I visit Peter every day in Spaulding Rehab Hospital.  He is only allowed one visitor a day and that’s me. 

Each time I enter the hospital, I am required to answer questions on a computer screen. It’s a necessary precaution, but it’s tedious to type the same information over and over.  If that’s tedious for the visitor, there is a person, masked and behind a plastic screen, who asks even more questions before she issues you a sticker allowing you to enter. Not much fun.

I worked on establishing a relationship with her just to make both of our lives a little brighter.  First day, I made a point of thanking her and saying goodbye when I left. Then I started saying “Hi. How are you?” and she responded appropriately.

At Friday’s check in, I asked her if she had to work over the holiday weekend.  “Oh no,” she said.  “I’m not working tomorrow, it’s my birthday.”  I responded, “Oh, tomorrow is my son’s birthday and his sister-in-law’s birthday too.” (I didn’t mention that it was John F. Kennedy’s birthday also.)

We are now friends.  It makes the sign-in a much better experience.