stupid people

after my "writing as therapy routine" in my last post, i forgot to add one additional insight gleaned from my doctor's appointment today.

stupid people really can elevate your blood pressure!

sitting in the waiting room waiting to see the doctor, i sat across from the only two people in the room not hacking and sneezing, a middle-aged couple. while trying to enjoy my house beautiful decorating magazine for a few minutes, i got sidetracked by the assinine conversation taking place across from me from the only non-sickies in the room. figures, at least the sick people are quiet if you discount the coughing.

no, these brainiacs enlightened me with their conversation about "how them doctors really do have a cure for cancer but there's too many people who would lose their jobs otherwise if the cure for cancer was made available -- because we all know there is ONLY one type of cancer out there for researchers to crack the code on -- like the oncology doctors, researchers and most of all, the drug companies. cancer has been around for ever, didn't you know? they should have the answer by now."

arrghhh, are you kidding me? conspiracy theorists listen up, let me introduce you to the inevitable fault most people share -- EGO. trust me, if some researcher caught wind of how to cure THE cancer, that doc's name would be PLASTERED on every surface possible. hell, it may be a requirement that in order to get the cure, you first had to tattoo the doc's name on a body part where THE cancer had taken hold.

then, as if my blood pressure wasn't already beginning to climb, they began their discussion of gardisil, Merck's human pampilloma virus (HPV) vaccine that offers protection against the virus that can later cause cervical cancer.

(before anyone thinks these people really are bright and educated, their conversations stemmed from the televisions in the doctor's office that play health-related programming.)

"they just know all those young girls -- and why do they have to be young girls -- will have problems later on trying to have children." again, the evil drug companies are trying to thin the herd by obviously sterilizing the youth of america. c'mon.

if that were true, i'd have a list of people to stick in the arm. while drug companies do have their faults, let's give them some credit as to whether or not they plan for world domination.

so thankfully before the brainiacs got too deep into their discussion of HPV (the guy actually said nothing more than what? during his female companion's rants), the nurse called me back to the office.

"let's take your blood pressure today." (yes, this is the same witch who made me get on the scale a week ago. and yes, she made me do it again today.) "wow", she remarked,"your blood pressure is high today, it's 136 over some number i never remember."

"it's probably because the people out there were killing me with their stupidity," i said. "can we check it again after a few minutes? i need to cool down from biting my tongue for so long. it's very traumatizing for me to keep quiet."

the nurse looked at me and nodded, "yes, it's probably best if you don't cause a riot in the waiting room." this kind of disturbed me thinking back because i'm not sure if she was kidding or if she really thought i could have browbeat that couple into submission.

after drawing my blood, she retook my blood pressure: 118 over that number that i never remember but is good.

"see," i told her, "stupid people are dangerous to your health."