The key word here is RESTRAINT.

Do you sometimes wonder what it takes to drive someone over the edge and make them go postal? I have a theory that they had to deal with idiots on a daily basis. Whether they be co-workers or customers.

I can't go into too much detail on our procedures for lateness and keeping appointments, but when you're late... you are late, and too bad, so sad, we have gone on to the next appointment. When you take into consideration not all clients keep to their scheduled time with the doctors, or doctors being called away for emergencies, we have to keep moving or forever fall behind.

I keep saying to people, be on time. You wouldn't check into your flight ten minutes late and expect to be still going on the plane. Although they would ask you to check in three hours early, so I'm not sure that's the right analogy.

I don't resemble the Charmin man from the Charmin commercials... so there is no squeezing here.

"Can't you just squeeze me in?" No. No squeezing. We have a policy against squeezing clients or so-workers. Again with the plane analogy, "Our flight is full sir, but I'm sure it'll be okay if you stand in the aisle.

"It'll just take a minute..." A minute for me to put you in maybe... but I know few doctors that can diagnose in a minute.

"You'd be doing me a huge favour!" Yeah, and what would I get in return. A headache and no Excedrin.

Stare at me some more. Nope, my statement hasn't changed... there are no appointments available. Staring at me won't change my mind, but it will make my feel sorry for you. Contrary to popular belief, the Jedi Mind trick doesn't work.

Sulking... that's what I had today. An elder came in ten minutes late for her appointment and complained when I told her it was too late.

"I drove twenty minutes to get here."

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

"I'm not made of money."

"Hm hmm."

"Gee whiz."

It came to that... 'gee whiz.' And then she stood and stared... with a pout.

Then I gave in. Not because I felt sorry for her, but I was ashamed to call her an elder. Let's set an example for our youth, if you can't get your way... pout. "Sit down, please." I said with disgust. I just wanted her out of my sight.

If I sound bitter... I am. Today was a bad day... only because of her. I'm not so uncaring that I wouldn't have put her in, if she was on the last of her heart medication, or she was greiving the loss of a loved one and needed to talk to the doctor. I've made exceptions in exceptional cases.

Now, she didn't thank me... to her, it was expected of me... to make a compromise. You tell me, am I justified or being judgemental?