Cedars

There are people that carry tons of fears and phobias with them. I am not one of them, but I definitely have a reasonable-sized phobia of hospitals. I believe I spent too much time visiting people there as a kid (I am the youngest in a large family, after all), watched WAY too many horror movies growing up and really, rather than having the blissful idea that hospitals are filled with miracles and life, I believe they are places people die. (And I want to have my own children in a pool...that's another story...)

In the past few weeks, I have had to go to Cedars-Sinai twice. Cedars is well-known all over the U.S., mostly because, it is usually the depository for "stars" who o.d., get hurt, get sick or pass on... I went there myself in the out-patient facitily for a little surgery a few years back. It was fine. No paparazzi. I suck.

Moving on.

I was really blown away about the lack of security in the hospital. I was there two Saturdays ago to visit my SIL. She was in for a surgical procedure (she's fine, btw) and I was dressed like a dirty street urchin. I was carrying numerous bags, was in my dirty sweats (not on purpose, they became dirty from my fall during a hike) and all in all, I would have stopped me if I worked there. Not a ONE person even flinched at my arrival. No one looked twice at the fact that I was lost in the hallways. No one noted that I had bags of "stuff" and was rubber-necking. When I arrived at my SIL's room, I parked myself outside of it, as her neighbor told me she was "up and about." I roamed around, bags and flowers in hand, looking for her. I never found her. I sincerely sat outside of her room at a computer for the hospital, no less...for an hour. I noted that all of the rooms, not very large in size, were frequented by not one, not two, not even three, but 10-12 guests. The woman across the way was sincerely having a party in her room. She sat, ashen and ill with her scrubs on, while the folks visting carried on like they were at a Superbowl party.

Eventually, a nurse came to my SIL's room, and much to my chagrin, I found that my SIL had been in there the ENTIRE time, asleep. That's another story...

I went again last night to visit my NF. She'd gone in on an emergency, but again (whew!) she's fine. Once again, I found it odd that walking through the front door...there was no sign-in, no guards, no one to say, "where are you going" or "who are you?" We got up to visit her in no time (same ward, almost near SIL's room...odd) and found that same strange, party-room vibe.

Maybe I am just old-school, but "back in the day" I recall having to sign-in when you walked into a hospital or at least the floor, patients only being allowed 2-3 guests at a time and if you were caught wandering (obviously, I DID want to see where the morgue was!!!), you were escorted back to the waiting area.

I guess I find it odd that I have to sign in at the dentist, the doctor, why even the car places when you bring your car in, but I can wander the halls of Cedars.

Have a great weekend~

P.S. I don't know if my hair keeps getting big and its causing me to have late 80's, early 90's flashbacks, but I CANNOT get two songs out of my head. "I remember you" from Skid Row and "Fly to the Angels" from Slaughter. YIKES. I think getting out of town this weekend is going to do me worlds of good!