This morning, I got up at the butt-crack to wait in line for my H1N1 shot. As noted in a previous post, my disdain for having to wait in line like they do in Communist China has been a source of some tongue-in-cheek sarcasm on my Facebook page in the past few days. I received a lot of crap for this sarcasm – mainly expected empty logic and namecalling (because I mentioned the great Messiah, Obama) – but even after all the liberal “arguing” from a pure emotional standpoint (rather than logical, because that would just be weird to be logical, right?), my mind hasn’t changed one iota.
First of all, I was the first one to arrive. The absolute first of hundreds and hundreds of people. I was very proud of myself in between yawning uncontrollably. I arrived promptly at 5:30 for the 9 am clinic, and I drove around to find an open entrance. Lo and behold – nothing was open this early. So, I drove around some more, saw that there was a minivan snooping around the place and headed back to the main entrance of the fairgrounds. Minivan chick parked in front of the gate, and I followed suit. We sat for about an hour and a half and witnessed a gazillion cars lining up behind us.
When the Sheriff finally arrived, he let us in, and I actually had four different cars cut me off like it was some sort of demolition derby. I’m not kidding. My assessment? When in the face of rationing, people become rabid. Absolutely insane, really.
What I didn’t realize is that people were also parking outside the gates of the fairground and walking to the designated hall. Come to find out – Minivan chick and I were only numbers one and two from a “who got here earliest” standpoint, but we quickly became approximately numbers 50+, as those on foot got in first (even though THEY arrived at 7 am…go figure). Add to that the Demolition Derby jerkoffs, and I was probably bumped down to number 75 when all was said and done. As hormonal as I am, I didn’t fret. I figured 75 isn’t terrible, considering that there are 200 injections. The glass remained half full and I trudged on to my next line.
I got into the line outside the makeshift clinic, and it started to spit rain. This was a pleasant byproduct, indeed, but again, I counted my blessings that it wasn’t a downpour and thanked God for my baseball hat.
Then, the inevitable happened. I’m almost 7 months pregnant, and if you’ve ever dealt with a pregnant woman, we’re either hungry or need to pee approximately every 12 minutes. The latter struck me, and I desperately tried to reason with my bladder. But, it ignored my reasoning. So, I found an angelic being behind me – a mom of two and OBGYN nurse (there is a God) who looked at me and knowingly said, “listen…I’ll hold your place in line. Go to the bathroom.”
She apparently had seen the look of urine-induced desperation on my face. And it was the highlight of my morning, restoring my faith in humanity once again.
I took care of business, got back in line and then the Health Department finally let us in around 7:45. We filed into the building into yet ANOTHER line, which was like those roped-off, livestock-like lines you see at amusement parks. More waiting. And then some more waiting. And then, a little bit more.
Finally, at 9:02, they opened the floodgates for the “clinic.” After waiting for three and a half hours at this point, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. They whisked us through triage and a Q&A table, only to separate us according to mist or injection. I received the injection at around 10 am.
Most of the people in the lines were not immune-compromised looking or pregnant. I’d venture to say that 90% of the people in attendance were parents with healthy kids, which is not a bad thing – but I’m just a little confused as to why they didn’t first hold clinics SPECIFICALLY for high-risk people. I suppose that would be logical, though, and this is the government we’re dealing with. And if there’s one thing I know for sure – the phrase “logical government” is a complete oxymoron.
After four and a half hours of waiting, I received my H1N1 vaccine. Just as reference, back in 2000, I ran the Chicago marathon (that’s 26.2 miles) in just a little bit over that time.
I would’ve rather come up with a couple hundred bucks and paid a private entity to give me the damn shot in under 20 minutes, but that’s just me.
Mock and I spoke this morning, and we both think that this healthcare reform monstrosity will more than likely be shoved through the system. My experience this morning opened my eyes to what’s in store. Add to that the fact that my taxes are going to increase and I’ll have less of a say in my health and the health of my family. Add to that the fact that I feel my freedoms are being taken away, chunk by chunk – and oila! We’ve got a recipe for fiscal disaster, not to mention lower quality healthcare in this country. The writing is on the wall. I just don’t understand why people can’t read it.
But, what do I know? I’m just a wacked out, right wing extremist with Stockholm Syndrome. I wonder if there’ll be an eventual line for that.
Get ready to bend over and cough, everyone. Welcome to rationing. It’s alive and well…and it sucks monkey poo.
We’re from the government and we’re here to help you.
Daisy, just wait until they have to check “your papers,” to ensure you’re politically viable enough to receive healthcare. You’ll undoubtedly be cast aside to wait in yet ANOTHER queue (that’s what those zany Euros call it), while busloads of union members are whisked to the front by their ACORN medical “volunteers.”
As awful as your experience sounds it was much worse in SF last night. Lines around the blocks for hours and hours. One clinic, Ocean view, had over 1100 people at 11pm!
Yes you read that right! And of course I made the comment “We want government health care why?” You could have heard a pin drop then.