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Pragmatist
Pragmatist

Another busy day, and a lot of wasted time
Thu Dec 09 2004

Harry had another appointment today, one of a series of tests he has to undergo. We got there a little early, and of course there were pages of pages to fill out. And then we waited and waited and waited. He was finally called in 45 minutes after his scheduled appointment. Why don't they just say "Come in whenever you get around to it, and we'll take you in whenever we get around to it."? I hate dealing with that particular medical group, and I'm glad my HMO isn't associated with them!!!!!

Another place is just the opposite. His appointment may be 11:00, and the nurse calls the day before and asks if he can be in by 10:45 or even 10:30. That could be a "Well come in any time between ( ) and ( )." At least at that office, he gets called in within minutes of our arrival.

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Well, turns out I lied about Thursday being free. And I even talked about what was going on on Thursday in the very same diary entry. The lighting of the menorah at the Capitol. I need to get my two brain cells to cooperate.

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Tonight was the Wednesday Night Get-Together. D Herself made latkes. Served with her own homemade applesauce and sour cream brought from the store by D Himself. I brought a salad. Happened to find some Chanukah cookies when I was shopping for salad fixin's. So took them along too.

Herself's parents called while I was there, and I talked to them for awhile. (They read my diary). The rest of the evening was spent sorting out the world's problems and finding solutions. We'd make a great team.

We came to the conclusion that we're a community of strangers. High walls around our homes. No front porches for relaxation and waving to the neighbors. We're surrounded by our fences and our cars. When was the last time you walked to the grocery store for shopping? Who lives that close to a grocery store?

Just think about this: Houses are built as a community, frequently gated these days. Grocery stores and specialty shops are grouped together in a mall some distance away from the new-built community. And the post office is somewhere else. And where are the churches? Some of these communities have land set aside for parks, but how many of your neighbors get together for a picnic in the park? And how many mamas take their kiddies to the park to play with other kiddies. Ooops. Soccer practice. Music lessons. Taekwando classes. Plus trips to the dentist or doctor. And frequently to the therapist.

Who has time for play?

Any of you moved into a new home lately? Who greeted you with a friendly wave? Who came over with a casserole and welcome to the neighborhood? Who knocked on your door and invited you over for a cuppa?

Yep, we're a community of strangers.

Well, Shalom, anyway.

5 Comments
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Dec 09 2004
    i'd have to agree with you there, although when i moved in the neighbours did come over to say hello and one even brought over a freshly baked piece of carrot cake. mm mmmm
  • From:
    MissTick (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Dec 09 2004
    here the community is that of the strangers too. Although our next doors are very friendly and in the summer we often chat over the fence in the garden, we never set a foot into their house yet. not because they don't want or we don't want...just ...it never feels like doing such things somehow...I remember how in our previous place we used to live, 7 years ago, we literally shocked our neighborous, when invited them for a tea and when they asked when - we said - why not now?...it was beyond their understanding that one can just pop down to next door without pre-arranging...
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Dec 09 2004
    Sad but so true a trip to most clinic's are stressfull and I might add Car dealers repair shops. It was very up lifting to talk with you at last and your voice matched my picture of you and as a whole refreshing person.
    It is sad that our urban neihborhoods have made us strangers in so many ways.
  • From:
    Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Dec 09 2004
    Speaking of Latka.. My friend makes them with turnips instead of potato.. Turnip Latkes for Chanukah
    They are good.
  • From:
    DancingButterfly (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Dec 10 2004
    right on! I agree with you, we are a community of strangers.
    The sad thing is that we need to protect ourselves and put walls up around us because of the escalating violence and break-ins, lack of respect from others' for your property, and being crammed in so close together in apartments. Very sad indeed.