Skip to main content

It shouldn't have to feel like I won a million bucks.

Get vaccinated they said on the news, on the billboards, and in my emails. So I tried over and over to get an appointment. I logged on. I answered the long questionnaire. I verified myself and No appointments available. I tried for weeks but finally I gave up. How many times do I need to do this? 

Then two weeks ago. I got a text message from NYU. At first, I ignored it. Then I looked closely and I saw the word Vaccine. I jumped on the app and got the first appointment I could find. It felt like I had won a million bucks. Like I had the Golden Ticket. 

Today was the day. I couldn't sleep. I thought something would go wrong. The vaccine would be unavailable. I walked to NYU. The signs were bright orange. I followed them around a dozen turns. Finally, I made it.
 Check in line. Number 27. 
Verify your status online. Vaccine line. 
 Big Purple lines. 
 Big purple X. 

 I sat down and answered a bunch of the same questions. Then came the needle and it was all over. 

 So here are my thoughts... 
My questions: 
 What if I didn't get the text? 
 What if I didn't have email? 
 What if I couldn't read? 
 What if I couldn't follow the signs? 
 What if I didn't live blocks away from the hospital? 

 I looked at the line. 
 I was the only brown face. 

 And I wondered when will others get their Golden Ticket.
Labels:

Comments

  1. spd529March 8, 2021 at 3:23 PM

    It is like a golden ticket! I agree. I was listening today to a comedian making jokes about how long it's taking for vaccines to get to people. And I was astounded. I don't live in the US though. I'm teaching at an international school in Colombia. Many countries outside of the US don't have it so easy. No news on when I'll be getting vaccinated, which is further complicated because I am dependent on my school to help me. There are so many people like you mentioned in the questions who just don't have it so easy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Darin J.March 8, 2021 at 8:52 PM

    As I sat in my car after my shot, I found myself looking around me seeing only those who look like me: white, middle aged, and middle class.

    I thought those same questions: What if I didn't have Internet? What if I didn't have texts? What if I couldn't read the signs? The directions?

    What if, indeed.

    Thank you for sharing this today to get me thinking again about the what ifs in my life.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 31: side effects

I think it's weird that I don't remember pain.  I mean the kind of pain that cripples you.   Do I remember the pain during my son's birth? No!  Major surgery? Nope!  Don't get me wrong, I remember what it sounds like and what it looks like but not the feeling.  So that is why I was so thrown off by the side effects of the vaccine. Fever.  Headaches.  Body aches.  Nausea. Cold sweats.  Hot šŸ”„sweats.  No taste.  No smell.   I must have checked off all of the boxes.   And it was the worst 24 hours.   Was it worth it?  I'm not sure but it's done. 
7 comments
Read more

The Day after...

Today I was sore and achy. I woke up with a huge headache.  My arm felt yuck. Should I go to school? I thought about it for an hour. I thought about going to school (my dining table) and showing up for my kiddos. But showing up means a lot more than logging on zoom. It means being real and accessible and kind and listening. I was not able to do that fully this morning.  I texted my school, sipped on my coffee and went back to sleep.  Two hours later... The sun was shining. My windows were wide open. I decided to go for a walk. It felt amazing.  And I'm grateful that I listened to my body.   It's so easy to push through when I'm not 100% but I'm trying to remind myself that it's okay to step back.   Bella knows how to step back and relax.  We should all learn a lesson from Bella. 
7 comments
Read more

What could it be?

Your gift is downstairs!  That's what the text said.  He had mentioned this gift a few times.  He was dropping hints for the last few weeks.  But I didn't think too much about it.  He is a great gifter, gift giver, I don't know what it's called.  Anyway, he is my husband and he loves to give. No holiday or special occasion needed.  I went to the lobby. There were no packages on the shelf.  The mailperson was there so asked if he had it.   " Don't remember seeing your name" he said. He walked a box of packages over to the shelf. On the very bottom was the package. I was in a medium sized white box.  I tried to see the label but I left my glasses upstairs.  I squinted really hard.   CLARK! He got me Clarkpads!  I ran to the apartment and video called him.  Clarkpads!   Then I opened the box and they were purple.   These might not mean anything to the average person. But this is huge.  Some people learned to cook during The Lockdown. We learned ho
7 comments
Read more