517: avoiding the obvious
I love Abby, because her column indirectly makes me feel better about myself. I mean, yes, I feel sorry for these people, but I can't really do anything about their problems besides learn from them.DEAR ABBY: Today I witnessed what may be the end of a marriage, and it was because of a professional health care worker's unwise remark.
My wife was having a colonoscopy, and there was one large recovery room where patients coming out of anesthesia were grouped. (There were curtains separating the patients.)
While I was waiting for my wife to awaken, I overheard a nurse talking to the wife of the patient next to us. She said, "You know, you can find out anything from them when they're coming out of anesthesia. They are completely incapable of lying." She said it in a lighthearted way -- sort of giggling.
A few minutes later, I heard the wife ask in a hushed voice, "Bart, have you ever cheated on me?"
"Yes," he moaned, "with Mary Helen."
I heard the wife choke back a sob and she ran from the room. It was another 45 minutes before my wife was ready to leave, and the woman did not return during that time.
Abby, I think it was ridiculous for that nurse to pass on the information that prompted this scene. Should I let the doctor know about his nurse's unwise comment? -- MIKE IN TUCSON, ARIZ.
DEAR MIKE: ABSOLUTELY! People have been known to babble all sorts of nonsense when coming out of anesthesia. Of course, a wife who would have to stoop to such behavior already has her suspicions, or she wouldn't feel the need to ask. But you have described a man who was not only not responsible for what came out of his mouth, but also probably has no memory of it thanks to the new, improved anesthetics being used today. The doctor needs to counsel his nurse for her poor judgment.
I am still doing Japan stuff, in web format, because there is simply too much to put here only. I told you about the crossdresser, though.
My wife was having a colonoscopy, and there was one large recovery room where patients coming out of anesthesia were grouped. (There were curtains separating the patients.)
While I was waiting for my wife to awaken, I overheard a nurse talking to the wife of the patient next to us. She said, "You know, you can find out anything from them when they're coming out of anesthesia. They are completely incapable of lying." She said it in a lighthearted way -- sort of giggling.
A few minutes later, I heard the wife ask in a hushed voice, "Bart, have you ever cheated on me?"
"Yes," he moaned, "with Mary Helen."
I heard the wife choke back a sob and she ran from the room. It was another 45 minutes before my wife was ready to leave, and the woman did not return during that time.
Abby, I think it was ridiculous for that nurse to pass on the information that prompted this scene. Should I let the doctor know about his nurse's unwise comment? -- MIKE IN TUCSON, ARIZ.
DEAR MIKE: ABSOLUTELY! People have been known to babble all sorts of nonsense when coming out of anesthesia. Of course, a wife who would have to stoop to such behavior already has her suspicions, or she wouldn't feel the need to ask. But you have described a man who was not only not responsible for what came out of his mouth, but also probably has no memory of it thanks to the new, improved anesthetics being used today. The doctor needs to counsel his nurse for her poor judgment.
I am still doing Japan stuff, in web format, because there is simply too much to put here only. I told you about the crossdresser, though.