Surgeons from some of the largest cities in America were sitting around a few tables, taking a break from a serious detailed-filled meeting at Hilton's Waldorf Astoria off of Park Avenue.
They could be seen relaxing around cloth-covered convention set-ups, sipping on cool organic fruit juices while making small talk to kill time before the next segment scheduled to begin.
The subject came up of different types of patients, and which ones were thought to be the best to operate on.
One surgeon from the host area, New York City, perked up with a smile:
I'll start it. I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up . . . 'everything inside is numbered.'
Another surgeon from Chicago responded, sensing some fun coming from an otherwise serious day:
Yeah, but next time you should try electricians! Everything inside of them . . . 'is color coded.'
Other surgeons start to laugh, now taking notes, coming up with what they believed were even better patients to operate on.
A third surgeon, from Dallas, thought for a moment and said:
No, I really believe librarians are the best because when you open them up . . . 'everything inside is in alphabetical order.'
They all start to laugh, another surgeon from Los Angeles quickly joining in:
You know I like construction workers. Those tough guys and gals always understand . . . 'when a few parts are left over.'
They sit for a few seconds, forgetting the day's troubles, smiling at one another and looking down at watches ready to go back for the next topic of discussion.
Suddenly a fifth surgeon from Washington DC thinks he has the best patients to operate on:
Wait! I think you'll all find that politicians are the best and easiest to operate on. I see them all the time. When you open them . . . 'you'll find no guts, no heart, no family jewels, no brains, and sometimes no spine. But on the other hand the head and the anus are usually interchangeable.'
They all get up, shaking their heads at the thought, one giving up a final comment heading toward the door:
How did we go from talking about the best patients . . . 'to bringing up the worst politicians that have ruined the best healthcare system on earth while we try to figure out how to make a new living at what we've trained so damn hard to achieve?'
TKS to Cuz from Pennsylvania, my adding a little wake-up call to her original e-mail.
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