overheard conversations

I was in the hospital laboratory today to get some blood drawn... no biggie - just one of those Day 21 tests to see what is happening to me hormonally during that time in my cycle. Gotta love being a girl.

Anyway - with the 45 minute wait and a little Umberto Eco to keep me occupied, I settled into my nice cozy chair next to a man I guessed was in his late 80s. I felt him sneak a peak at my book. He said nothing.

They called a name.

The woman sitting directly across from him said, "Wally, you're next."

The man said, "Now?"

She said, "No. You're next. I think. The man who was in line before me was just called."

"You coming with me?"

"No. You'll be fine." she said.

He grunted.

I got a good look at her. Obviously his wife, perhaps 8-9 years younger. Died dark hair, but a pleasantly warm disposition. There was nothing patronizing in the way she spoke to him.

She got up. She had this walker that could open up - revealing a pocket in which she had a newspaper. He made a motion to get up too. "Not yet, " she said, "I'm just stretching my legs."

He nodded.

Just the a cell phone went off. It was some 70s porn music. The fella whose phone it was -- 55ish male, no wedding ring- seemed a little embarrased when all the geriatrics looked at him. He avoided eye contact with me, as I tried not to giggle.

"Wally. Wally?" said the woman.

I looked at my seat mate - he was asleep. I looked at the woman. She just smiled at me and and shook her head. I smiled back. She looked at Wally with such love I almost wept.

When they called his name, he got up and went back. 'Here I go." he said.

A moment later a nurse came to talk to Mrs. Wally. "What's his birthday?" she asked (standard question when you sit down to give blood - guess that verifies your identity or something."

"October ??, 1921," she said.

"Thanks. He asked me to ask you." Said the nurse.

"Of course he did, " replied Mrs. Wally with a laugh in her voice.

Wally came out before I went in. The two, in their matching walkers, started towards the door.

"You okay?" she asked, unworried.

"Oh yes," he replied.

"Good," she said, 'lets go get breakfast."

And off they went.