Will & Tracy

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Serendipity

I don’t know why God seems to have to remind me that He works in mysterious ways, but I never would have guessed this finale.

Monday morning I headed over to Patty’s to catch a ride with her to work, dreading every minute and still coughing up a lung from being sick. It was pretty nice not going in to work last week and I felt it was confirming the fact for me that I just shouldn’t be working so much - especially if it was only to put up with Dr X and the Boyz Club administration of this hospital. I stayed in my closet office all day thanking God that Dr X did not have any patients in labor, thus reducing my risk for seeing him. Patty and I once again made our pilgrimage down to see our immediate boss to get the update from last week and the “all clear.” I had an ugly scathing letter that I had typed up that morning because I had heard that Dr X might be attending this meeting at some point. Instead, Dr X was not going to be coming, nor was the plan for him to give me an apology.

Instead, our boss suggested that we (including Dr X) meet for a “beer” at the local German pub around the corner - you know, to talk things over on neutral soil. I sighed and said I was open to whatever, but then I came back strong and said, well, if I’m going to do that, I want an apology. Patty and I felt really bad for our new boss, because he was really in a tough spot. He begged for us to stay and delicately said he would “try” to talk to Dr X about an apology. I left with the feeling that it was only a matter of hours before I would resign after a yelling match ensued when Dr X refused to render his apology. Count down to this looming “beer date” - 5:30pm. It was now 10am.

I made due catching up on work from last week for a couple hours when I received a call from our Chief Propeller head and COO – Mark. He apologized for being gone during all this and asked me please not to resign and what happened with the review board and how was I feeling. I told him about the “beer date” and that I wanted an apology and I probably wasn’t getting one. Mark, a man not known for being subtle, said, “oh you will get that apology.” I winced and hung up wondering if I was doing myself or Dr X any favors by bringing this to such a climax. The pressure was building, but at least I was preoccupied for most of the afternoon helping out with a delivery.

Getting back into a patient’s room and holding her hand and helping her breath really made me turn a corner and remember why I was doing this whole stupid job thing to begin with – to help people. Maybe things would be okay – screeecccchhh.... back to reality – T-1 hour until the beer fiasco. Great attitude, huh?

5:29pm and I’m still sitting at my desk – I also made Patty stay so she could be my support – I figured he owed her an apology too (chicken). I’m so stubborn sometimes. I called our boss and asked what’s the deal… are we meeting or what? He asked if I had heard that Mark had come over from HQ to talk to Dr X a little while ago and supposedly beat him up pretty hard. He asked if we could postpone the beer date since Dr X may not be in a good mood. I quickly agreed and Patty and I packed up our stuff thinking that Dr X was long gone.

We make it outside the hospital and start walking down the street to find a cab and dinner (home free) – about a block up the street Dr X is walking toward us. I look at Patty and take a big gulp. He stops, smiles and asks “Aren’t we supposed to be having a beer?” I’m dumbstruck and manage to spit out the fact that I thought it was postponed, you spoke to Mark, do you want to do this another time…. He said “Well, if you want, lets go get that beer.”

After we all order our ½ Liters, Dr X began telling us about how he came to Shanghai looking for a son he hadn’t spoken to in 2 years and since finding him here, that his relationship is still strained. He spoke about his practice, his experience, his anger management issues. Patty and I just sat there in awe sipping our beer. I finally felt an opening to ask him about his practice and why did he do things like this or that. Why did he not trust us and how can we build that trust? I explained how I felt and how I thought he didn’t respect me or my education and how that was unfair and unprofessional. I’m not lying, this man apologized to me 3 times that night and I even apologized to him – I felt I owed him at least one. He paid for our drinks and we agreed that once a month we’d sit and have it out over beers. When we left, we all gave each other hugs – this is the same man not 2 hours ago that I wanted to strangle and ask what the hell was he doing dragging everyone’s reputation down with him.

I realize that this is probably not the final chapter in this saga and that we are sure to have more disagreements – but I now have this sense of relief that it will be ok. It is funny how serendipity works things out for us. After I got home, I reached in my pocket and took out that letter that I had typed up that morning and threw it away. Wisdom gained.

3 Comments:

Robert said...

a wise man once taught me not to make decisions at the apex of emotion. A wise woman taught me to be to look at an issue from all side before taling a firm stance. Somehow it seems reaffirmed in your saga. At the end of the day, helping people is what you do best and I am glad that you will still have that opportunity! You rock and those that can not see it, really are not looking. Now, make sure you are taking care of yourself and we can all be happy... Really.....

8:12 AM  
Anonymous said...

AMAZING! Love you XOXOX Carie

9:30 AM  
Jenny H said...

score. :) affirmation that you are where you're supposed to be?

11:20 AM  

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