I had a doctor appointment this week. As I was scoping out the waiting room for a seat away from the crowd, it hit me: waiting rooms and bars have a lot in common.
- You have to show ID or it’s no admittance, no matter how long you stood in line or how old you look
- You have to wait quite a while before the person at the bar/counter will help you
- You are crowded in with people that you normally wouldn’t get too close to-you never know what you might catch from those people
- There are “interesting” stains on the floor – is that blood? You’re better off not thinking about it too much
- That one couple yelling so that EVERYONE can hear their opinions on Game of Thrones/Stanley Cup Playoffs/their current medical conditions/whatever
- No outside food or drinks
- Inadequate bathroom facilities for the number of people present
- The smell – not the same smell, obviously, but a distinctive one for each. For bars, it’s sweat, too much perfume, and the ghosts of a thousand spilled beers. For waiting rooms, it’s sweat, too much ointment, and lots and lots of carpet freshener (seriously, what is that stain on the floor?)
I entertained myself with this list for a few minutes, then opened up the book I had brought with me. As I sat there trying to read, I realized I had not taken into account a big difference-the one thing that makes bars so much better than waiting rooms. In bars, the TVs on the walls are muted. Paradise!
