My story for today. Covid booster related.
I just got back from Wegmans. I got my Covid booster. It was my 10th Covid shot. This time, it was Moderna. I live in New York State.
Now, I have one of those faces. I'm told it's my eyes. People talk to me every time I leave the house. I'm not sure how to put this in writing, but it's ridiculous...as soon as someone looks at me, they say something to me. They strike up a conversation. Without fail. Always.
I was in a pissy mood when I got to the parking lot, and really didn't feel like dealing with people, so I thought that maybe wearing my funky sun glasses would keep people the hell away from me.
I checked in for the vax at the pharmacy. There's not much room there, and there were only three chairs in the cramped waiting area, as well as a bench that holds two people.
I was sitting there waiting to be called into the vax room, and this older guy walks up to the pharmacy counter and he is speaking loudly.
Can I help you sir? says the pharmacy tech.
I NEED A VACCINATION!
Which one sir?
I DON'T KNOW! ALL OF THEM!
I almost choked laughing.
He ordered whatever vaccination he was getting, and walked toward me and sat on the bench right next to me.
By this time, his comment had put me in a better mood. As he appraoched me, he yelled
HOW ARE YOU YOUNG MAN?
I raised my sunglasses up, looked him sternly in the eye, and said:
DON'T YOU "YOUNG MAN" ME, PAL". I'M OLDER THAN YOU ARE!
He looked at me quizzically, and said "How old are you"?
I said "almost 67".
OH JESUS CHRIST, I'M 87 YOU WISE ASS! HAHAHAHA!
No way! You don't look it! He said "You really think so"? I said "Hell yeah my friend, you look great! (He really did look good).
I told him my name and shook his hand. His name was Charlie.
He said "My wife died 4 years ago".
I said "How are you holding up Charlie"?
"Not good" he said, and he had a tear run down his cheek.
I put my arm around him and kept it there as we sat together.
"You're doing good Charlie. You're doing good." I'm a cryer, so I was trying not to tear up.
He said "I don't know how to cook. I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and come here and get the subs. I said there's nothing wrong with that!
Then I got his life story. He grew up in the same town I did. He is a former tool and die guy, and he started telling me the details of how he got laid off after many years. it was a long story. Very long.
I asked him where he worked, and he said "I don't want to say". So I took a chance and said..."Well, based on what you're telling me, you worked at X, and you got called in to Mr. Y's office and that fucking prick fired you for no reason, right"?
His eyes widened. YES! HOW DID YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW THAT GUY? HE'S DEAD NOW.
I said "Yes, everyone who grew up in our town knew him! He was a fucking prick, wasn't he?
YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT HE WAS! said Charlie.
I got called back into the vax room by an attractive friendly intern. I did my usual routine about how I'm afraid of needles and usually faint. She said "OMG YOU TOO? I sometimes faint too! I can give the shots, but I don't like getting them!
I said "Oh no, I'm so sorry. I'm just joking with you. I'm a type one diabetic and take 6 needles a day. I can take a needle easier than I can take a pill". We then got into a detailed conversation about the trouble that diabetics on MDI (multiple daily injections), rather than a pump, have to be concerned with hitting scar tissue from old injections because the insulin could sit in that scar tissue for hours before releasing into your cells where it belongs blah blah blah. She seemed enthralled with that bit of information and told me she had no idea. She said she was really still learning, and that she was glad I told her that.
I thanked her, and as I walked out, I said "You're next guy is Charlie. He's a good guy. Make a fuss over him. She said "I will".
I opened the door, walked out, put my hand on Charlie's shoulder, he put his hand over mine. I told him to keep up the good work, and he said "It was a pleasure Lucky". I said "Same here" and left.
Oh, while the intern stuck the needle in, I started making my Bill the Cat noises and pretending that I was fainting. She laughed and said STOP ITTTTT!
OHHHHH.....OOOP! Ack! PFFFTTTTT!!!!! THBBFT!!!!!
= new reply since forum marked as read
Oh, we know, Lucky. We know!!!
if that picture is hilarious, or terrifying... I think a little bit of both! 
And asks for my picture online.
Thanks, True. (You) Be (Da) Best.
❤️
but in my mind, you're better represented by this:
Perhaps Jeffersonian:
--to someone I will never know but care about. 
So I do — but like you, the Covid vax gives me a couple of days of malaise.
For you and Charlie 
Thanks for relating your day.
I don't think any of us are surprised to hear that you have the kind of face that makes people want to reach out to you. If your personality is any indication, we already knew that.
Charlie needed someone just like you to be there in just that moment. I'm so glad you were there.
Your sharing this made me realize that I needed to reach out to thank someone for doing something extra special for me. So I did that before I even wrote this.
So double thank you. 
Maybe there was some kind of cosmic shift yesterday. I was in a good mood too 
Keep up the good work, Lucky. You're a good guy
