Quite some time ago, I mentioned how I made a reference to the Three Stooges to my young Children’s Minister, who was, well, unfamiliar with those guys. If  unfamiliar with the Stooges, you can get information about them here.

Meanwhile, I went to Target yesterday.

I needed to pick up a couple of prescriptions. That’s all. Why is that never all?

Many of my prescriptions come from a medication provider (for us senior adults). I’d apparently had trouble navigating one of them, recently. What I thought I’d ordered and paid for, never arrived. Last Monday, I logged onto the web site to check on things and discovered that there was no record of my order. So, yes, I certainly could re-order, but, I was on my last three doses, and I was uncertain about receiving the medication in the mail on time, given the upheaval in our lives right now. So, I phoned my physician’s office, explained my problem to the nurse, and asked for a prescription to be sent to the pharmacy at my Target. Yes, indeed, she said. Great.

On Tuesday, I got an e-mail from that online provider saying they needed my payment for the prescription. I phoned the doctor’s office and checked with my physician’s nurse. “Did that prescription go to the CVS pharmacy at Target?” Well, hmmm. No, it had not. It went to the online provider. We discussed the problem of getting that in the mail as timely as I needed it. And she said that, if it didn’t arrive, they could probably (probably?) fill in the gap. I checked the website, and there was a space that said, “Approve? Yes? No?” I checked “No,” and called the nurse back.

“Please go ahead a resubmit that prescription request at Target. I cancelled the other one.” “Yes,” she said. And, TA-DAH, it’s done. HAH.

Wednesday evening, I had the last dose of insulin. Thursday morning, I went to Target.

I asked for the insulin. She went back to her computer. And, of course, more problems.

“This prescription has already been charged to the online provider,” she said.  And I said, with dismay, “I can’t wait. I took my last dose last night. It wasn’t supposed to be charged to them.”

She was confounded, and another pharmacist came over and said, “Would you like me to do this?” And that first pharmacist said, “Yes, please,” and went to help another customer whose prescription wasn’t as complicated.

So, pharmacist #2 looks things over as I’m explaining how the problem happened, and she said she would phone that online provider and try to get it untangled. I could wait at the pharmacy, or if I needed to shop for other stuff in the store, she would call me after she’d talked to them.

“Great!” I went off to find Cheerios for David, who said everywhere he’d been was out of Cheerios. He’d not, apparently, looked at Target. There were all sizes of regular Cheerios, in addition to a wide variety of different kinds, flavors, etc. of Cheerios.

In a short time, the pharmacist phoned me (in the cereal aisle) to say that they could do an override, but but that I would have to make the call. She had the number, but, alas, I couldn’t find a pen, and she said she’d write down the number for me, and I could walk back to the pharmacy and get it. Which I did.

So, now, I’ve got the number, which I call, and there’s an automated voice telling me things, and asking me to say “yes,” and “prescription,” and asking me what is my identification number, so, I, with my phone in my hand, have to dig into my purse for my wallet and dig for that card, and I recite and confirm that number. Meanwhile, I am walking around Target, trying to find a quieter place to give all this information so that I’m not irritating other shoppers.

Then, a human being came online, and, as I am walking around, I’m trying to explain to her about the prescription that I’d asked for, and how it went to the wrong place ,and I really need to get it filled now, and that’s why I’m requesting an override. And then I worry that she’s going to give me some other phone number to call, and I know that I do not have a pen, so, while she’s working things out, I hurry on over to the aisle where there are pens, and I, not really wanting, or needing, a package of a dozen pens, finally find a package with one pen, and rip it open, try it out, and keep it handy.

I also know that I don’t have any paper in my purse, (I am woefully unprepared) and I am going to have to write any phone numbers or other information on the sides of the Cheerios boxes in my cart.

Then, after a few more minutes of standing in the kid’s video section, where I am finally alone, she comes back on and says, of course, that override can be managed, and she’ll connect me to Brie, who can get things fixed for me, and I think she’s talking about the pharmacist, but, no, she’s talking about someone at that online provider, who, in 45 seconds, confirms that the override is a done deal.

So, I go back to the pharmacy, where we are having to start the new prescription all over again. And, it will take a few minutes. Do I need to do some more sopping? Sure. And I went looking for new scales. The old scales, which are a few years old, but not ‘way old, have stopped working. I thought they just needed new batteries, which I didn’t have, but picked up last Monday, when I went to the grocery store. I replaced the old, worn out batteries with the nice, shiny, new ones. Without success. I guess that scale is broken, worn out, non-functional. The new scale is still in the box, but, I’m prepared with new batteries. Maybe tomorrow.

I also needed a prescription cream, which I asked the pharmacist to fill. “Oh,” she said, after looking at her computer. “That prescription has expired. I can call the doctor and have it renewed, Okay?” “Yes, please.” It wouldn’t be ready until the next day, but that’s fine. Target is close to me. No problem.

