The Waiting Room
100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 87 86
85 84 83 82 81 80 79 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60
59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34
33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6
5 4 3 2 1 0
It’s strange to be in an ER in the
daytime. They seem like such nighttime
places.
1000 999 998 997 996 995 994 993 992 991 990 989 [Ed.’s note – cut short in the interest of brevity]
Look at all these
numbers! #s! #s!
#s! Wonderful! Counting backwards, it’s a helpful trick,
they say. And actually, it kind of
works.
It’s all about
control. When I feel like I’m not in
control – on a subway stopped between stations, in bed but kept awake by undue
awareness of my heartbeat – that’s when I freak out. But I also understand that letting go of
control is a good and pleasurable sensation.
There have been glimpses of it; sex, drink, drugs, music etc. Maybe it’s an ego thing. Translation: how to adapt an enjoyment of
loss on control into everyday life?
Also: how to learn to relax?
The hospital is
boring, but surprisingly well-run. Maybe
they’ll give me some meds and I can get on with my day. An admission of weakness – that’s the first
step, isn’t it?
If I get home in
time I’d really like to shave…
1939 1938 1937 1936 [Ed.’s note – ibid]
Trying to contain my contempt for humanity
I’ve got a letter to mail
General Hospital is up next on TV
Biting my nails
Counting backwards
Expert health care
Prone to infection
Slack-jawed yokels
Do it
Everybody make happy
“Anselmo doesn’t like to kill”
The only worthwhile revolution…
Waiting rooms can be Zen
(for the right frame of mind)
Hospital wristband
Dead letter office
Return to sender
Trip. Slip. Fall.
Undeliverable
Mailer-daemon
Horizon/Verizon
Angry Latinas
News brief
Diplomats, bureaucrats
Violence & tenderness
Short answer: YES
Wake up!
Count slow
Breathe deep
What is not released, returns
Don’t mix yr drinks
Distant relatives
Objective correlative
Gay cowboys
Satire
Be a good straight man
(make a good straight man?)
(play
a good straight man?)
Hungry?
Not hungry?
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
1992 1991 1990 1989 1987 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 [Ed.’s note – ibid.]
“Risked his life to save a stranger”
Montell Williams: grand arbiter of truth
Doctor, doctor
Waiting waiting waiting
Counting backwards, breathing deep
Let it happen.
You can deal.
1521 1520 1519 1518 1517 1516 1515 1514 1513
1512 1511 1510 1509 1508 1507 1506 1505 1504 1503 1502 1501 1500 1499 1498 1497
1496 1495 1494 1493 1492 …
They just called my
name. Time to go.
