Whatever the opposite of a black cloud is, that’s what has followed me around all my life. While luck may be the intersection of opportunity and preparation, I have had more than my share of the former. It starts, of course, with being born in mid-twentieth century America. White. Two parents, both smart, successful, ambitious, good citizens. My mother recognized the quickness of my mind, my curiosity, and encouraged, developed them. The school district in our medium-sized city had a college-prep high school, which reflected the demographics of the community. A small, well-endowed liberal arts university in New England brought me on board, followed by a medical school in a big city operating out of a large hospital where I could learn all I needed for a successful, well-rewarded career. At the moment I went looking for work, a consumer cooperative insurance company/multi-specialty medical group was expanding, and needed just my talents. That organization had values which fit snugly with my own, although I did not realise it at the time, allowing me to have a fruitful 35 year career there.
I could go on and on – the friends I made, the girls who loved me, especially the one who married me, the kids we had…everything has seemed to slide my way, with little effort or anxiety on my part, other than the good sense to take advantage of opportunities which fell into my life unbidden. Even when I encountered what might seem to be bad luck, such as ramming head first at 25 miles an hour on my bicycle into a pick-up truck, I did it on an Army base with a major trauma hospital.
So it is with the COVID-19 vaccination appointment I have in 36 hours. In the midst of the fluster-cock that is the communication and distribution for this life-enhancing serum, when everyone is asking, “when and where will it be my turn?” Cheryl and I snagged appointments with almost no work whatsoever.
It all started 10 years ago when she visited Midwives For Haiti, a small charity on that Caribbean isle, and began taking pictures of mothers, their babies, and the women trained to care for them. A few years later, MFH sought out Dining For Women, a nationwide group which sponsors monthly projects for its members’ contribution. She asked to give presentations of her photos at two local meeting of DFW. She remains on their mailing list, and two days ago received an email containing a link to vaccination appointments at a local hospital chain. Because we both used to work at that institution, as well as receive care there, we already were recognized as within their system, and so she was able to follow the link to make an appointment for January 27. I did likewise.
She was so excited she had forgotten to read the fine print – the appointments were for hospital employees and nursing home residents only. Our state had announced it would “soon” start offering vaccinations to those 70 and older (we are 72), but her friends with whom she shared our excitement pointed out that she was in essence jumping the queue, denying others more in need of protection that opportunity, She worried about this for 24 hours, and returned to the website, intending to cancel our appointments.
One hour earlier the state had implemented its promise to expand the groups eligible for vaccination, and we were now legal. She checked the appointment slots again, and found them available in Tacoma for Monday. We signed up again in a matter of seconds.
That was 24 hours ago. Now, the earliest slots are now three weeks away in Tacoma, as much as 7 weeks at the site closest to us.
I’ve read stories of people calling all day, every day, to find an appointment. Waiting by a computer as if they were fighting bots for a concert seat on TicketMaster. Searching grocery stores and pharmacies in the hopes of getting a shot from someone who failed an appointment, or that legendary extra “6th dose” in a vial. We experienced none of that.
I don;’t know why I have such good karma in my life. I don’t expect it, but I am not surprised when it appears. When opportunity knocks, I have learned to answer the door, smile, and let it in.