Finally, finally got an appointment to get the doggoned COVID shot. I thought they’d never ask.
In fact, I was a bit surprised it took so long. The vaccination door has been open to the 65-and-up-crowd for weeks and weeks. Yesterday they opened it up to people over 55, and I pounced on the opportunity like a raven on a French fry.
The website kept telling me that I could get the COVID shot at this pharmacy or that pharmacy – except that those pharmacies didn’t seem to have any vaccine available.
A very kind woman at the state department of public health stayed on the phone with me and walked me through the signup. I can’t quite remember what I was doing wrong, but she somehow figured it out and made it possible for me to get an appointment at 9:40 a.m. today.
My arm is a bit sore but I haven’t developed any major complications. I still intend to go to bed early because heck, why not? I love to sleep.
I was so happy to get the COVID shot that I felt like singing. Which is probably why I found myself humming the song “Maria,” from the musical “West Side Story.”
Moderna
I’m getting a shot called Moderna…
But first, let me acknowledge that Dolly Parton – who also got the Moderna shot – did the song parody better. (She also donated a bunch of bucks to help get the vaccine developed in the first place, bless her heart.)
In this clip of Parton getting vaccinated, she updates her classic song, “Jolene.”
Pretty funny stuff, Ms. Parton. Many thanks, both for the song and the donation.
My own COVID shot song
My song isn’t as amusing, because I’m no Dolly Parton. Neither am I Randy Rainbow, may the Lord bless him and keep him. Writing-wise, I’m not even fit to hand either Dolly or Randy their pencils.
But I had fun with this, and I hope you will, too.
First, here’s the “West Side Story” clip, in case you’re unfamiliar with the tune:
When singing my version, skip all the background repetitions of “Maria” at the beginning and the extra “I’ll never stop saying” and such in the song’s bridge. Also ignore the fact that I tossed in some extra verses, whereas the original is short and sweet.
Moderna
I just got a shot named Moderna
And suddenly it seems
Escape from quarantine
Could be….!
Moderna
My arm has been stuck with
Moderna
It’s not just a vaccine
It’s hope for herd
Im-mun-it-y…..!
Moderna
Barely felt the needle go in
Barely felt that first anti-gen…
Moderna
Now I don’t fear COVID incubation
Or the chance of aerosol-ation
Moderna
Long to toss out my mask!
And if you really had to ask
I’d say: MODERNA!
Or Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer
Don’t be sadder – please be wiser
Moderna
Ask for it with verve,
Help flatten out that curve
Pretty please….?
Moderna.
An end in sight?
Note: I’m not really tossing out my mask, even after the second COVID shot. Planning to keep some in the car henceforth and forevermore, to be worn at least during cold and flu season or whenever people are complaining about that bug going around.
Neither DF nor I have been sick for the past year, which could in part be due to the lockdown. But I think wearing a mask while shopping has something to do with it, as does wiping down the shopping carts (something I never thought to do before).
The pandemic has taken a lot from people: socially, financially, personally. It took my dad last November. But I am finally starting to be a bit hopeful that we will see an end to this.
No time soon – heck, they’re just now getting to the 55-plus crowd here in Alaska – but maybe by summer? Probably more like “maybe by Christmas,” but a girl can dream. And sing.
Related reading:
Can’t even get to the 65+ crowd here in PA, either with or without health complications. Glad you got a shot!
Me too! Sorry you haven’t been able to yet.
My second one is scheduled this Tuesday, but I have a bad feeling they will cancel. My health provider was holding back doses for second shots and the state told them to use all their doses. And then shorted them on what they need for second doses. My girlfriend was supposed to get #2 yesterday and they cancelled her appointment.
Oh dear. I wish you luck.
Congratulations, but what’s the point of this post given more than 80% of the population still hasn’t gotten their shot? It just creates and the and it provides no benefit to the reader.
Well….I also write about saving money, even though a lot of people can’t/don’t want to do that. And about gardening, even though a lot of people can’t. And about being in love, even though a lot of people are single. And about frugality, even though a lot of people are spendthrifts. And about….Oh, never mind.
Also, your second sentence is a bit garbled so I’m not sure what you were trying to say. Personally, I think that humor does provide benefits. But if it bothers you, then keep scrolling.
I’m always happy to hear about more and more of us receiving the vaccine. The more of us getting vaccinated, the quicker herd immunity will be reached, thus benefitting all of us. And no, I have not received a vaccine yet. My state has not yet opened it up to my age group and I am lucky enough to not have any comorbidities. Still, I am looking very much forward to receiving it. I was on a natural high all day when my DH got his first one.
I’m getting mine today! NC has opened it up to essential workers and I qualify. I put on my best dress, fixed my hair and makeup and have been humming “It’s a beautiful morning”. One more hour until I leave. My husband is participating in a clinical trial. He’s had two shots but doesn’t know if it was the vaccine or placebo. In April he will get whichever he didn’t get in January and we will both be vaccinated. We are trying to decide where to go to celebrate.
Wherever you go, I hope it’s great fun.
My hubby and I are both over 65. I was so disgusted at trying and failing to get an appt. anywhere, but finally did. We got Pfizer and the 2nd one is on the 16th. We received ours at a hospital. I worried that we might get the J&J instead. After all the suits that were out on them over the years, I worried that they hurried for their own sake to get their share of the money instead of caring for the people. Was just leery! I too will still wear my mask,etc. We still aren’t going to go anywhere like inside a restaurant, travel, etc. for at least 6-9 months till we see how this turns out with the variants. Can’t believe all the states that are lifting the mandates. I hope we don’t go backwards!
