Vaccination Observation

 

Vaccination Observation

 

I received my first Covid shot yesterday.  I had been on the waiting list in New Jersey for almost two months.  I was actually on several lists.  It seems that the supply is starting to catch up to the demand.  They will be opening vaccinations to many more candidates in the coming weeks, including teachers.

Not sure why teachers were not first on the list given the outcry and the importance of getting children back in the classroom.   I think if they had it to do over again teachers would be higher on the list.  

Projects like mass vaccinations are not simple; mistakes are made, mistakes slowly corrected.  

Overall my experience with the State has been positive.  There was a time where I wondered if the list was not a myth, but given the short time to establish a new complicated system it has been done pretty well.

Making an appointment after I was advised that slots were opened was a bit nerve wracking.  Fortunately, I had Mrs. C for help.  They asked a dozen questions that could have been asked on the initial sign up.  That was not so difficult except slots tend to get grabbed quickly and I was worried I would have to keep filling out information only to find I just missed an appointment opening. 

Did not happen.

One thing they asked was for my SS#.

“Why do they need that?  They have my birth date, my address, if I give them my SS# I may get the shot and lose my bank account!”

“Relax.”

“It’s mandatory!”

“Just give them a number that is close. How will they know?”

“They also want the phone number of my insurance.  I have Medicare I don’t know the number and the number to my supplementary insurance is downstairs.  I’ll lose my slot by the time I get it!”

“Just tell them it is 732-555-5555.”

That Mrs. C; she is a rebel.  (can I say rebel?)

Anyway, I got the time slot and got the shot.  There was a long line and it moved fast.  Everything was professional. My shot was at one of Jersey’s 6 Mega Centers. 

I noticed one thing that was unusual and concerning.  There were hundreds of people waiting for the shot.  I did not see a single non-white person.  This area of Jersey is a smorgasbord of ethnicities and colors.  I only saw white.  It reminded me of a John Denver Concert I attended years ago.  I have no idea how this happens, there are no questions of race on the sign up list.

I had no reaction from the shot other than fatigue.  I came home and slept on and off all day.  I hear that the second shot can be a bear.

Actually, there was one other Covid shot symptom.

Before and during dinner we watch game shows, “Chain Reaction,” “Jeopardy,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “America Says” and others.  Some of these shows I am pretty good at.  I even sometimes run a category in Jeopardy.  Tonight, I did not get a single question, single word connection or single puzzle correct.

Later I received a test message from the vaccine people asking if I had any reactions to the shot.

“Clearly the shot made me tired all day, but that’s about it.”

“Actually there is one more thing; I think the shot made you stupid.”

Leave it to Mrs. C

 

 

 

A Big Storm

 

A Big Storm

When we have a big snow storm in these parts of the North East, the weather geeks are in their glory. 

“A big snow storm is coming, everyone should hunker down, do not venture outside unless it is absolutely necessary, fill your bathtubs, buy all the toilet paper, milk, and bread you can.  This is a life-threatening storm!”

When the storm hits there is no shortage of reporters standing against the wind and the snow, measuring the depth, pointing out stuck cars and warning everyone to stay at home.  Apparently, their job is absolutely necessary.

When the storm finally begins to recede, we are warned that it has not stopped yet, some roads in local streets are still unplowed, and it is still not safe to leave your home. 

When the snow stops and the sun comes out, we are warned of the danger of melting snow that freezes at night when the temperature drops. 

“Watch your step, it is dangerous out there, and drivers need to be warned about black ice!”

Finally, the sun is out all day, night temperatures are above freezing and the new danger is,

“Melting snow is causing dangerous floods, do not drive unless it is absolutely necessary.  Further, there is a danger of icicles breaking off of buildings creating a danger to pedestrians!”

All during the storm the news brings us examples of the storm’s destruction.  There is always at least one tree that falls through a house, a car stuck in the middle of a flooded street, a baby born in a car stuck in traffic.

In the media, fear sells.  Good news is bad news.  Bad news is magnified, and when bad news goes away there is always a “but”, always a danger, always a not-so-fast warning.

In our current pandemic storm, numbers are falling, vaccine supplies are rising, warm weather is coming, things might just be improving, the light at the end of the tunnel may be in sight. 

Not so fast!

New virus mutations are discovered every day.  They may be more virulent, they may be more deadly, they may be resistant to the vaccines, there may not be enough people willing to take the vaccine to reach herd immunity and no one knows how long vaccines will provide protection.  A new pandemic may be developing soon.

When a big snow storm is coming the media gets excited and spreads fear.  When it hits, they make sure to only show destruction, when the storm goes away, we are told of after-the-storm related consequences, and there is always a claim that a new storm might be forming and on the way.

Eventually summer arrives and news shifts to dangers of rip tides, sunburn, skin cancer, and insect-spreading disease. 

“Be careful driving into the sun, grab those shades, lather up with sunscreen and wear light loose fitting clothes.  The ocean is full of sharks, air pollution is high, pollen is at record levels and hurricane season is upon us.  Be careful…better yet, stay at home and stay tuned.  We’ll tell you when it is safe to go outside!”   

 

You Have to be Carefully Taught

 

You Have to be Carefully Taught

 There is so much that at my age I do not understand.  I try to keep up, I try and be educated.  I read the news from multiple sources, I ask questions, I Google for answers.

There are some subjects that are too complicated for me to understand without personal instruction.  On some issues I think I need a structured, specialist teacher environment to have any chance to become enlightened. 

I fear it may take several semesters.

I took two semesters of “Calculus for Arts Majors” in college…not the same Calculus as taught to the engineers…well it was the same calculus; we just didn’t need to learn it well enough to actually use it.  Afterall, economist majors will never have to build a bridge.  Probably a bad example, not sure calculus is needed to build a bridge.

Anyway, I passed with a low “D”.  Is that something to be proud of?  It is if you manage to pass a subject without ever actually knowing what the subject is.  Learning just what you need to know in order to pass a subject is sometimes enough.

I would love to learn how to get by in todays world.  Not to actually understand, not sure that is possible, but just to learn why somethings are wrong to say and or think.  Learn to get by without really knowing why what is proper is…well…proper.

I have figured out somethings on my own.  There are words best unsaid.  Thoughts best unthought.  Opinions best un-opined.

Somethings need more intense explaining so I can get by even without understanding. 

I have done a lot of personal research on why Dr. Seuss is offensive. 

His were the first “picture books” I read on my own.  His were the books my children wanted read to them over and over again.  They never offended me.  Apparently, they should have.  I need special instruction to understand.  Maybe even multiple semesters in “Why Dr. Seuss is racist.”

I think I could pass such a course.

Then, I still have no idea what calculus is.