The first day of this month, a Thursday, found me manning the information desk of a doctor’s office building a mile or two from my house (I live in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). The building, within which 50 or more physicians ply their trades, is owned and managed by Jefferson Health, an enormous player in Pennsylvania’s healthcare sector. I’m part of Jefferson Health’s volunteer staff and have been putting in several or more hours weekly at the info desk for many years.
Visitors to the building throw any number of questions my way during each of my shifts, such as “Why is a grotesquely wrinkled, ancient f*cker like you working here?” Just kidding, of course, about that one. Or am I? Anyway, here are better and far more boring examples of the questions I field and respond to: “What suite are the pulmonary doctors in?” and “Where are the restrooms?”
And I also help people in a variety of other ways. On the Thursday in question, for example, a fellow asked me if I’d accompany him in the elevator to the top floor, where an appointment with one of his physicians awaited him. That was because panic sets in when he is in an elevator by himself. Normally he would take the stairs, he said, but he was having trouble with his knees. Only a prick wouldn’t have gone for a ride with him, right? Well, once in a while I can be a prick, to be honest with you. But I wasn’t in that instance.
Not only am I expected to answer questions and in general to be helpful, my employer, via a written job description, urges me to acknowledge visitors as they enter and leave the building. The point of this is to foster the impression they are in a caring environment. I do so with a high percentage of people, saying “hello,” “see ya” and the like plenty of times each shift, and commonly flashing a smile too. My actions almost always are reciprocated.
What struck me on the day I’m writing about is that many visitors beat me to the punch in the acknowledgments department. This probably has been true for years and years, but I guess it hadn’t registered with me before. Maybe the visitors were amazed and somewhat delighted to see a grotesquely wrinkled, ancient f*cker not only alive and kicking, but still in the workforce. In any case, many hellos, goodbyes and smiles came my way before I unleashed mine. Man, what absolutely floored me was an energetic and clear-as-a-bell “hi” directed at me by a baby with a pacifier in her mouth who was being pushed in a stroller past the information desk. That infant is on the right path in life! She knows how to get along with others.
Yeah, the vast majority of individuals I encounter at my Jefferson Health job are friendly, civil and polite individuals, at least on the surface. Maybe naively, this gives me some degree of hope for American society, despite the fact that the crude, repressive convicted felon named Donald Trump is, as always, hard at work spreading his poisons. The truth is, I consider myself fortunate to hold the information-desk gig. Like just about everybody, I’m a social animal. I enjoy being around people. I spend a huge amount of time solely in the company of my wife Sandy, which is time very well spent. But I regularly need wider doses of human contact. Who doesn’t? The volunteer job delivers that to me beautifully. I have no plans to hand in my Jefferson Health ID badge any time soon.
Paid a visit to the hospital a while back. I had found a ‘City of ???’ hard hat so I thought what better place to return it to than the hospital. The woman behind the info desk took the hat without question. She put it on and because she was short in stature she looked like a Umpa Lumpa worker.
(The last sentence of the comment is bullshit but that’s how my brain works)
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I like the way your brain works!
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Volunteering is one of the true Win-Wins. I also volunteer in my local op shop each week and it gets me out, talking to people I would not normally meet and hopefully, brightening their day a little. Thank you for doing what you do. Mel
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Hi. Volunteering is a good way for people to spend their time, no doubt about it.
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That’s so great! What a happy thing you’re doing. My day was brightened just from reading about this. 🙂
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Hi. Your comments make me feel good. Many thanks.
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It’s not just a cliche that a smile can brighten your day! And all those other sayings about smiling and being friendly – they’re cliches for a reason!! 🙂
High five!!! Linda Pearce Griffin
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Hi, Linda. The world would be a much better place if everyone was in the habit of smiling at one another. Thanks a lot for stopping by. Have a wonderful week.
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Compliments. You may not be aware, but seen form the outside (as a darned furner as some say SOuth of the Mason-Dixon line), volunteering is very strong in America. And I, as a darned furner can tell you it is one of the strengths of American society. Something the Crook-in-Chief will never destroy.
My very best, very personal wishes for the Mid-terms. (I wish I could vote but the DOJ might frown…😉)
(You shall overcome…)
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It’s not a good feeling to live in a country that put Trump in office twice. If the Democrats win the majority in the House and/or the Senate, perhaps things will stabilize a bit and maybe even improve.
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I can imagine the feeling. Not to mention the harm done to America everywhere abroad. It will take years to build trust again…
Having said that, I sincerely hop a swing back on the other side should stabilise things. At least put checks and balances up again. Judges everywhere have done a fantastic job. It’s time they felt more political support.
Again, my very best wishes…
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I so enjoy writing. I wanted to share your last post, but I didn’t know how.
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Hi Martie, and thanks very much.
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You’re funny. Volunteering is good for the body, mind, and soul! Good job, Neil!
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I bet that a pretty high percentage of people in the USA do volunteer work, including young and youngish people.
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Riding up to the top floor with the gentleman who panics alone in elevators is the kind of help no volunteer job description lists, and the restrooms question clearly never goes out of style. After all these years at the desk, is there a question that still catches you off guard? Signed, the OhPic Art folks, who mostly fiddle with AI-made artwork all day.
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Howdy. What surprises me is that a fair number of people arrive at the building but don’t know the name of the doctor they have an appointment with. Sometimes it turns out they are in the wrong building.
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That was such a kind thing to do, and you did it perfectly
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Hi. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the population is afraid to be in elevators by themselves.
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Oho, Neil, I know why you wrote this piece, in which you refer to yourself in several places as “a grotesquely wrinkled, ancient f*cker.” You wanted all of us, your faithful readers, to assure you you’re nothing of the kind. 😂🤣🤣🤣( Sorry, I know that wasn’t the reason, but I just couldn’t resist teasing you a tad.) Anyway, I love the baby giving you a “hi.” And volunteer work is a worthy, satisfying thing. Years ago, I volunteered every Sunday in a shelter for abused women. It could be harrowing at times, but I wouldn’t have traded a minute of my time there.
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I’ve gotten used to my wrinkles. After all, they aren’t going to go away!
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They give us…character!
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I agree, volunteering builds character. Good job, Neil.
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I’d been away for a few weeks. I’m back home now and probably will go to my volunteer job tomorrow. I’ve missed it.
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They’re lucky to have you, buddy – and good on you for giving of yourself in that way.
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I’ve had volunteer jobs that didn’t thrill me. But I like this one a lot.
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The election results will have brought you more hope, i hope, Neil! Good piece – like you, I find volunteering enormously rewarding.
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It will be interesting to see if Trump changes his tactics, approaches, policies, etc. My guess is that he will continue to be a MFing asshole.
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I love this! Doctors’ appointments are stressful, so it’s absolutely wonderful to walk into a building where someone greets you. It feels like someone’s rooting for you. Cheers!
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Hi, and thanks. Have a good week!
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