Sock It To Me

 


A week ago I wrote about the struggle Pennsylvanians are having with regard to getting the Covid vaccine. I wrote about how I had somehow scored an appointment for Wednesday at a Rite-Aid an hour and a half away but had no luck getting one anywhere for my husband.

So on Wednesday I set forth to get my shot. Himself warned me, "Be prepared for something to go wrong and you don't get it." I nodded. I was prepared. At least I thought I was.

I'd allowed plenty of time to get there and arrived a half-hour early. I was told to wait until the time of my appointment. No problem. The half-hour passed fairly quickly and then I was told that I wasn't on the schedule. I had had the foresight to bring my confirmation email which I handed over. The clerk went into the computer and learned that my appointment was in Shenandoah, a couple of hours further away. Nowhere on my confirmation slip did it indicate Shenandoah rather than Morgantown. There was nothing she could do for me. I didn't argue because it was all I could do to hold back the tears. My drive home was awful; I was nearly involved in not one but two accidents, one on the turnpike at 70 mph and the other near home when a teenager made a right turn darn near into my back seat. I arrived home rattled and shaken, and angry.

Fortunately, that was the end of my troubles for that day. A text message brought the surprising and most welcome news: A family member is employed by a small chain of drugstores and one of the stores had gotten the vaccine and was having a soft roll-out today, for friends and family only, to test their logistics before opening the clinic to the public. I jumped to my computer and scored a pair of appointments.

Today we drove two hours to the Lancaster area where the pharmacy was operating the clinic. It was an absolute model of efficiency. I told Joe that whoever had organized today's event should be put in charge of the vaccine for our county, if not the entire state. We go back in four weeks for the second shot. As my friend Mimi pointed out, we got a vaccine and a road trip. She's right. The Lancaster County countryside is so lovely and there was hardly any traffic.

I feel fine; no side effects (yet). I just keep touching the bandaid on my left arm to remind me that it is real.

Oh, and what does one wear to get the Covid shot? Why, one borrows one's sister's Dr. Fauci socks, of course!

Comments

Karla said…
Congratulations! Not so lucky in Jersey.
Mimi said…
I so wish we lived closer to one another!! I, too, feel absolutely fine (so far) after my first dose of Moderna. AND, I am absolutely elated to have been fortunate enough to receive it.

Hope we all feel fine tomorrow, that we have no or very mild side effects. We made chili today in the event we don’t feel like cooking tomorrow.

Blessings, Nancy.
Janet O. said…
Wow--what a maddening experience, whether or not you were "prepared". But a tender mercy that you were both able to get the vaccine after all.
Love the socks!
Quiltdivajulie said…
Needless to say, I am THRILLED for you and Joe. Here in TN we are still waiting for our group (1b) to become eligible . . . there are plenty of snafus happening at the vaccination site (5 hour waits in the long line of cars (no one exits their vehicle) or more) and people jumping the line even though they don't yet qualify (which clogs up the works for those who do). Our governor says our area is receiving our "fair share" but at the rate things are going, estimates are 5-8 YEARS to get all Tennesseans vaccinated. BAH HUMBUG.
Mrs. Goodneedle said…
What a giant pain. I have an appt scheduled, but not until mid-March. I’m still angry that my 87 year old mother w/ COPD and 92 year old father haven’t yet been able to receive the vaccine in NH! 😠 I’m thrilled that you and Joe got yours.
Barbara Anne said…
What a huge bother to have inadequate information on your vaccine appt. confirmation paper! There is no excuse for there being no information of where to go or WHY your appt. was scheduled so far away.
Cheers that you and Joe have both had the first shot, thanks to the friends and family day!
Love those Fauci socks. :)

Hugs!
stitchinpenny said…
I have a fun story on getting an appointment. Our supplier set up their website with a minor glitch. A friend of my daughter found that if when you entered the system initially adding a character at the end of the string you were moved to the head of the line. My daughter tried it for the other daughter's in laws and it worked.I normally would be irritated at skipping the line but the fact that they had spent the last month playing by the rules and never got even one appointment while the snowbirds visiting were getting appointments left and right. These two seniors with health issues couldn't get through with up to 8 computers in the waiting game every day. We got appointments when a friend notified us a site had just opened for the day and that was almost 4 weeks ago. It really seems to take having an advantage.