I got my flu shot today.
I was headed down the stairs of the student union, with plans to hit up the ATM before grabbing my lunch when a nurse (or I assume she was a nurse, perhaps she was some other medical-type person, but anyway, she had a HUP lab coat on, so I drew my own assumptions) flagged me down, yelling about how I need my flu shot.
And I do mean yelling. She told me I would get sick (for two weeks!) and my mother would be so angry. It wasn't even an option; it wasn't like take this—you could get the flu. Oh, no, I was bound and destined for the flu. Pre-determined. And the only thing that could save me was a quick and violent injection of vaccine.
Dazed, I signed my name on the clipboard she shoved towards me, was assured my bursar would be billed (thanks mom, dad) and seated in a chair. "Roll up your sleeve," she said. Blankly, I obeyed.
A swab of alcohol and a painful stab later and I was free to continue the few steps remaining between me and the ATM (aren't there supposed to be some sort of consent forms? Pamphlets asking about allergies? Possible side affects?), rubbing my arm and feeling a little dazed.
It was over in no more than three minutes.
I know I have a tendancy to drag things out for months, weeks, years sometimes. It's how I am. I drag my feet; I move slowly; I plod. I don't know if I really like things that way, but it's hard not to sometimes.
But sometimes, I guess it's good to have someone standing there, brandishing a hypodermic needle, saying, "I know you don't want to, but you've really got no choice, and you'll be glad you did a few weeks down the road."
At the moment, my arm is aching and I am not feeling so well—I blame the shot, and I think that's probably fair enough. And I do have to wonder if I really would have gotten the flu at all, if my (well, parents') $15 and day of tender arm muscles and low-grade fever will be worth it, and I guess I don't really know, but maybe it's good to have it over with anyway.
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Replies: 2
way to take it, champ.
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