Staff photo by Kevin Jacobus^^Mike Morin, 7/19/2005.

I’m pretty excited that in just days I will have my second COVID-19 vaccine injection. I realize this is a serious time but there are still some funny things happening.

I am feeling a bit left out since WMUR was not on hand when my first shot went in. Have you noticed that people receiving their vaccines on television try really, really hard not to wince?

My thanks go out to Pam, who deftly put needle to arm at Nashua High South on February 10th. The second Pfizer dose will go in on March 10th. I thought it was a nice gesture that with my COVID shot, Pfizer included a 20%-off coupon for their flagship med, Viagra. Being over 65 has its perks.

Everyone did a pretty efficient job at South. I did learn one thing, though. If your appointment card says be there at 2:50 as mine did, get there at 1:50. The line was slow. They could have at least had people going car to car offering Klondike bars, beverages or to top off your car’s fluids. Are you listening CDC? Lessons learned for the next pandemic.

After the two recommended post-shots weeks go by, I will need to celebrate somehow. In no particular order I plan to: hug as many grandchildren as I can, eat a spicy chicken sandwich INSIDE Popeye’s instead of in my car. I also plan to actually go in to a bank. No reason. I just miss banks. Most banks require an appointment to see a customer service representative. I go when I need a new supply of pens.

Some people are treating the vaccine the way the rest of us treated toilet paper a year ago. With Johnson & Johnson in the mix, there will be enough to go around. No hoarding allowed. Two women in Florida who are 34 and 44, recently dressed as seniors, in an attempt to get their vaccines before it was legitimately their turns. This must be fake news. There is no one in Florida under 67, is there?

Here is my favorite – and real – vaccine management story from a Facebook friend who posted this last month: “Want a really dumb case of how mismanaged this vaccine roll out is? I’ve been waiting for my VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management System) email, because I have enough pre-existing conditions to be included in a somewhat earlier run of the vaccine for COVID. So the CDC sent the email to (fake name) Joe McDonald – IN IRELAND. By sheer F*#@&-ing dumb luck, we are Facebook friends and he messaged me, saying, ‘Hey mate. I think this is for you.’ What a weird thing to happen.”

I’m just three days away from finally feeling relaxed. I dodged a couple COVID bullets. I was with Mayor Donchess in late August just before he tested positive. Also, my barber called hours after a haircut telling me he was with someone who tested positive.

Time to hug some grandkids and replenish my pen supply.

Contact Mike Morin at mike morinmedia@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @MikeMorinMedia. His column runs the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month.

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