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Friday, January 3, 2014

So Stupid It Should Be Mandatory

It is a simple question: What is the date of birth?
When having a prescription filled, it is usually the first question we ask. When picking up the prescription, we ask it then, too. Why is it so hard to remember?

We also ask phone numbers and people always say "I don't know. I don't call myself. Heh heh."

Then I say, "okay smart ass, what's your address?",  to which they reply with the correct answer.
My turn to be smart. "Well that wasn't hard. How often do you write yourself?" Idiot.

Growing up I knew the dates of birth of most of my family members, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It seemed normal to me. How can so many people not know the birthdate of their children? parents? spouse? themselves? I guess there are a lot of families out there that don't celebrate birthdays. I feel like asking "when do you buy your child presents...other than Christmas?" Ladies, how can you not remember the day your vagina heaved a human into being?

I found the perfect solution and I wasn't even looking for it. I owe it to this recent interaction.

CP: Picking up?
Forgetful Lady: Yes.
CP: For?
FL: My kid.
CP: What's kid's date of birth?
FL: 5/5/05.
CP: No. I'm sorry. That doesn't match what we have.
FL's Friend: Look at your wrist.
FL: Huh?
FLF: Your wrist. The tattoo.
FL: Oh yeah. <holds out arm> I have it tattooed here. Um, let's see. It's this one. It's...

Of course this solution only works if you're smart enough to remember you had all of your family members' dates of birth inked in a readily retrievable location. At least they weren't printed upside down on her breast. That would have been awkward. Actually, for some women, that does make sense. Pull out the shirt and look down. It already doubles as a wallet for many.




1 comment:

  1. Maybe it should be required that anyone dumb enough to not know their own date of birth must wear a scannable Hospital band, just to make sure that it is the right person? Oh wait, even the hospitals verify date of birth before they give you a medication.....

    ReplyDelete