“DID YOU WORK?”

It was an unexpected question.  And a thoughtful one.  I replied that I had indeed “worked.”  He asked what I did and I replied that I’d been the director of an organization designed to help poverty level women find employment. 

He said that was “good work.”  I agreed with him. 

No one, in the last 25 years, had asked me that question.  I was surprised and pleased.  I’ve subsequently thought about that small exchange.

My first thought was that the question had come from a caring young man.  Interested in others.  Putting pieces together. 

But after a bit more thought, I realized what spurred the question.  And the reality wasn’t nearly as much fun as my first reaction.

The young man is a doctor.  He was trying to figure out why one of my latest blood tests showed an anomaly.  It’s nothing to worry about. Just something requiring a small adjustment to medication. 

But his question “Did you work?” was by way of asking if I’d ever been exposed to chemicals which might have caused said anomaly. Even after all these years.

I still like the young man but I now realize he, too, was “at work” when he asked the question.  I liked the first go-round a whole lot more. But I’m impressed by his thoroughness and manner.  And, maybe, just maybe, there was also a “just interested” reason for the question. Hope springs eternal, doesn’t it?