A Winter Journey to the Doctor
Many years ago on a snowy winter’s day, Peter drove me to my appointment with the doctor. We had an afternoon appointment. Peter had already done almost a whole day’s work. He had been in Court first thing in the morning. Later on, he had appointments up until the time he drove me to the doctor. He had done an almost full day’s work.
My uncle was the head of the ear, nose, and throat department at Glen Cove Hospital in Long Island. He was very particular in choosing the right doctors for all his family’s needs. We were all rather spoilt. Everyone knew Uncle Harry’s family. When we came in, they would regale us with the kind and wonderful things he had done for them. One nurse told Peter and me, “Do you know Dr. Tawfik delivered all my children? That was when we were young, before he specialized in ENT.” Another doctor told us, “When I was a young doctor I once went to his house for something. In those days, he saw patients in an extension of his home. When I got there, I heard someone playing the most exquisite music on the piano. It was your aunt! I stood there mesmerized and transfixed!” And on and on they would recount stories like that. Peter and I would smile, pleased that Uncle Harry was so well-liked. And the doctors he chose for us were quite special. We loved them all. Unfortunately, recently they have begun retiring one after the other, even his son, my cousin, retired. I guess when you reach your seventies, you do have to say enough.
But on that cold and snowy winter day, Peter and I still had three doctors left between us. Two that we shared and my gynecologist. I am not sure which doctor I was seeing then. I think it was Dr. Anderson. We had a special relationship with him. Going to Glen Cove from Queens at the best of times was a long and arduous car ride. The LIE was always busy with traffic weaving in and out and stop-and-go. That day, adding to it factor of the snow, it certainly did not make it an easy trip. Once we got off the highway, we crossed Northern Boulevard and drove through Glen Cove Road up some winding roads, past the hospital up to the Medical Plaza. At normal times, that time of the day, it took about forty minutes. Not that day. Once we got onto Glen Cove Road, the scenery changed. It felt as if we were in the country, not at all as if we were in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Everything was quaint and charming.
On an aside, we were in the habit of stopping at a very special Greek diner after the doctor visits. It was spacious. Their food was beautifully prepared and delicious. It had an air of a bygone era. Over the years, we went there each time we needed medical attention. They came to know us and always made us feel like we were old friends. One of our favorite reasons to go there in winter was the fireplace and the logs which cheerfully crackled and roared as they cozily warmed and comforted us, especially if we were lucky enough to be seated at a table next to it. Alas, after many years in business, they closed down. That beautiful and charming eatery became a bank! So impersonal!
On that snowy afternoon, when we reached the doctor’s office, it was crowded. That had never happened before. One did not wait for more than twenty minutes, but I guess because of the snow, the doctor had a backlog. We looked about the waiting room and found a spot where we were able to sit next to each other. The room was crowded and quite warm. The television was switched on and was droning on at a low volume. People were not interacting. Some were leafing through the magazines they chose from the side tables. Others were staring vacantly at the TV screen. Still others were speaking softly with each other. At the best of times, Peter was able to fall asleep anywhere, at any time and at the drop of a hat. He’d done it at concerts and lectures. Once he fell asleep in the planetarium at a fabulous Christmas special. He slumbered when I dragged him to watch foreign films. He’d done it when we were with friends and they spoke in either Hebrew or Arabic. And here we were in a crowded and rather warm doctor’s waiting room. He had had a rather busy day, between Court, clients, and hardly having time to even have a leisurely lunch. Now he got into his old habit of falling asleep. It did not bother me. The poor dear was tired. Soon he was gently snoring. His chin was resting against his chest and he fell fast asleep. He wasn’t bothering anyone, or so I thought. I was wrong. From across the room, I felt a woman glaring at me with great annoyance. She looked like the type of person who was used to having her way. She was well-dressed and coiffed. Her manicured fingernails were impatiently tapping against her handbag. She looked as if she was ready to burst from vexation.
In a loud voice, she uttered, “Does that male specimen belong to you?” Everyone turned to look at her. She was itching for a fight. She was not going to get it from me.
I straightened myself to my full stature. I felt my expression harden. How rude, I thought. In a very cold tone of voice, I replied, ‘’He does not belong to anyone, but yes, I have the honor of calling him my husband.’’ Upon hearing my voice, Peter woke up. He raised his head and smiled a most beatific smile.
I heard an amused chuckle or two. At that, her face assumed an even more annoyed look. I put my head down and pretended to be engrossed in the magazine on my lap. Thankfully, it was not too long afterward that they called her name and put her out of her misery.
We had planned to go to the diner with the fireplace for dinner when we left. By the time we got out, it was much later than we had anticipated. It was dark, and the snow was getting heavier. We decided to go home. It was safer that way. I made grilled cheese sandwiches and hot cocoa. We wrapped ourselves with a warm blanket, with our dog Max snuggled comfortably between us. Quietly we sipped our cocoa and nibbled at our sandwiches. It had been a long snowy day, and we were glad to be home safe and sound. The world outside was hushed and blanketed with snow. Peter was exhausted. He leaned his head back and soon he gently snored once more. At home, there was no one to disturb his sleep.