68. Bedside Manner

Experts tell us that sharing personal experiences improves our "bedside manner."   My recent experience with this advice:

Sheila talked about her addiction to peanut butter: "I start out thinking I'll have just a half-sandwhich, then before I realize it, I have finished one and started another."  I said the same thing happens to me and then added, "It has be crunchy of course."  "Of course." I then said something about how peanut butter has probably been a major factor in her remarkably good health at age 74.

Teresa mentioned how much she likes Dr. Pepper: "When I want a shot of caffeine, I grab a diet Dr. Pepper; that seems to do the trick. "Without doubt," I said, "the best diet soda." Then a description of how she lobbied to have DDP in the office coke machine.  One line was allotted, always the first to empty.  Later I went down to the clinic's employee lounge.  The two rows reserved for DDP were empty.  All the other rows in the machine were full.

Is anyone out there paying attention?