So. What should have taken, maybe ten? fifteen? minutes. Took about an hour and a half. And, I still have to go back. And I have to admit, I’m just glad it’s all worked out.

As we’re sheltering in place, except for those trips to the grocery store and Target, I was really unhappy when I learned that the libraries have been closed. NOOOOOO. But, a friend explained how it’s working now. I can go on the library’s web site, request books to be put on hold (which I do regularly, even though I usually go pick them up when they’re ready), and then I can check to see when the book(s) are available. Then, I phone the library and say that I’m ready to come and pick them up. I drive to the library where those books are and pull up to a door at the back of the library. I park and phone the library to let them know I’m there. They confirm my name and my library card number. Then, they will bag up the book(s) and open that door, place the bag on a table just outside the door, and go back in. Then, I get out of my car, retrieve the bag, get back in my car and drive away. What a plan!

A couple of weeks ago, I went out early on a Saturday morning to run some errands. I had some coupons for drug store and grocery store items. I went to Wal-Mart and spent some time there. Next I went on to Walgreen’s. (Those two places open up really early, so I can get those checked off my list and then go on to places that don’t open until 9:00 or 10:00. At least that was my plan.)

I pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot and drove around to the parking area. I pulled in to an empty slot (and, since I was an early customer, there were plenty of available spaces), going slowly as I pulled up to the concrete barrier in front of the curb. I had my foot on the brake as I neared that barrier, and then I pressed gently on the brake to stop the car.

Then, I’m pretty sure, I pressed harder on the brake to stop the car, but my foot slipped off the edge of the brake pedal and thonked onto the gas pedal. I heard the sound of the engine revving, as it tried to press the car forward, seeming to be determined to get over that barrier. Which it ultimately did. You’ll be relieved to know that I did not slam into the wall of Walgreen’s. I slammed into a brick pillar, instead.

I was, as you might imagine, really rattled. REALLY RATTLED! I got out of the car to check on the pillar. Someone came out of Walgreen’s, looking somewhat alarmed.

She asked if I was all right and I said yes, even though I didn’t feel all right. I wasn’t injured; but I didn’t feel all right.

She looked at the car and the pillar and went back inside. I called David, who wasn’t home. And then I went into Walgreen’s. That Walgreen’s lady was back behind the cash register, checking out people and also talking on the phone. She saw me and said, “I didn’t know what to do. So I called Walgreen’s.” And I said, “Of course.”

After checking out the customers and finishing up her call, she said, “I’m the only one here.”

I said, “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.” Even though it was pretty early in the morning and there were few customers, I thought there should be at last two employees there.

She said, “Well, I’m the manager and I make out the schedules, and I just scheduled me for early this morning.”

Ah.

She said that Walgreen’s said they’ll need a police report. I said, “Of course.” So she called the police.

I called David again, and he was back home and he came on over. Then the police came. They were very nice.

I took pictures. The Walgreens manager took pictures. The police took pictures.

I was concerned about the pillar, which is brick. One of the officers eased my mind. He said that, under the brick, there’s a concrete reinforced steel core. “You don’t have to worry,” he said. “That pillar isn’t going anywhere. The roof isn’t going to cave in.” Whew!

Before too long, the manager was back at business, the police left, David took the car to the Buick dealership, and I, instead of running any more of those errands, went home. In David’s car. I was done for the day.

At the Buick dealership, the Collision place isn’t open on Saturdays. David took it back on Monday, which was a Monday holiday, so not open. On Tuesday, he was able to get a detailed estimate. I took that to the insurance place on Wednesday, along with the police report w/case number. An agent looked at everything and then called the main State Farm folks and gave them my name, and then handed the phone over to me. They knew my policy number and information. They asked, “Did the police come?” “Yes, and here’s the case number.” “You’ll need an estimate.” “I have that.” (A bit of silence.) “We’ll need to see if that dealership is on our list.” I gave him the name. “Yes, we work with that dealership. Your deductible is $1000.00.” “Ah.” I sort of got the idea that these conversations sometimes take much longer. Well, it’s not our first time. Okay. It is the first time I’ve run into a building.

David’s still mulling over whether we should pay the whole cost of the car repair, in case out premiums would rise substantially. And, the insurance company deals with Walgreen’s. I look when I drive by, but I haven’t noticed any work going on.

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

Living in Central Texas means, usually, pretty mild winters, which seems like our prize after enduring the blisteringly hot summers. There will be a freeze or two, or more, and maybe even a little bit of snow. Very little. I have one wool coat, which I may wear once or twice during the winter. Or maybe it will spend the entire winter season, untouched, in the hall closet. I don’t own one other woolen article of clothing.

I guess folks get used to their own area’s weather, and do the appropriate winterizing of cars and homes and yards, or, in our place, not doing anything much different.

