Senior Citizen Fight Club

I walked into the hospital a few days ago, the same way I would any other day.  I was saying "hello" to my fellow patient friends, and to the nurses I have become close with.  I often strike up casual conversations with many of them.  We catch up on what's been going on in each other's lives, and we tend to joke around about life with cancer.  On this particular day, I was telling a story about how my dog, Ollie, seems to have sympathy throw up for me.  I can't tell you the countless times I have walked out of the bathroom after getting sick, only to find that Ollie "tossed his cookies", all over the floor.  It's pretty gross, but in a strange way, kind of endearing.

On this particular day, one of the elderly men apparently had it with me.  He walked right up to me, and screamed in my face.  "Don't you have fucking cancer?"  I was taken aback by his forceful question.  I calmly answered, "Yes, I do."  He quickly replied by telling me that I am too perky, and cheerful to be a cancer patient.  He told me that he all too often he sees me walking through the hospital with a smile on my face, and hugging people.  He also told me that I'm too happy to be a cancer patient.  I was about to explain to him that I try to maintain a positive demeanor for myself, and the other patients when another elderly man jumped in, on my behave.  He started yelling at the other man to shut his mouth, and how dare he talked to me like that.  He went on to explain that many of them look forward to my arrival to the hospital, and that I am the only thing that gets them through most days.

As the two men are bickering at each other, I see a cloud of elderly patients starting to form around them.  Hearing the the screeching of walkers along the floor, the popping of cane dancing along the tiles, and the distinctive scent of Bengay in the air, I felt like I was entering senior citizen fight club.  The crowd around them began slewing remarks.  I even heard them starting to chant, and cheer.  I was waiting for them to start jousting with their canes.  Luckily, two nurses arrived in time to break up the ruckus.

I guess it just goes to show that no matter how old they get, and regardless of the facility, boys will be boys.  Later that day, the man apologized to me for being out of line.  He explained that he was having a difficult day, and inappropriately took it out on me.  He even admitted to liking my cheery disposition.  Of course, I accepted his apology, and told him not to worry.  We all get on edge some days.

You never quite know what might go down at the hospital.  Nothing surprises me anymore, but that day definitely threw me for a loop!  Now when I walk onto that floor of the hospital, I do a quick patient check.  Just in case!