doctors and specialist took over my life and I forgot/didn’t heed the basic regular doctor’s appointments. After signing in, there are two sides to it. One side had several people in it and the TV going while the other was empty. I went to the empty side to read.

Several people came in after me and sat over on the other side. Except one man. Older gentleman. He walked in and spoke in one of those tone’s that even I had to look up and see who he was. It wasn’t a sexy tone it was just…a voice that made me think of walking along a trail and listening to him reminisce. I went back to reading my book and I heard the receptionist ask him to have a seat and out of the corner of my eye, I seen him glance in my direction. He glanced over to the other side, turned back to my direction then headed my way. As he walked in front of me, with head buried in my book, he said in that tone/voice ‘don’t let me interrupt your reading young lady…just wanted to say hello’. As he shuffled over and sat down in the chair in front of me (mind you there are like 20 other chairs on that side of the waiting room). I looked up and I spoke but went back to reading. ‘what are you reading?’ I put that smile ( you know the one…Ima be nice but I REALLY want to be left alone) and told him that it was a book that I had for awhile but I loved to read it. ‘over and over??’ I chuckled and said yes. I then put my head down to keep on reading. End of conversation right? Nope. He wanted to know the whose, what’s and where’s about the book so I told him which led to one of the most interesting conversations I’ve had with an individual in a long time.

And it only lasted 30 minutes.

I wanted to take his picture so bad.

I can still hear his voice. He had a storyteller’s voice. The kind that just pulled you in. Made you want to hear the end, good or bad.

He would gaze off when he talked..looked into nothing but kept talking.

He’d rub the front of his ‘Marine’ hat as he talked about playing baseball in ‘56

Rocked his foot back in forth as he relived paying 25 cents (not a quarter but 25 cents…don’t know why that stood out to me either) to tour the Biltmore.

Driving to Tennesse and how beautiful it was. That I needed to do it if I hadn’t .

And it was only a 30 minute one sided conversation from him. It wasn’t about politics. It wasn’t about race. Nor religion. And I loved it.

The nurse came out and called out ‘John’ to which he turned to her and said ‘did you say John’ to which she said ‘you bet I did! Are you coming?’ he sighed and said I guess I will. When he stood up he looked at me, thanked me and told me to enjoy my book. The nurse looked at me and smiled really big and as she mouthed the word thank you another nurse came out and called my name. When I walked by the receptionist desk the receptionist… thanked me as well.

I don’t know what for but I have an idea. But today…I think I kinda owe him a thank you.


Enjoy your weekends everyone!