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tangles on its self. Imagine as a child hearing from your mother that she is sick of combing rats out of your head!Lacey the hairdresser gives me a giant hug. This is the second hug I’ve had in over a year. I live alone, my family is 355 miles away.Lacey, the hair dresser, also does my neighbor’s hair. As Lacey tells me she gave Grace a perm she literally grabs my hair and shears me like a sheep. Buzzzzz and four inches of tangled straw-like hair drops to the floor. I confess I screamed as she loped off my hair. She thought I was reacting to news of Grace’s perm.Lacey spritzed and fluffed and sent me out into the world with a fresh new “not old-lady” hairdo.<h2 id="b7b9">Step Three was Destiny</h2>I had an appointment with Destiny — mall that is. The closest Apple store is one hour and 31 minutes away, 72 miles.Over the lock-down time, my electronic devices were my lifeline. As the restrictions lifted I received messages on the computer and on the phone, storage is full, can not update further. I researched my options, but I just don’t know what I don’t know. A lovely and kind Apple employee helped me out over the phone. She set up an appointment with Destiny — the mall.Me and my new hairdo set out, over hill and dale, through farms and villages off to the big city I went. I haven’t been in a mall in over 10 years, not really a covid thing, but an I-hate-malls thing. However, I found myself excited pulling into the parking lot and seeing people coming and going.I was torn emotionally and pragmatically, this purchase was going to cost what to me is a great deal of money. Phones, computers and internet access are no longer luxuries, but I was filled with guilt. So many have lost so much this past year. I fear I splashed some rage on the innocent employee/guard dog at the door who told me I would have to wait 40 minutes. I was booked with the wrong type of associate. I needed sales and not geniuses.Yes, I threw a fit straight up the chain of command. Who spent ten minutes telling me why he could not let me in. What changed his mind?I asked, “You are the actual manager, yes?”“Yes” he replied.“So you must know what you are doing then I assume?”“Well, yes?”“Then what are you doing now, why can’t any of the four of you standing here at the door help me?”“It’s not our process”<p id="2fc7

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">“Young man, it’s your choice. I suggest you choose differently. Unless you don’t care the $XXXX is walking away?” I drove an hour and 45 minutes to an appointment made by an Apple employee and you would have me leave rather than find a way to accommodate? Not a good business choice.”He caved, and decided to help me himself. Within minutes, it was clear he didn’t actually know what he was talking about.“I’m sorry” he says. “I’ve only been with Apple two years.”“Oh?” I replied. “I’ve been a loyal Apple consumer since 1986.”He handed me off to Kevin, a man of my own age.Two hours later. Apple has gone a la carte, no more bundles for multiple purchases. And no one will help with transferring the computer. I could leave it and come back — did I not say I live 72 miles away? And no they cannot set up the phone. But I was welcome to sit there in the amazingly uncomfortable chair and flag someone down if I needed help.I declined, not because I was annoyed, I was, but because I could not take the noise any more. I have lived in near silence for over a year. So many voices, overlapping tones, irregular laughs, and alarms going off — my operating system was toast. I could not concentrate a minute more. “Please, just cash me out and get me out the door.”I was hungry and 95 minutes away from my fridge, another 20 minutes or more to cobble together a meal. My blood sugar was much to low to deal. I muster some courage and enter a restaurant that had looked appealing as I entered the mall.The waitress was chatty, thrilled to have someone to talk to — the meal was good. The place was nearly empty, so quiet, and that was even better. The waitress handed me the bill and I double check my math since it has been over a year since I have calculated a tip. I was stunned that tipping percentages was a skill that faded. I used my soon- to-be-old phone to check my math. Relief I had calculated correctly and left a little more. I’m sure her life hasn’t been easy this last year.I gathered my things to head out when the waitress called out to me, “By the way I love your curls -- so pretty!” She hadn’t even seen the tip yet! I will have to let Lacey, the hairdresser, know.What is your double vaxed story? Did you feel elation and fear? Have your social skills taken a hit or improved a bit? Share in comments or write your story and let’s start a trend!</article></body>

I Needed Bananas That’s it Bananas.

First Steps Fully Vaxed

Step one was bananas

I needed bananas. That’s it, bananas. My legs cramp if I don’t have them. The pantry was otherwise fully stocked. The plan was a quick dash in and out. Tickled with my self that I actually remembered to pick up the reusable bag from the back seat, I approach the auto-magic door. Yes, auto-magic, as I am grateful I don’t have to touch the door. Even before the pandemic I was a bit of a germaphobe.

Wait, What? There is a sign at eye-level. A plain 8.5-x-11 white paper sign taped to the glass. Nearly lost amongst all the colorful Buy-me-Buy-me ads.

If fully vaccinated masks are optional

Wait, What? I checked the sign twice. I checked it again. I looked around the parking lot. No one was coming, no one was near me. I free my face and stroll in with glee.

