Taking The Long View

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Taking The Long View

She was a small, smartly dressed woman of indeterminate age with short blonde hair. Discreet eye shadow emphasised the blue of he eyes and not a wrinkle marred her face. Her navy pants suit and a blue silk blouse were topped off by a crimson scarf, which was clasped at the neck by a large diamond brooch.

She’d obviously noticed that here was a fellow traveller like herself, hating the idea of a further two hour’s delay at this North American Airport. The desperate look on my face must have been her clue. She smiled at me before strolling over.

‘Why not join me for a coffee,’ she offered, ‘seems like we’re both going to be here for a while unless this weather has a change of heart.’

Anything to break the monotony, I thought. I’d spent most of the last three days killing time at airports like this one, and the prospect of wandering around yet another over priced, touristy, gift shop filled me with dismay.

Seated at the table in a small cafe we sipped the hot brew and drifted in to the sort of desultory talk that acts as conversation between passing strangers.

‘I’m from Mississippi. she volunteered. ‘I’m on way home from Chicago where I’ve been for the christening of my first great grandchild. She’s a darling wee girl. I’ve just passed my seventy fourth year but I’m counting on seeing her reach her majority. I wouldn’t miss it for the worlds.’

I stared in amazement at her wrinkle free face until it dawned on me that the crimson scarf she wore around her neck was not simply a fashion statement.

Gradually she brought the talk round to how much the cost of medical and dental treatment in the States had risen in recent years.

‘Take me for instance,’ she said, ‘I’ve just paid my dentist ten thousand dollars for dental work, but I must admit it was well worth it. Now that my mouth and gum problems are a thing of the past I’ve taken on an entirely new lease of life. But you’d never guess who I have to thank for all this improvement.’

I shook my head.

‘No you’d never, never guess, I can assure you. I’m talking about my gynaecologist, the most clever and charming young man in the world. Oh, he’s such a darling! He has big brown eyes and a magnificent physique, and believe me, you’d just die if you could see his sweet little butt. When I visited him for my most recent six-monthly check up I told him I’d been feeling tired and worn, and I asked if an increase in my Hormone Replacement Therapy would put some life into me. I guess you know what I mean honey,’ she said with a coquettish look.’

I nodded as if I understood. She needed very little encouragement to go on with her story.

‘Gee, he’s such a treasure; I couldn’t bear to be without him. Do you know what he said when he’d done the smear test and finished his examination?’

Once again a headshake was all that she needed.

‘Lindylou MacArthur,’ he said to me, ‘after what I’ve just seen, it seems to me that it’s high time you made yourself an appointment with Dental Surgeon, and that’s just exactly what I did. Wasn’t it clever of him, honey?’