Influence

INFLUENCE

December

I started driving for Hoyst.

There were several impetuses: I like driving quite a bit and am a decent navigator in the Bay Area; my vehicle is very comfortable for both the driver and to infirm passengers — I know the later because my sister, wife, and daughters would drive me around in it when I was first discharged; and finally, there were too few ‘paratransit’ drivers for the people that did dialysis with me. I was never an official paratransit driver and vehicle (no wheel chair lift, for example), but I understood the needs of infirm and post-dialysis patients. I also had nothing much to do early in the day, so I drove both early and afternoon (post-dialysis) shifts.

During one of the afternoon shifts, I encountered another ability. While I drove Timi home, I suggested she try a Mexican restaurant (“La Fonda de Los Carnalitos”) in Redwood City. It was an innocuous suggestion, but two days later I found out she tried the restaurant. That same night. In spite of her saying she was having fried chicken for dinner during that drive.

Nothing incredible, but it seemed very unlikely to be just a coincidence. I tested this out with more (good) restaurant suggestions, and every time ‘my patient’ and rider would eat there that night.

Very strange. Didn’t work in the morning though, so the impact was limited.

“I can influence people” — I say to Dr A., who is dressed fashionably as always.

“Yes, Mark, you can have a major impact to the world, especially given how long you will be with us. Is that what you are referring to?”

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“No. I can my cause my patients to do things… immediately… and even sometimes silly or out of character actions. I suggested ice skating at Winter Lodge for exercise, and met the patient on the ice at the very next public session. I recommended visiting the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, and found out the patient had made the several hour trip the next day. I suggested touring Yosemite and they visited over the weekend (this was after Friday’s session).

I am now being very careful what I suggest, and adding lots of caveats (like ‘in the summer’) to prevent messing with their lives.”

“Interesting…”

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