Bananas 39 cents — this was meant to be! My lucky day, that is 30 cents cheaper than usual.

Oh and tomatoes on sale -- I always need those. Oh, and this and that, and yes, this other thing is two for one so bogo I must — oh this is fun!

$211 was the price of my quick trip for bananas. Well at least I got 5,000 steps in. I strolled every aisle face free because I could! I found deal after deal, and several “I want this because I’m free” items.

I felt the glare of the lady in an electric chart wheeling about the store. Huffing and puffing she shoved a large bin in my path. “Do you need help reaching something?” I asked.

“No I’m fine.” she huffed and rolled away.

As I pushed the bin back into place, I wondered did she not believe the sign on the door?

Step two was dread-full

Next stop the hair dresser. It is beyond time to get my covid-19 dread locks removed. I have very curly hair that tangles on its self. Imagine as a child hearing from your mother that she is sick of combing rats out of your head!

Lacey the hairdresser gives me a giant hug. This is the second hug I’ve had in over a year. I live alone, my family is 355 miles away.

Lacey, the hair dresser, also does my neighbor’s hair. As Lacey tells me she gave Grace a perm she literally grabs my hair and shears me like a sheep. Buzzzzz and four inches of tangled straw-like hair drops to the floor. I confess I screamed as she loped off my hair. She thought I was reacting to news of Grace’s perm.

Lacey spritzed and fluffed and sent me out into the world with a fresh new “not old-lady” hairdo.

Step Three was Destiny

I had an appointment with Destiny — mall that is. The closest Apple store is one hour and 31 minutes away, 72 miles.

Over the lock-down time, my electronic devices were my lifeline. As the restrictions lifted I received messages on the computer and on the phone, storage is full, can not update further. I researched my options, but I just don’t know what I don’t know. A lovely and kind Apple employee helped me out over the phone. She set up an appointment with Destiny — the mall.

Me and my new hairdo set out, over hill and dale, through farms and villages off to the big city I went. I haven’t been in a mall in over 10 years, not really a covid thing, but an I-hate-malls thing. However, I found myself excited pulling into the parking lot and seeing people coming and going.

I was torn emotionally and pragmatically, this purchase was going to cost what to me is a great deal of money. Phones, computers and internet access are no longer luxuries, but I was filled with guilt. So many have lost so much this past year. I fear I splashed some rage on the innocent employee/guard dog at the door who told me I would have to wait 40 minutes. I was booked with the wrong type of associate. I needed sales and not geniuses.

Yes, I threw a fit straight up the chain of command. Who spent ten minutes telling me why he could not let me in. What changed his mind?

I asked, “You are the actual manager, yes?”

“Yes” he replied.

“So you must know what you are doing then I assume?”

“Well, yes?”

“Then what are you doing now, why can’t any of the four of you standing here at the door help me?”

“It’s not our process”

“Young man, it’s your choice. I suggest you choose differently. Unless you don’t care the $XXXX is walking away?” I drove an hour and 45 minutes to an appointment made by an Apple employee and you would have me leave rather than find a way to accommodate? Not a good business choice.”

He caved, and decided to help me himself. Within minutes, it was clear he didn’t actually know what he was talking about.

“I’m sorry” he says. “I’ve only been with Apple two years.”

“Oh?” I replied. “I’ve been a loyal Apple consumer since 1986.”

He handed me off to Kevin, a man of my own age.

Two hours later. Apple has gone a la carte, no more bundles for multiple purchases. And no one will help with transferring the computer. I could leave it and come back — did I not say I live 72 miles away? And no they cannot set up the phone. But I was welcome to sit there in the amazingly uncomfortable chair and flag someone down if I needed help.

I declined, not because I was annoyed, I was, but because I could not take the noise any more. I have lived in near silence for over a year. So many voices, overlapping tones, irregular laughs, and alarms going off — my operating system was toast. I could not concentrate a minute more. “Please, just cash me out and get me out the door.”

I was hungry and 95 minutes away from my fridge, another 20 minutes or more to cobble together a meal. My blood sugar was much to low to deal. I muster some courage and enter a restaurant that had looked appealing as I entered the mall.

The waitress was chatty, thrilled to have someone to talk to — the meal was good. The place was nearly empty, so quiet, and that was even better. The waitress handed me the bill and I double check my math since it has been over a year since I have calculated a tip. I was stunned that tipping percentages was a skill that faded. I used my soon- to-be-old phone to check my math. Relief I had calculated correctly and left a little more. I’m sure her life hasn’t been easy this last year.

I gathered my things to head out when the waitress called out to me, “By the way I love your curls -- so pretty!” She hadn’t even seen the tip yet! I will have to let Lacey, the hairdresser, know.

What is your double vaxed story? Did you feel elation and fear? Have your social skills taken a hit or improved a bit? Share in comments or write your story and let’s start a trend!