Happy Fat Tuesday. I spent a good portion of my time this Fat Tuesday at the Michael DeBakey VA Hospital in Houston. It’s never fun waiting to see the doctor and then waiting some more, which is kind of the accepted pastime at the VA. At least I got to see a nice Mardi Gras parade.
While in the hospital lobby this afternoon I heard noise-makers blowing and looked up to see a long procession of wheelchairs. These wheelchairs were decorated with various Mardi Gras trimmings and the wheelchair occupants were in bright, festive costumes. The many VA patients in wheelchairs rolled through the lobby handing out beads as I figure they weren’t allowed to throw them — if indeed they could throw the beads — since these were mostly older men and women. It was a pleasant 10-minute or so diversion for me and I think it seems like a fun activity for people who probably don’t have a lot of fun in their lives.
The other diversion there this afternoon was a man whom I shall call “Mr. Unstoppable.” This is, as in can’t get him to shut up. He was a friendly enough guy, a Vietnam vet, who just came up to me started talking and didn’t quit for quite sometime. His conversations went from railing against the “chickenhawks,” those who talk a good game about getting our country into needless wars but have never served in uniform, to baseball. I guess I liked the guy mostly because he ranted about someone who makes me want to rant — Sean Hannity. Although, this man called him Sean “Hannigan.” He also said he listened regularly to Rush Limbaugh on the radio “because that man is a fool. He’s up there saying all this s**t for all these years and he’s high as a kite!”
Encountering a Mr. Unstoppable can get a little tiresome. But on the other hand, you really don’t have to do a lot other than nod and say “Uh huh” so it’s not really a conversation as such that might otherwise wear you out. And when you are waiting around at the VA hospital, the last thing you want is something to wear you out.
