Rant #3,864: Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday morning.

Here is what happened as I signed in at the front desk.

Me: I am signing in, but when your office called me the other day, they had the wrong time listed for my appointment. It was at 9:30 a.m, but the caller told me it was at 10 a.m. 

(I pulled out an appointment card from my wallet.)

Here, I have the card that was made out for the appointment, and it clearly says 9:30 a.m.

Receptionist: Well, it says here your appointment is at 10 a.m.

Me: But you can see that it actually was scheduled for 9:30 a.m., and that is why I am here now.

(At 9:15 a.m.)

Receptionist: Just sign in and we will get to you.

(I signed in, sat down in the waiting room, and it proceeded on to 10:15 a.m., and I got up to walk up to the desk again.)

Me: Look, my appointment was at 9:30 a.m., and I am still sitting here, What is going on?

Receptionist: Well, we have it at 10 a.m.

Me: Look at the card. It says 9:30, that is why I was here at 9:15, and it is 10:15 a.m., so I have been sitting here for an hour for a 9:30 appointment.

Receptionist: We will get you in now.

(I waited, and it was past 10:30 a.m. I walked up to the front desk again.)

Me: You made a mistake, so I have been sitting here for more than an hour.

Receptionist: We will get you in now.

Me: Thank you. Wonderful!

(A few minutes later, I finally was called in. It took the doctor about 10 minutes to get to me.)

Doctor: How is everything?

Me: Well, let me begin with a problem I am having with your staff.

(I proceeded to tell him about the mixup with the visit time.)

Doctor: (whispering) Let me tell you something ... my staff really is not that good. They are pretty inept.

(I had my exam, and then I had to make another appointment for six months. One woman makes the appointments at this doctor, so I told the story to her.)

Appointment Lady: Well, if that is the worst that can happen to you, you are pretty lucky.

Me: But now I fear that the appointment you make for me for six months will also have a mixup in the time. Please make sure that the time is correct.

Appointment Lady: Well, if that is the worst that can happen to you, you are pretty lucky.

(I walked out of the office.)

Funny, nobody knows how to say, "I am sorry" anymore, even when the evidence shows that they were clearly at fault.

Yes, the wrong time isn't the worst thing in the world ... I could have cancer.

(Oh, that's right ... I already have that.)

But the inability of people to use the word "sorry" is bewildering, perplexing--

And heck, I just simply do not understand it.

Do you?