That is not code. It is a statement of fact.
I have experienced Ramadan from the fringes before, but that was when 10% of the doctors were fasting. In my one doctor office, 100% of our doctor is fasting. And Ramadan fasting is not like other fasting. We're not talking about no meat on Fridays or giving up chocolate for Lent. From sun up to sun down there is NO food or fluids, including water. This time of year that's a long damn day. I'm not sure what the spiritual benefits are, but I assure you that the physical effects include hypoglycemia and dehydration. Both of which can cause hellatious headaches, nausea, fatigue and exhaustion.
What impresses me is not that Dr Zee fasts—it is the WAY he fasts. He fasts joyfully. He fasts the way the New Testament Gospel writer Matthew instructed us to pray. (Matthew Chapter 7) Fasting has not affected the way he treats his staff, patients or drug reps. He joins us for lunch (catered daily by drug reps) and smiles, jokes and converses as always. He never complains about this ordeal. The only time he speaks of it is to answer the questions that are posed to him about the process, and everyday he fields the same questions because every day it's a different drug rep. I've worked with him for eight months now and have come to know him as someone who represents Islam the way Jesus represents Christianity. I am NOT overstating the example. I would consider converting were it not for the dress code—I get overheated using the microwave.
On two levels this is impacting me. On the one hand I'm getting more calls from pharmacies asking for clarification on prescriptions, and he's answering my “either/ or” questions with “okay”. On the other hand, I seem to be particularly sensitive to watching someone suffer/struggle with a constant smile, sweet nature and never a complaint. Between Dr Zee and Rich, it's every waking moment. Talk about feeling unworthy!
During these days of Ramadan, Mercury is retrograde. For those of you who don't know what Mercury Retrograde means....basically all forms of communication are muddled, stymied, or downright FUBAR'd. Especially for Gemini people, and yes, folks I'm a Gemini. Scoff if you will. I myself never gave credit to the phenomenon. Until....
Friends who avidly followed the cycles of Mercury began to point things out to me and since I don't believe in coincidence, it became increasingly difficult to dismiss. Still I remained skeptical. Until this past spring when Mercury went retrograde from April 3rd to the 17th. Computers crashed, new software failed to perform, AND the phone company disconnected the offices phones. Then could not locate the disconnect order, therefore could not re-establish service because there had not been a disconnect order. In short, our doctor's office was without any phone, fax, email, credit card service for 4 days.
This month Mercury is again retrograde from Aug 2nd to the 26th. A brand new computer that was installed two weeks ago suffered a hard drive crash on Tuesday. Three times now our electronic Rx service has shut down for no apparent reason. 20% of the Rx Dr Zee writes are being denied by insurance. Wait.... that's probably not Mercury....I don't know what planet controls corporate greed.
If you're still skeptical I offer this. Watch live TV—home shopping, news programs, etc. Anything not taped and edited. Seriously, Rich is now totally on board as a result. And it's just good, clean fun.
Find yourself in a constant loop of telephone tag? Every supply order I've placed at work has been screwed up. I'm faxing everything in triplicate because nothing is going through the first two times. I have patients leaving messages as follows:
“Dr Zee ordered this new med for me and I'm just calling to see if he wants me to take it.”
“I need refills on the pills that my other doctor ordered that are blue and taste bad.”
“My husband is having chest pain and he feels sick and weak and I just want to know if it's okay to take him to the emergency room.”
I could go on and ON. Sadly, when Mercury returns from retrograde it won't fix stupid.
Until then I'm wading hip deep in Ramadan hypoglycemic dehydration; speaking English in an English speaking world that doesn't understand English for 24 days; battling electronics full of astral gremlins; stoicism all around me; and JUST about the time all of this extreme insanity returns to normal insanity my beloved boss, my rock, will be entering maternity leave and I will be left in an office with three twenty-something females who are, as we speak, moving towards a synchronization of their menstrual cycles. I recently pointed this out to her. She gave me the most innocent smile I've ever seen on a non-virgin woman and said ever so sweetly.... “I love you.”
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Rich is on the Chemo again, and the insurance denials of recent claims are flowing like anti-manna from heaven.
Zippity Doo Dah. Life is Good.
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