MUSINGS and other writing by Mark Kolke

. . . . . . there is no edge to openness

TODAY'S MUSINGS

FEEDBACK / COMMENTS

MARK SPEAKS

ARCHIVED COLUMNS

ARCHIVE SPRING 2023

ARCHIVE WINTER 2022-23

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2022

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2022

ARCHIVE SPRING 2022

ARCHIVE WINTER 2021-22

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2021

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2021

ARCHIVE SPRING 2021

ARCHIVE WINTER 2020-21

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2020

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2020

ARCHIVE SPRING 2020

ARCHIVE WINTER 2019-20

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2019

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2019

ARCHIVE SPRING 2019

ARCHIVE WINTER 2018-19

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2018

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2018

ARCHIVE SPRING 2018

ARCHIVE WINTER 2017-18

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2017

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2017

ARCHIVE SPRING 2017

ARCHIVE WINTER 2016/17

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2016

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2016

ARCHIVE SPRING 2016

ARCHIVE WINTER 2015/16

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2015

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2015

ARCHIVE SPRING 2015

ARCHIVE WINTER 2014/15

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2014

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2014

ARCHIVE SPRING 2014

ARCHIVE WINTER 2013/14

CONTACT

MY REAL ESTATE LIFE

WHY I WRITE MUSINGS

SHORT STORY PROJECT

POETRY PROJECT

MARK'S SPEAKING TIPS

SELECTED OTHER WORK

     
 
LOOKING AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY
 
Sunday, September 11, 2022 - column #7117
 
 
I recently (it was mid-July) witnessed an interesting scenario play out in my doctor’s office waiting room.

I was waiting for my appointment like all the others in the waiting room, the staff behind the counter were attending to fresh arrivals, checking them in for scheduled appointments – standard fare, and I wasn’t eavesdropping, but …

A young man came in – trendy clothes, Nike backpack, shorts and running shoes – tall, long curly hair, and excellent English, probably a high school or university student. He explained needing to see a doctor,  being new here, recently arrived from Ukraine, and explaining he had been told he should go to a walk-in clinic. The clerk advised it was not a walk-in clinic, but they have many doctors who are fully booked for appointments, though some of them are taking new patients, and that she could book him in, perhaps in September or October, but not any sooner. She indicated that if he needed to see someone today, a walk-in clinic was nearby, and she provided the address. He politely thanked her and went on his way.

Now, that sounds great – great for the kid, great for the clinic clerk being helpful, great for our health care system and for their being walk-in clinics available, so people don’t clog emergency rooms for minor ailments.

So what is wrong with this picture I’ve painted?

I was overhearing other conversations for about twenty minutes – one of which was a young woman apologizing for being late and missing her appointment due to a large accident on Deerfoot Trail, to which that same clerk replied, “no worries, we’ve had several cancellations – I’ll get you in right away,” and she did.

So, when do we stretch, and when do we do the merely adequate?

I don’t have an answer, but I thought this a story worth sharing and thinking about – wondering if I see it differently than on the day it occurred.

How we see others, how we treat others, and how we see others being treated is worthy of thought, comment, and observation – that we test our values and sensibilities.

Would we book the articulate young Ukrainian with one of those doctors with an available slot to build a relationship with his family (possibly more patients), his friends, relatives and fellow new immigrants?

Would we want to see this play out differently for any other group, like poor people, homeless people, or indigenous people? I don’t have simple answers, and I realize it’s not a simple question – perhaps not one for answering right away, but one for thinking about.

 


 
 

Link to all my contact coordinates + links

Comments are always welcome - please contribute to the discussion.  

Reply to: kolke@markkolke.com

Copyright - all rights reserved - Mark Kolke, © 2003-2023 - MaxComm Communications

 - this site is updated daily - last update - 2023 / March 14