I received my first dose of vaccine Friday at the state site on Sockanosset Crossroad, and want to give a shout out to the National Guard folk who are making it work so smoothly. It was quick and easy, even with many, many people. So, if you are hesitating, don't. Just sign up on the Department of Health website and pick your time.

And, according to the comments I’ve seen on NextDoor, people agree: “Great job, efficient, helpful, awesome, well organized.”

After signing up on the city website and not hearing anything, I tried and tried to find an appointment on the CVS website. I failed every day, though a neighbor was able to book an appointment at a CVS 18 miles and a half-hour away and a friend was able to book a CVS appointment for a site 30 miles and 45 minutes away. Both were ecstatic to get them. Like winning the lottery!! Meanwhile, with no luck at CVS, I tried Walgreen’s, but was several times unsuccessful in getting past the Walgreen’s form and I resigned myself to waiting.

But miracle of miracles, the Department of Health posted a booking site on their website last week and I was able to book an appointment at my leisure and for a time convenient to me. Even the snow didn’t keep me away. The first thing I saw when I parked at the back of crowded parking lot was a National Guard soldier wheeling an elderly lady in a National Guard wheelchair back to her car so she wouldn’t have to walk in the sleet.

Inside, the lines moved quickly. They were taped – reminded me of follow the yellow brick road but stay six feet away from the person in front of you. Since I walked in with a cane, I was asked if I needed to sit down and go through a special line. No, thankfully, I didn’t need that – but see what I mean about caring? First stop, after a few minutes, was to double-check your name and appointment. Second stop, after another few minutes, was to get the actual shot – which wasn’t even a pinprick, for which I complemented the Guardsman. The third step for everyone was waiting in a separate location for 15 minutes to be sure we had no adverse reaction. That 15 minutes was well used. I had no adverse reaction, but used that 15 minutes, with the help of a couple of Guardsmen, to book my second shot on my cell phone. People who know me know that I only use that phone for calls and texts from the family, and for taking photos. I have no idea what else I could do with it. But the young Guardsmen had no trouble.

I confess I have a soft spot in my heart for the Guards, since my daughter was one of them years ago. I know how hard they work, and how important mission is to them. They are doing this one admirably and they consider it a deployment, which it is.

A couple of weeks ago there was a national news story about “vaccine envy.” Apparently, some folk don’t like hearing that others have had the good luck to book appointments. I haven’t found that here in Rhode Island. It’s “Yay” to anyone who succeeds and encouragement to keep trying if you haven’t.

We are all so tired of Covid-19 and being shut up and not seeing our friends and family. It’s been a YEAR!!

I’m so glad I did have the opportunity for my first vaccine. As someone wrote on a friend’s timeline, “It feels kind of liberating!”

Indeed!