Today, I stopped by the local, neighborhood big box pharmacy to pick up a big box of cheap wine. Once I got inside, I thought, “Why not get my flu shot?” So, I walked to the back of the store and asked for the release paperwork that is standard with all immunizations. That was when I noticed the family that was also filling out the forms. There were two little girls about my grandgirls’ ages, both parents, but the mom was (is) preggers, and grandma. No problem. The dad, grandma and the girls were getting shots, but that shouldn’t take too long, right?

WRONG!

First, the grandma was not a citizen, nor was she on insurance, so the woman at the register was making it much harder than it should have been. She couldn’t get it through her head that the grandma was NOT on Medicare, nor was she asking for Medicaid. She was fully prepared to PAY for her shot. Once that got cleared up, the pharmacist was ready to give the family their shots.

While all this was going on, I got to chatting with the little girls. One of them likes math and the younger one loves to read books and sing songs. Adorable children. Well, except the little one had “that look” in her eye. I knew, without a shred of doubt, that she was not going to go quietly into that shot. I even told the girls that the man giving the shots had given my shot last year. I told them that I kept waiting to feel the shot and never did, he was so gentle. I don’t know why I bothered.

One and a half screaming hours later, another pharmacist offered to give me the shot. The family was still inside. I got my shot and shopped for the wine (remember? That’s why I was really there). As I paid for my wine, I told the checkout lady that the pharmacist didn’t even offer me a lollipop. She was aghast…AGHAST! I told her I was quite dismayed, and would probably need to buy more cheap wine soon to assuage my hurt feelings. One of the store workers, a young guy who was working nearby, offered to get me a whole bag, but I told him I thought I would be okay. The checkout lady patted my hand and actually said, “There, there”.

I’m at home now with a box of Fish Eye Chardonnay that only cost me twelve bucks. I am determined to put this trauma behind me. But a sucker would have been nice.

About Lynne Thomas

Watching people is fun. Writing about it is better. Writing about it with wine is amazing!

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