Finally getting 'the jab'

Well, it’s official. After a few months of procrastination, I have finally had my first vaccine shot: the jab; the poke; the Fauci Ouchy. Because my pharmacy is a full-service, conscientious, customer-centric organization, they threw in the government tracking chip and mark of the beast at no extra cost.

I have never been an anti-vaxxer, but I work out of my house and don’t have much contact with the outside world. There was no rush. I knew I had to do it, so this week, I took the first step.

So here’s how it went: The first 12 hours were great. I bragged to my family that it was a no-brainer; a walk in the park and that I wasn’t having any side effects. I spoke too soon.

The next 12 hours were downright ugly. I had a fever in the 101+ region and had the disturbing dreams that usually accompany a fever. I slept all day, but didn’t get much rest. Not fun.

My pharmacy uses the Moderna vaccine, so there will be an additional jab in the next few weeks. I’m told that the second is potentially worse than the first. I’m not looking forward to it, but if I can schedule it for a weekend, I can just try to sleep through it.

There is also talk about subsequent booster shots to deal with new strains and mutations. I hope this works out better than my Columbia House record subscription. Steely Dan, Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons were wonderful, but I had problems discontinuing the subscription and the bills just kept rolling in. I had a lousy credit report before I was old enough to drive.

As of this writing, my fever is down. My formerly ripped, sculpted right deltoid (25 years ago) remains a bit sore, but I am no worse for the wear. I still think I am better off for having done this.

What is encouraging is that we are emerging from this oppressive lockdown. We will have many years to study and discuss whether it was necessary in the first place. My position was always to protect the most vulnerable among us and leave everyone else alone, but I am no virologist and don’t pretend to be one. The good news is that we live in a state that is not run by snowflakes and whack jobs. It could have been worse.

My hope is that we get past this soon. Like the COVID-19 shutdown, the next self-inflicted wound we have to deal with is inflation, and I am expecting a great deal of it. We may now be able to buy toilet paper, but can we afford it? We are already seeing increases in food and gasoline prices. Electricity and natural gas are sure to follow. Buckle down folks. It’s going to get interesting.

Once fully vaccinated, I can return to Kluz Market (my wet market of choice), but I will continue to avoid the Bartley Institute of Virology.