...I will be sitting across from the man that might be my future Principal. The lunch meeting is today. I've got a new hairdo and a casual-but killer-outfit picked out. I suppose we'll order our food and he'll begin the discussion. I have no idea what is in store for me. All I hope for is a positive conversation and an affirmative YES by the time I get back into my car and head off to Trader Joe's.
The waiting is what blows.
In other news: I had a very memorable Planned Parenthood experience on Saturday. Because I am just a lowly substitute working what amounts to part-time, I have no health insurance. And because I'm on my last pack 'o pills, I decided to hit PP. Yes I want babies, but I just don't want them right now.
My appointment was for 10 am, and I arrived downtown with little interference from the St. Patrick's Day parade. I parked and headed off towards the clinic which was about six blocks away. A few blocks from my destination, a woman approached me with business card of some sort, offering low-cost health insurance. I politely said no thank you and she asked if I was going to the clinic. I said yes. She said it was just down a few more blocks, and then as I turned away, she said you know it's a life. I turned back around and said that's not why I'm going.
As I got closer to the clinic I noticed a large group of people. I guess I just assumed they were there for the parade, but as I came upon the entrance I could begin to see the large posters, man-sized posters, of graphic partial-birth abortions. The group had signs of all kinds and megaphones. They were pro-life protesters. I was a little surprised, but mostly fascinated. I have seen pro-lifers protest before, but never so many in one spot. In my world this gathering only happened in the movies.
Just a couple doors down, two woman approached me. They had yellow mesh singlets on that said PLANNED PARENTHOOD, and they asked me if I wanted to be escorted into the clinic. I said yes. Just as the three of us walked in, the group began praying the Hail Mary very loudly.
I wanted to turn around and yell at them: I'M NOT HERE FOR THAT! IN FACT YOU SHOULD BE APPLAUDING ME BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO PREVENT ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WOULD FORCE ME TO MAKE THAT KIND OF A DECISION!!
After being buzzed in through three locked doors and having my ID checked against a list of names, I made it to the third floor and was greeted by a friendly staff who only cared about my health and well-being.
As I left the clinic (the protesters had dispersed by then), I thought of all those girls, frightened and carrying the weight of their decision on their faces, having to walk through that barrage of insensitivity. I get that we live in the Land of the Free and we all have the right to free speech, but somehow those protesters seemed mean. I wonder how many of those girls never made it through the door.
No comments:
Post a Comment