36 Comments
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Carolyn's avatar

That was hysterically funny to read! The visual imagery was so perfect, and I could relate...to all of it! Glad you guys escaped "Mr. Freezy" relatively unscathed...

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Thanks, Carolyn. Not sure why, but our dermatologist rarely freezes anything. If it's suspect enough to warrant attention, it seems to demand a scalpel. 😬

Glad to know you were laughing with us (at us?) today.

Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

Hahaha!! OMG! Beautifully written. Beautifully vivid. Four people, one chair, two piles of clothes, one bed and a degree of awkwardness / embarrassment in a tiny room.

We have friends who go to their podiatrist appointments and blood tests together - the husband and wife plus my neighbour who collects them and takes them home. I was very thankful when she was told to book hers for the same time. The elderly couple never mind waiting. Life is simpler. But no, they always have separate appointments.

Hugs my dear. Hoping all is well.

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Thanks, Beth. I'm happy you found this relatable, and fun. Sometimes I really need to tap into amusement.

Good that your friends and neighbor(s) are looking after each other in ways they can. That's invaluable. And look at us, still having new experiences at our age!

Cynthia Jurrius's avatar

So darn funny I had to stop reading for a minute. Thank you for the laugh, and keep up those good dates! 😂❤️

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Oh, ha! -- picturing you laughing that hard has me smiling ear to ear!

Maybe we need to write a couples book for how to keep life interesting after 60. 😅

Thanks for the comment, Cynthia. Much appreciated.

Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Privacy? No more.

This version, though, a good one

“to laugh, loud and long!”

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

That last line was the take home. Thanks for noticing that, Marisol.

Teresa O’Connor's avatar

Thanks for always being good for a laugh! Can’t wait until our next catch up call. (Insist on two chairs and robes next time!)

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

A laugh is almost always good, right? Thank you, Teresa. Maybe we'll bring a folding chair and a bathrobe next time! 🤣

Sandy Lawler's avatar

HaaaHahahahahah!!! We've been talking about the colonoscopy thing for a year... Shall report if we figure it out!!🤣 🤣 🤣!

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Go easy on those details, Sandy. Might be more than I can manage. 😆

Thanks so much for reading and taking time to leave a comment.

Lynn Cook's avatar

I love your sense of humor and your eye for detail! This actually happened to us once, too. I love the efficiency of a twofer. And, if your spouse is less than great at remembering to tell you things, it can be very informative!

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Thanks, Lynn. One more point of connection for us.

I can definitely find value in throwing two sets of ears at this thing. It's the four sets of eyes that gave me pause.

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

You made my morning. I'm fasting for a late morning routine scan, laughter seems a good substitute for coffee!

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

I hope the scan went off without a hitch, Leslie. Laughter gets me through many an awkward (or boring, or tense) situation. I'm glad to have folks who were willing to share in the amusement with me today!

Barry P Osborne's avatar

Too bad this was not filmed..... A great American version of Monty Python.... Maybe you all could've planned to sing some songs like "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes."... I didn't even have to be there to enjoy every moment of your story... You gave us all a visit picture... With a PG rating. ..... Joint visits to the urologist would be interesting for sure...

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

It definitely had a comedy skit vibe to it, Barry. In fact, I'm just now remembering that Jim wondered, out loud, if there was a modern version of Candid Camera unfolding. Lord help us!

To date, I haven't spent much time with urologists, but I figure there would be some pretty distinct differences depending on whether there was indoor or outdoor plumbing.

Thanks for joining in on the fun today, Barry.

Suzanne Todd's avatar

Oh my! Rob and I have many similar “dates” - the dermatologist (in the same room), the dentist, the hair dresser for haircuts, the grocery store, the farmers market, recycling. All the important stuff.

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

We're twofer twins! I love it! Maybe we've cracked one of the secret codes for long lasting relationships, eh Suzanne?

Great to see you here. Thanks for stopping by. 😁

prue batten's avatar

So funny. I did laugh. And what is laughter but THE best medicine!

My husband and I share quite a few appointments but we've not shared a room yet. I'm off to the gynocologist on Monday. Should I get hime to come?

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Ooh...if you do bring him along, I hope you'll find ways to laugh about it. Mine was present when the kids were born, but that was the end of that.

Thanks, Prue! Love knowing I could bring some levity into a few lives this week.

prue batten's avatar

How's this for service? My Gynie (hard G) rang today, Sunday, to see if new meds were tracking well and on me saying, perfectly, she said no need to come in tomorrow then. We figure she wanted Monday off and whatever, I'm happy and don't need to go to the city.

Don Boivin's avatar

You're such a good writer, Elizabeth! 😀

My wife and I don't have the same doctors for anything. We have different last names, different nutritional habits and requirements (she's gluten- and sugar-free), separate checking accounts, our schedules are wildly divergent. We do go grocery shopping together once in a while, but that mostly entails me getting my stuff and she getting hers (sometimes we'll split the bill and sometimes we'll go through the register one after the other). I guess that's how second marriages can be!

And yet we both value and appreciate little shared moments or excursions. For instance, we always play Wordle and Connections after breakfast (on our separate laptops but at the same exact time). And whenever we go out for Mexican food, we'll stop at the mall afterward to "walk it off." At the end of the mall, she goes left to Marshall's and I go right to Barnes & Noble, where she'll look for me after 15 minutes or so. These little rituals add up to a happy and appreciated relationship.

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Not sure if it's second marriages or just independent personalities. Maybe a little of each. I respect your boundaries even while being unsure I could live within them were your shoes on my feet. The daily practices and comfortable routines are pure delight, and what's interesting and lovely to me is that we still seem to be crafting new ones.

Thanks for the kind words, Don, and for adding to the enjoyment here.

Susan Baker's avatar

What a visual snicker snack that was! If it was my partner and me, it would have been an episode of the (self named) "Wrinkles"! Thanks for the morning laughs!!

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

"Snicker-snack" Ha! That's a great term, Susan.

Trust me, there were plenty of wrinkles on display that day, not least that we ended up in one room together. Life is seldom dull. Thanks for stopping in and sharing in the amusement.

Amy Cowen's avatar

One chair and one gown. The gown surprises me most. Men don’t get a gown? And the clothes piled in the floor? Oh, no! I didn’t even know offices did joint visits like this. You romantics, you. Finding the hidden date zones.

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Hahaha! Hidden date zones. If only.

I think I wrote this in another post, but I swear, next year, I think I'm bringing a bathrobe and a folding chair, just to make a point.

Thanks for finding the fun with me here.

Evelyn Fox's avatar

This was so funny and romantic? Is it normal to swoon at this? I hope my love and I are exactly like this in the future. I mean I make him come to my dentist appointments like a kind of support animal as I’m too terrified to go alone haha

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Well, gosh. It honestly never occurred to me to think of this as romantic. But I can admit to truly enjoying little pockets of time with my hubby. We have our hiccups, for sure, but we mostly get on well together and feel grateful for that.

Support animal made me snort! 🤣 Thanks, Evelyn.

Janice Anne Wheeler's avatar

Laughter is undoubtedly the most wonderful remedy in so many cases--and you always know how to wind the story. Thanks for sharing the awkwardness of real life with a glimmer. ~J

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

And thank you, Janice, for reading, laughing along, and putting up with the awkward. I do have a way of wandering down some less explored trails -- metaphorically, at least.