Yesterday’s adventure was getting my flu shot. The tough part for me was filling out the insurance info while making my reservation at CVS. I know I have Medicaid but filling out the info still gives me anxiety. CVS has all my information; I get my prescriptions there. I wish there was a check-off box for that. This delayed me getting it for a couple of weeks. First, I tried to do it as a walk in and was told that they no longer accept walk-ins. The first time I went to make a reservation filling out the insurance information stopped me. Partially I didn’t want to get up and get my card. I figured I could get it as a walk-in someplace else. I’ve been getting my vaccines while on routine visits to my doctors at Montefiore. The timing this year just didn’t work out. It’s important to get the flu vaccine and that’s way more important than any agita I might get so I went to the website yesterday morning and made an appointment for the afternoon.
I worry that with everyone’s concern with COVID-19 they might neglect getting their flu shots? Do you have yours? It’s still important. Getting one vaccine has nothing to do with getting another. You should be getting all the vaccinations you normally got. I will talk to my doctor about the need for me to get the shingles vaccine. I don’t believe I’m due for pneumonia, that’s every five years. While I’m concerned about people not getting it because they are only thinking about COVID-19 I’m hopeful that our experience with COVID-19 has convinced others of the importance of getting the flu vaccine. I had quite a few friends that thought they knew more than the medical professionals and wouldn’t get their flu shots. They’d use the excuse that they weren’t effective enough. They ignored the fact that in years when the flu vaccine is less effective getting it is more important, not less, for public health. It means more people need it to limit the spread of the disease. Most of my friends are political progressives, and they may now view vaccine hesitancy as trait of conservatives so actively avoid being lumped with them. Tribalism is a terrible reason to do or not do anything, but I won’t complain when it serves public health. Fine, I’ll complain, but I’ll also see the silver lining.
I try to be aware when I’m the beneficiary of Gordon privilege. Today’s example was getting this in the mail.
Someone bought too much for Halloween and didn’t want it the house and she gave it to me! There’s more; Richard Thompson is playing at the Tarrytown Music Hall and someone that isn’t a close friend bought me a ticket. Why? She knows I love RT and wanted to do it. I have made no mention of it on social media. It’s not like I said, “I wish I could go but I don’t have the money. She saw RT’s name and thought of me. I discussed this during therapy. Why does this happen to me so often? It could be my good looks and pure animal magnetism, but I suspect that’s not it. Not that I’m lacking in good looks or pure animal magnetism, those are just not the explanation. I think that at least part of it that I’m open about the joy I get from things, including candy and Richard Thompson. People can enjoy it vicariously. You know the best thing about it? It’s not seeing Richard Thompson or the candy, it’s the validation. That reminds me to give others all the validation that they deserve. Some of the most wonderful people I know have undeserved self-doubts.
A week ago, I was depressed, now I’m not. Some of that is from external reasons but most of it is from changes in my brain. When you are depressed, you aren’t depressed about something any more than when you are sick you are weak about something. It’s an all-encompassing sensation. The things I was thinking about when depressed are still true. I’m still not talking to people that are important to me, but now that’s just a small part of what I’m experiencing, not the core. I had one enjoyable conversation today and I should make a call and have another. I should have done it hours ago but no reason I can’t now except perhaps hunger. I’m planning on poutine for dinner and perhaps that should come first.
Wise Madness 