“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 926 (Thursday) – an hour

Yesterday, there was a medical appointment that involved blood work. This morning, lab results and a message from the healthcare provider were received. One of the tests was for Vitamin D, and my result was noted as “very low” at 13 (the normal range is 30 – 100). There was a message about a prescription for Vitamin D 50,000 IU to be taken twice a week for 8 weeks beginning immediately, then over the counter Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily. Seemed straightforward.

There was a plan to take an afternoon break and visit the pharmacy, but like most of my “take a break” plans it was derailed by the usual series of brush fires at work. After the day of remote work, there was a quiet and patient hour spent waiting on the couch for the 5:00 traffic to abate, and shortly after 6:00, a trip was made to CVS.

Pale pink clouds outside CVS.

At the Pick Up counter, my business was stated. There was no prescription ready for me, nor was there one in the system or in process. I was sent to the Consultations window where another tech checked her computer and told me the same thing. And I was dismissed. The medical office portal was checked and a message left about the nonexistent prescription.

Nearby, in the Vitamin row, dozens of “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” tags blocked the view of shelf after shelf of merchandise. It was like opening the little flaps on an advent calendar to see what was on the shelf behind them. The mission was to find the highest voltage of D3 on the counter to take as many as needed to hit the 50,000 level (after running the plan by the pharmacy team).

Armed with a bottle of D3 10,000 IU and a big bottle of Multivitamin gummies that would be free under the sale, there was a return to the Consultation window. Four people were in line and there seemed to be a lengthy consultation underway with the first person. The vitamin bottles were returned to the aisle and I left, empty handed. It was pretty outside. The sky was brushed with pink with a delicate silver sliver of moon that doesn't show up in photos. 

The next stop was Market Basket. Pumpkin flavor ice cream has been lodged in my brain for weeks since the Nick’s Swedish Style light ice cream people sent a message about the BRAND NEW Pumpkin Spice Swirl flavor. The ice cream freezer had no pumpkin flavor in any brand, including Nick’s. Concessions were made. A store brand container of maple walnut was chosen. 

Barely ten steps away, the end of the express check was found, possibly 25 people deep. So was every other checkout lane. Apparently, Thursday night is a big night for grocery getting. Standing in a forever long line for ice cream in a flavor I didn’t even really want was not happening. The ice cream was returned and I left.

The route home also included Hannaford, where the parking lot wasn’t packed, so the stop was made. Again, there was no pumpkin ice cream from Nick’s Swedish Style or any other. Once again, there was an empty handed departure. Thanks for nothing, Nick's.

There may have been a grumbling soliloquy in the car on the ride home. The theme was “that’s an hour I’ll never get back.” And I’ll probably get to go back to the pharmacy tomorrow. Hooray!