alone

I went for my second vaccination shot alone. As with much of the pandemic and quarantine, news of my uncle's passing, the racial justice protests and election-related alarm, I've experienced major life events in 2020 and 2021 by myself. 

This day was no different. I double-masked and gathered up my documents, went in at the appointed time, filled out paperwork at one station, sanitized my hands about fifteen times, walked to another station where a burly tattooed man checked my paperwork and asked how my day was going and gave me my shot. All within about 8 minutes. I moved to a third area to wait just in case I got blood clots or my airway closed, took a vax selfie, took a picture of my vaccine card, grabbed a banana and left.

It was a world of difference from shot #1, where I waited around a busy grocery store for an hour. Nothing seems predictable in this After Time. I am grateful for science and a city and state that have taken this somewhat seriously. 

Now, two more weeks of waiting.

and now the scramble

As of Thursday, everyone sixteen and older is eligible for the covid-19 vaccine in my state. Now comes the scramble.

We're 14 months into pandemic life and finally. Finally! I want to take a deep breath, but not too deep, and not around anyone else. Because I had to get on a bus today and a guy got on and pulled down his mask and started yelling at the driver. We all froze. Put on your mask, I called. Put it on. He finally did, temporarily. I fled two stops later. We're so close. 

Many of my friends are fully vaccinated, which I'm happy about. Most of my family close by is not, not yet. We've been combing the various websites--covidwa.com, said the coffee shop owner. Here, says the state. I had wangled an appointment today, actually, for the J&J shot, through a friend of a friend, but now that it's on hold, I had to scramble again. 

Hopefully next week for shot #1. I'm nervous, but I'm ready. 

Now for my fam in Canada. They're struggling up there. We just have to hold one awhile longer.