STAFF ONLY

Mayo on a Sunday is different. The last time we went down for a procedure was February 27...a Sunday. Rather than making our own way to the lab desk we had to meet a lab staff person at the staff entrance outside. He then led us through double doors that said Staff Only, punched in a code for the next set of doors, then led us to the Staff Only elevator...I think a code was needed to get on that also! After going down a couple of hallways we were finally in a place we recognized...and it was strangely empty. Last time we were there it was overflowing with people. It was quiet, the lights were dim. When we were finished with that part of the appointment we had to be led back out through all the staff only entrances. The lab person found out we were from the Twin Cities and he felt really bad we had to be there so early. He told him that it was actually 30 minutes later than last time and for that we were thankful. Then he apologized for everything being closed. We had 2 hours to fill. We walked around outside, we went to Caribou for none other than campfire mocha's, we walked the underground subway tunnels of Mayo and found out nothing down there was open, not even the restaurants. Gift shops, education center, cafeteria...all closed. Including one of the bathrooms! What? They actually lock some of the bathrooms on weekends...yep! We were nervous but calm. After caribou we found our way to the atrium on the lower level of the Charlton building...desk 3A just upstairs. Usually we sit in this atrium but there are other people around. Today we were alone.


Desk 3A this time was even different...I didn't have to be checked in. I just sat in the waiting room with the other people there that day for some sort of treatment and when they were ready they took us back in the order we had arrived. There were only 3 of us, and two husbands. It was a different lady who did the procedure this time and she was wonderful. She was friendly and supportive and showed me pictures of my follicles on a chart and explained everything. Then we talked about coffee...it was hilarious! I told her I was giving it up for this...she said NO WAY! She said I was absolutely not to give up coffee, she thought that sounded terrible! She was funny! She told me to have 2 cups in the morning and a pop in the afternoon! I thought to myself...well, I really don't drink pop, but the coffee is a Saturday morning relaxation tool, a social thing, a simply delicious delicacy! I won't be giving it up, at least for now:)