Waiting for Godot

Just to be clear, I hated the play "Waiting for Godot" when a professor in my freshman year of college forced us to read it. Thinking back on the experience I can honestly say it still bothers me we had to read that "classic". I still hate it. Maybe Seinfeld based his television show on Godot, since they joke about the show being about nothing.  In a 1990 poll conducted by the British Royal National Theatre  it was voted the "most significant English language play of the 20th century". That's so sad. There has to be better plays out there that were written in the 20th century.

I can hear you saying, but Mike, what does this have to do with running? Probably nothing, like the play being about nothing. Two days ago I was at my allergist's office for a 3:40 appointment. When the doctor's office (or dentist) gives you a time does it really have meaning? I think not. It's an approximation, sometimes off by minutes, or other times by half-an-hour or more. At the counter I was asked a bunch of questions and then given a list of questions to fill out in pen, the same one I fill out every time I visit. It's my belief they use these questionnaires as fire starters for charcoal grills.

I turned the form in and waited another ten minutes. I like my allergist. He's a good man, easy to talk with, knows his field well, and is a runner/biker. He remembers things about my family even though it's been months since we've seen each other (he might have a secret notebook to review before every patient, I don't know, but it works). But why can't a 3:40 appointment be 3:40? Why is it the norm in doctor's and dentist's offices that we wait? I don't want to wait for Godot, or my doctor, to be free.

I need to get home to run, or bike, or swim, or lift weights. Maybe I need to get Jan's dinner ready. There's a host of things that need doing and sitting in a waiting room isn't helping. So the next time you are waiting for your appointment go ahead and complain to the receptionist or doctor about how they can take a reservation, but not hold the reservation (Seinfeld). Let's see how he/she treats you then.