It’s really not that complicated. Without respect, human relationships have nowhere to go. They devolve into all sorts of bad behavior, particularly in the workplace.

Today I had an appointment with an orthopedist to look at my wrist. The details of my wrist are extremely boring, even to myself (and I enjoy a good x-ray, if I do say so).

I arrived at 3:25 p.m. for a 3:30 appointment. I signed forms, I filled out medical information, I gave them my delictable x-rays. And then I waited. And waited.

Soon, I was able to determine that the filled waiting room was full of people with wrists in braces, splints, and casts. All waiting for the same doctor. All waiting before me.

I learned the details of the other injuries (don’t pick up a block of marble, whatever you do, and watch out for car doors).

I watched as a toddler learned a word (I have condensed this “lesson” from 30 minutes to 30 seconds):

Mommy: Pick up the backpack, backpack, backpack.
Toddler: (silence)
Mommy: Pick up the backpack, backpack, backpack. Pick it up for mommy. Backpack, backpack, backpack.
Toddler: (silence)
Mommy: Backpack, backpack, Mommy loves you, pick up the backpack.
Toddler: Bok-bok.

Two children played loud video games nearby. Other children played tag. And all of the parents talked on their cell phones discussing the idiotic things that people discuss on cell phones: prom chaperoning, weekends at Mammoth, and dinner.

And then I learned the detail that clinched it for me: the doctor was running two hours late. This, I learned from another patient, not the receptionist, not the assistant, and god forbid, not the doctor. And so I left the doctor’s office (grabbing my x-rays on the way out).

Enough is enough.

“Do you want to reschedule?”

Uhm. Let me see. No. Bok-bok.