Stop Exposing Me

Dear Lobby,

I cannot take it anymore. I despise you for exposing me to all kinds of illnesses… and more so, that you expose my children!! We wait in you for autism therapy (speech, OT, PT & Social skills).... but so do the patients there for lab and chest x-rays.

I even said something once to the ‘suits’ doing an inspection on you… they smiled and shrugged me off.

Oh, once I also told the receptionist (when calling off sick) that I know I picked something up from you… and she said, “I bet you did.” I retorted, “Well I am going to formally complain, they need to give us a separate waiting area.”

Her reply? “Good luck with that.” (I bet she was holding a sarcasm sign!!)

…But I am serious!!

They make us sit 3-4 times a week in you… you are a tiny space that is mutually shared by others waiting for lab work and chest x-rays. This year I have never been so sick… the flu, colds, coughs, muscle aches, etc. I know I am picking it up from you.

In fact just today, while we were waiting, a mother and her 2 children came in for bi-lateral chest x-rays (confidentiality isn’t too good in you). The mother said to the youngest, “Oh baby, you are going to cough up a lung.” And believe me…it sounded like it!!! His sister wasn’t much better either… so I was relieved to see them go to the far side of you…

UNTIL… she told them to go play. Here they come waddling and coughing… straight at us. They stop to play with a toy right at our feet. I mumble to my daughter, “Maybe WE should go get a face mask!” I squirm and the mother calls them back.

Inside I feel bad, I know the waiting arrangements are not her fault… but I am pissed that week after week; day after day… we have to sit here with really sick kids waiting for lab work!! I am sure the mother sees my discomfort and she goes up to the registration desk and asks for a face mask… but just one. Never mind you the other child is hacking too!!

Her child starts to scream… I feel bad. I try to make eye contact to show empathy and she is obviously avoiding me. I shouldn’t feel bad; I am tired of being exposed to all of these germs. I never bought into the germ theory until this past winter…

The child screams some more… I look over with another look of empathy and am met with glaring eyes. The children hack some more and the receptionist comes out to give the mom some paper work and says, “Man, they are really really sick…” I cringe more… I know they have a right to be here, but do I have to have my immune system and that of my children attacked too?

All I want is to bring my children to therapy without having to be exposed to whooping cough, the flu and the like. I want to reclaim my health…

Sincerely,

Alterna-Mom

P.S. I forgot… You might consider yourself warned… I ordered THIS and I am bringing it with me next week… I will be spraying you, your chairs and toys. Robbers successfully used these oils to protect themselves while they robbed the plague victims…. Are you up to the challenge? I have let my friends know about this arsenal and told them to reference my number 1183617 … so the other lobbies will know it came from me. Good Luck!!