I did pull up some tender plants that froze a couple of weeks ago, but most things are still green and alive. My primary fall-and-on-to-winter outdoor activity is raking. I like to rake. I’ve mentioned before that the yard crew that comes each week in the spring and summer (and a little bit into the fall), find it odd that I prefer to rake up the fallen leaves instead of having them mow the leaves into tiny, mulchable pieces. I think it’s good for me to do, and it’s part of the sort of fall weather we have.

I went to Fort Worth mid-week to see Peter in his church’s Christmas pageant. The weather’s been a little nippy, but, when I got back to Waco Thursday afternoon, the weather was perfect for raking. I’d already raked up a whole bunch of leaves, and sent them off in the every-other-week yard waste recycle truck. As soon as last week’s truck left, I refilled those bins with leaves for this coming week. There’s a nice pile of leaves that will hold me though the winter all the way to fall, as I add peels and cores and lettuce that’s spent too much time in the fridge into the compost bins. There are still some leaf bags and piles that will go into the green bins for several more weeks. But, there were still some unraked places in the front yard.

When I pulled into the garage Thursday, I went right inside, put on my long overalls and a shirt and sweatshirt, and went out to rake the rest of the leaves. There’s still a small pile of them, waiting to get recycled, but I think I’m pretty much done for this year. I’m counting on the cold north wind to take care of the remaining few, because, it may not freeze hard this winter, but there will be wind.

There’s always stuff do to in the yard, and on sunny days, I go out and pull some weeds and clean up and make sure plants that seem dry get some water. And make sure those acorns aren’t trying to sprout.

Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work.

Be patient like that.

James 5:7 (The Message Translation)

There are all kinds of ways that I need to be patient. I’m trying to work on them. And!! We have some pecans. We haven’t had any good pecans in a few years. I’ve picked up a few almost every time I’ve been out working in the yard, or just walking around. There aren’t lots and lots, and maybe not even enough for a whole pie, but I think there are enough for a few pecan tarts for Christmas!

As I was walking towards the door at the grocery store one Thursday afternoon, an employee was bringing carts back from the parking lot. “Here,” she said, offering an empty cart. I took it and went through the store quickly, getting some last minute stuff (and using some coupons). At the checkout counter, I had put all my groceries on the conveyor belt, when I glanced down and saw a long, dark thing in the bottom of the cart, pushed against one of the sides. What? Hmmm.  It was a cane.

“Someone’s left their cane in this cart,” I said to the cashier, who was preoccupied with scanning my groceries. I was wielding my coupons and getting my loyalty card and my credit card from my wallet, and had run out of hands. Another employee came up to begin bagging my groceries, and I picked up the cane, held it out to her, and said, again, “Someone has left their cane in this cart.”

“Oh,” she said. “I’ll take it to the office,” and she walked the few steps over to the customer service desk, and, I’m hoping, to the Lost and Found. I’m imagining someone using their cane to walk to the store’s entrance and then putting the cane in the cart because holding on to the cart’s handle would probably be enough support as they walked through the store. Then, um, maybe they used the cart as they walked from the store to their car. And, if they put the cart, gently, up against the car’s side, they could have put a bag of two of groceries into the back seat and closed the door. Then, maybe they opened the front door and got inside the car, being able to manage all that, but also forgetting to get the cane. Maybe they got all the way home and got out of the car before even realizing that the cane had not come home along with the groceries.

I understand about leaving important things behind.

That’s what I did, one day recently. I put my purse and my big bag of bags in the cart and walked toward the store. When I got up to the entrance, I saw that there were some of the smaller carts (like the one in the photo above), and I decided that I didn’t need the big, regular cart. The smaller one would work fine, and I transferred to the smaller cart. I shopped for the few things that I needed. and finished up pretty quickly. Having less that ten items, I could go through the self checkout lane.  And, I was able to get everything easily into my purse, which really is pretty spacious.

I walked back to the car, opened the door, put my purse in, and, hmmm, where were my bags? Nooooooooo. When I switched carts, I’d left my recycle grocery store bags in the other cart. My large HEB insulated bag, a few other lightweight bags that I’d been using for a couple of years, and one of the Crayola bags that I’d purchased at the Crayola Experience  store.

I went right back into the store and waited in line at the Customer Service area. When it was my turn, I explained what happened and asked if the bags had been turned in to the Lost and Found. They looked. And, no, there were no bags. And we both assumed that someone, who walked up to the cart area, after I had walked away, looked and said, “Well, well. Free bags!”

And that was that.

 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Matthew 5:43-47 (The Message Translation)

A few days after I inadvertently gave away my HEB bags, I bought new ones–a new, large insulated bag and another “Texas” HEB bag. And, I have four of those nice, big, sturdy “penguin” bags that I got, for free, from the zoo folks, who used them as advertisement for the bond vote for Zoo improvements, which passed!