Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder…Sometimes
Here is a story sent to me by Kelly Stephens:
I was working for an Optometrist that was located in a mall while going to college. In through the door walked an elderly male. He said he heard that he could get his prescription read off of his glasses and get a new pair made next door in less than an hour.
Well, I had to ask the normal questions such as, “When was your last eye examination?”, “How is your vision?”, etc?
He told me that his last eye exam was years ago and that he could see just fine. I could tell that the glasses were really old. He kept asking, “What is your name and will I get new glasses today?”
I said, “I am Kelly and I hope so.”
I thought to myself that this man is really demanding but I didn’t feel right just reading the prescription and sending him on his way next door to Lenscrafters. Therefore, I told him that he needed to have his eyes checked and to fill out the paperwork.
He was really “pissed off” with Kelly. He told me he couldn’t afford it and that he had fields he needed to go plant.
I asked him if he had a Medicare card and he said, “No, I don’t have any cards. I pay by check or cash.”
I said, “Do you have a red, white, and blue card in your wallet with your social security number on it?”
He said, “Yes.”
He pulled out the card and I took him back into the exam room. His blood pressure was high and his eye pressure was high which is a major sign for glaucoma. After being called everything but a white woman, I got him into the exam chair and told him the doctor would be in soon.
After the exam, the doctor called one of his family members and said that the man couldn’t drive and that someone needed to come get him. He also said that the man needed to go to the local Eye Institute. So, his daughter came and got him. When he left, he was still cursing at me.
Six weeks later, he walked in the door of our office. I told my co-workers that I was going to the back because I didn’t want to deal with him again.
He insisted on seeing that “pretty girl named Kelly” so I went up to the front and he said, “Are you Kelly?”
I said, “Yes.”
He said, “Really? Well, thank you. You sure were a lot prettier before I got my cataracts removed and my glaucoma treated but I thank you that I can now see to plant my crops and I still have my driver’s license.
Later, I was told my the doctor and my co workers that I am a very pretty person both on the inside AND outside!
Thanks Kelly!
Ron