55 Flash Fiction: Scheduling
Fifty, fifty, fifty, fifty, fifty-five! It’s 55 time! Weee, fun! (Love you, G!)
“I need to schedule my annual checkup.”
“Dr. Johnson has an opening March 11th. Will 11:15 work for you?”
“But today is January 11th. That’s two months away!”
“I’ll check if there’s a cancellation…” and there was a wait while she did. “How about March 1st?”
She laughed incredulously, then sighed, “I’ll take it.”
Story behind the story:
I used to make all of my appointments for checkups at the same time of the year: GP, specialists, dental, vision. Originally, that time was September. But slowly over the last eight years or so, they’ve been moving further and further apart. My pulmonology appointment is always in mid-September, at least, because her office schedules the appointment for me and sends out an appointment card… then I reschedule if that date is not good. But the rest of them I have to remember to do on my own. And sometimes I forget to make the phone calls, so I find myself calling at about the time that I would ideally actually be seeing the doctor. Two years ago, my cardiology appointment was in October. Last year, January. And this year,… it will apparently be in March. I figure in a few more years it will have wound back ’round to September again.
is hosted by g-man (visit him to let him know if you’re playing and to see other participants).
January 14th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
definitely take it! best seat on the bus available. glad i have my wife to schedule these. nice 55.
mine is up!
January 14th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
LOL. That’s how my dentist appts. always get shifted every year. I can so relate to that two month wait. It’s insane how booked doctors are.
I’m up too
http://inappropriatesue.blogspot.com/2010/01/55-flash-fiction-friday-28-days-4-hours.html
January 14th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
This is so sadly true. A perfect 55!!!!!
January 14th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Mine is up. my first, lol. As for yours? this is so so true. I’m going next week and booked that in October. Ughhh.
January 14th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Smoofie…? Such unbridled enthusiasm for Friday?
You make an old geezer very happy..hehehehe
Wonderful…And so very true. Reality 55’s are the best!
Thanks for another fine contribution My Dear,
And have a Kick-Ass Week-End….G-Daddy
January 14th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
I put off my appointments all the time. I need a secretary. LOL! Nicely done.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Okay, you’re so perky it’s making my teeth hurt (he said with a wink). I always forget to make doctor’s appointments. Probably why I haven’t seen a doctor in…
Damn… when was the last time?
(So don’t feel too bad about it.)
January 14th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I think I’ve done stuff like this before too. :)
I get the impression it happens a lot, in a world that’s busy and stressed and distracted by other stuff.
Nice 55! :)
My own Friday 55 is ready too, right here. :)
January 15th, 2010 at 12:34 am
Good one. My doc wanted me to schedule an appointment in a year. When I went to do so, his staffer said, “We can only schedule out for 6 months”. go figure. My 55 is here.
January 15th, 2010 at 2:30 am
I can relate to the schedule thing My appointments are rarely the next week or so usually a month or two away.
Larry. I’m posted just follow the link provided below.
Crows Cawing
January 15th, 2010 at 6:48 am
…and this is FICTION?!!! [kidding of course, but hey...it's true for me most times making appointments.]
My FF55 is fiction to some, but to others not so. It’s…
HERE
[scroll down below my pencils sketches to find "The Shaft-a"]
January 15th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Aww, the appointment shuffle… how true that is. And it made for a very clever 55 this week!
January 15th, 2010 at 7:47 am
An over-populated world makes for conversations like this.
Well done getting it said in 55 words.
My 55 is up
HERE
January 15th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Ooh, I hate making doctor’s appointments — and then trying to remember them so long!
Good luck at the appointment when you finally get there LOL.
Mine’s up too.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:32 am
What gets to me is when you call for something that is probably just a cold but might be more serious, and they think they are doing you a favor by scheduling you in two weeks later. As I said to the receptionist one time “By then I’ll either be well or dead.”
January 15th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Perfect 55!
January 15th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
i get those same receptionists, is there a school they go to where they teach them all to be contrary? mine is up too
January 15th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Great 55. My lung man canceled our scheduled appointment for emergency surgery. His office said the only time they could reschedule me was a month later. It wasn’t even my fault.
January 15th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Dragon doctors are kinder in terms of setting appointments.
Very good 55