So great being able to relax after vaccination day, especially after receiving the second shot several weeks after the first. Now I know my protection levels are high.

Oh, no, not that vaccination. I’m talking shingles.

Almost two years ago, my doctor advised me I had reached the age when a shingles vaccination was recommended. I dutifully went to my local pharmacy only to be told a shortage existed, but they would put me on the waitlist. When I asked how long I should expect, the poor technician flipped through pages of names on a clipboard, sighed, and said, “I have no idea.”

I put myself on a couple of other waitlists hoping the problem had to do with that particular pharmacy, but to no avail. The most specific answer I received was “months.”

Then, of course, we moved. Months of renovations on the new house and sales efforts on the old house distracted me until a couple of months ago. I was getting my flu vaccination at my new pharmacist in Murrells Inlet and casually asked how long the waitlist for the shingles vaccination was. No wait. Supply problems were solved.

I’m one of the lucky people who suffers through minor side effects of joint pain, headaches, and nausea for about a day—twice since the shingles vaccination not one, but two, shots—but then I was done. Shingles protection onboard.

As for the other vaccination—I’m not even eligible to get on the waitlist yet. Our local hospital opened up for registration for those over 70. Over 20,000 people signed up on the first day. I think it might be a while for me.

Books I’m Reading

After being a victim to a big city mugging, pregnant journalist Joan Harken moves with her fiancé to the idyllic small town he grew up in. As a child, she moved often, so the closeness and friendliness feels smothering, but she reminds herself Deck knows everyone, so they should be happy. She sets about renovating their new house—Deck’s childhood home given to him by his parents who live just down the street—and settling into her new job with the local paper. Everyone she meets seems is so nice, almost overwhelmingly so. And they know more about her than she knows about them. Maybe something sinister lies in the shadows if idyllic Lilydale.

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Interesting Links

Two Ways Our Brains Defeat Us—Written for authors, this article describes two mental blocks to better writing. I realized the two issues highlighted also contribute to so much conflict in the world. We humans simply (1) see the world based on our own filter and (2) we resist any facts that challenge our beliefs.

Gratuitous Dog Picture

Poor Frankie Suave. As the oldest, he is the ever-patient and benevolent leader. He does his best not to let the younger dogs’ antics get on his nerves or disrupt his even demeanor. But even he seems to grow tired of his younger brother Landon’s constant yammering about whatever it is he talks about incessantly.

Background title image courtesy Markus Spiske via Unsplash