February 2021.
I went back and found more stories about people I met while I was still practicing physical therapy, before I got sick. I’m going to share more stories to “lighten up” my blog a little, haha.
Bob & Costco
Bob is a total knee replacement patient. He tells many stories from his time as a local society photographer here in Atlanta. Anyone who was “anyone” was probably photographed by Bob. He is very passionate about his photography, especially Costco.
I spent an hour and a half with him yesterday, and he told me all the attributes of Costco over Sam’s. He says it’s like the difference between going to Neiman Marcus and Walmart. He was thoroughly disgusted that I had a Sam’s membership and had never been to Costco. Today, he surprised me with a Costco membership. I told him and his wife repeatedly that I couldn’t accept it, and his wife said there was no use in trying to give it back, so I should just accept it. Bob’s birthday is the week after next, and I should be there on that day. I will get him something to try to pay him back.
I meet such sweet people all the time. Almost everyone is basically a good person; you only hear about the bad stuff. It’s refreshing for me to go back and read some of these stories. That’s what I miss most about not working as a PT anymore: the relationships I built with my patients.
“Secret Service Guy.”
May 2021.
A patient of mine now provides security for Home Depot—like all of Home Depot—for cybersecurity, physical threats, and any response HD might have in a natural disaster. However, he previously served in the Secret Service. He wears gym shorts with a Secret Service badge, and framed letters with the presidential seal line the wall.
Today I decided to ask him what presidents he served under. He said that in his 20+ years in the Secret Service, he provided security for 7 presidents. He spent most of his time on the presidential security detail for President Clinton for 7 years. I mentioned that Les (my husband) saw Air Force One fly over while on the golf course on Friday (Biden and Harris were in town). And he said, “There’s nothing like seeing Air Force One land while in another country and knowing what that ‘bird’ means.” He called it a beautiful bird.
Addendum: I know that, in today’s political climate, seeing Air Force One wouldn’t necessarily bring pride. But, certainly, with previous administrations, I think I could see how it would. Angie