May 24, 2005

• Valet Parking

  
  

  Today I experienced the joy of valet parking at someplace other than a hotel or a restaurant.  It was at the hospital.  I tooled up to the valet parking desk, told the boy I needed his help, and sauntered into the air conditioning in a matter of moments.

  
  

  This hospital is very large, and the parking lots are lettered A-Q, and maybe beyond Q in the real hinterland.  It's in a very hilly part of town, and every day for most of the last 3 weeks I've walked my ass off getting to the building, only then to have to walk another half mile inside to get to the room I wanted to go to.  More than once I've thought about asking the patient to get up so I could lie down in his bed, but, of course, I've never done that.

  
  

  Valet parking at the hospital is a free service, but they have a sign that says "Tips please."  Considering I've given tips to valet parkers about a million times at places where I had to pay for valet parking, that seemed only reasonable.  As soon as I gave the boy my information, I pulled out my wallet.

  
  

  "This is a free service," he said.

  
  

  "I know," I said, "but I want to give you a tip."

  
  

  "Oh," he said, like maybe he didn't get many tips.

  
  

  And I wondered if I was the only one who could read the sign that says, "Tips please." 

  
  

  Anyway, we're experiencing a heat wave in the 90's, and the relative humidity is in the high 90's as well.  As I was delivering Meals on Wheels this morning, my glasses fogged up every time I got out of my car.  I went into some of those houses that were so hot I almost fainted.  One place was so hot I went and bought a fan for the lady.  I gave it to her as a birthday present for her 95th birthday on September 15th.  Maybe that fan will keep her alive until she turns 95.  That valet parking helped me immensely stay alive until I turn 58, which is tomorrow.

  
  

  ED 

  • 9:38 pm
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