Getting my second dose the 12th. My son was terribly worried about me and the fact I was bumped down to the next to last group in our state, even though I am 64 with several comorbidities. He discovered some people were getting shots by waiting at a vaccine site hoping for some leftovers. So he searched for a site, found one in driving distance, and told me when and where. I was one of 6 people who got lucky that day. I was never so glad to get a shot! Planning a special dinner when all of us are fully vaccinated. Asked him what he wanted me to cook for him and he said he would eat cardboard for the chance to hug me again! Love that boy (man).
Awwwww….! That’s a great story.
Congratulations!! Got one for my Stepmom as well last week!
I won’t be eligible for a while, as our Governor is being very tight lipped about “who is next”…but happy to see people getting vaccinated as it puts us ALL one step closer to the finish line!!
My husband and I got our first one a month ago and then the second one as scheduled. Fairbanks did a magnificent job of organizing—took us 50 minutes total, from the time we walked into the Carlson Center to when we walked out. It would have taken even less time except I had to sit for the full 30 minutes afterwards. The computer program for getting signed up was a bit tricky and my husband and I could not get adjacent appointments, but he drove me there and went in with me and when they heard the story they did him at the same time as me (I am in a wheelchair, so needed him to drive me). Tanana Chiefs has vaccine left over and is now offering it to public school teachers, tribal members or not, which is a real community gift. I was dreading it, seeing news reports of what was going on Outside, but was very pleasantly surprised by my experience. We, too, intend to keep wearing masks just because it seemed to protect us from getting our usual winter colds or the flu. Glad you were able to get your shots! For selfish reasons, so you are still around to keep blogging!! (Starting my leeks this week, 200 of them if I get all the trays filled. We are on our last bag from last summer’s garden.)
Thanks for your good wishes.
DF has trays of soil on a table in the living room. He’ll be starting celery over the weekend, and other plants a bit later.
Seems a little unfair that your state is vaccinating 55 year olds when mine only just dropped the age down to 65. On the other hand I know plenty of people who weren’t eligible here who have gotten the shots “somehow”. It’s not a very equitable program.
Fewer than 740,000 people live here, so X number of vaccine doses goes a lot further here than in, say, California or Florida. There are only 137 ICU beds in the entire state, so that might also enter into the distribution rate. The large military and Alaska Native populations also have something to do with it.
It’s frustrating to be in a place where there aren’t enough shots to go around. I’m sorry you’re in that position.
Couldn’t agree more. The way California has handled this process is absurd, but pretty typical of how they handle just about everything. We are in the over 55 group and it sounds like we have a long wait ahead of us because we have made good eating choices and are not overweight.
Glad you got the vaccine. I am assured of one when my allergist gets the doses. I have to wait at least an hour. I like whatever you write about.
I got the first shot on Tuesday this week. I think you can write about anything you want. No one has to read if they don’t like!
As a health care worker I got my second moderna at the end of January. It’s a great feeling 2 weeks after the second shot.
I bet it is. Can’t wait to find out for myself.
Congrats, Donna! That’s great news! I’ll probably become eligible sometime next month. I just hope and pray that there aren’t too many Arkansans who refuse vaccinations because it’s some nefarious plot to inject them with microchips. Or is it nanobots? Soooo many conspiracy theories for me to keep up with, I don’t have the energy for it.
I hope you can get the shot, since you work with the public and are exposed to so many people throughout the day.
And no doubt some people will refuse, due to conspiracy theories. Sigh.
I’m glad to hear you got your vaccine! Always great news to hear more and more of us are getting it and increasing the numbers we need to get to herd immunity. Here in Massachusetts, I’m still waiting for the 55 and up age group to open up. DH, aged 66, has received his first one and is scheduled to receive his second one March 15th. I loved your “re”arrangement of Maria! As I was reading it I was hearing the actor from the movie singing along but with your words! It doesn’t hurt that my Mom had the soundtrack record of it when we were kids and I played it and replayed it hundreds of times. Wishing you and DF continues good health. Like you, DH and I have escaped colds, flus and the like I’m guessing from wearing masks, sanitizing and socially distancing.
Donna, the day my husband and I got our first shot, I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. Others agreed with me. We have all been living a sci fi nightmare and couldn’t quite imagine an actual way out.
Sigourney Weaver, where were you when we needed you? 😀
Now I’m thinking that by mid-April I will be much, much less likely to get COVID. Obviously I’ll still be careful. But as you say, I feel as though a weight has been (partially) lifted.
I have to say that I take umbrage with the negative comment by “Jane.” Your ditty on the “Maria” song blessed me twice. First when I looked at the video and had a lovely walk down memory lane, when I remembered seeing “West Side Story” as a teenager. Second, I had a good laugh singing along to your parody. Here in NH they are doing a frugal reuse. Since no one is commuting to Boston or the airport these days, the local bus depot has been converted to a drive up vaccination center. I look forward to getting my first dose on March 10th. Who knows, now that Johnson & Johnson is in the mix maybe it will be a one dose deal.
Hope you can get the one-and-done. And what a good use for a shuttered bus station!
Got my second Moderna shot two weeks ago; had some minor side effects but they passed quickly. I’ll still wear a mask in crowds. I will say Houston Health Department has done a great job with this.
Not tossing out my mask(s) either, Donna, and I’ll only be hanging out with the OVs (Others Vaccinated) for a while. Fortunately, all of my friends are signing and lining up.
Very glad to hear that! And I don’t know when you find time to hang out with anybody, given how many books you continue to produce.
For the uninitiated: Dana Stabenow is Alaska’s most famous writer. See her stuff at:
https://www.amazon.com/Dana-Stabenow/e/B000AQ3BA0%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share