I am workshopping a new mantra – Expect the Good. Let me show you what that looks like.

While waiting for the run-off to the two Senate races in Georgia, I expected the good that during the nine weeks between the presidential election and the run-off the two Democrat candidates would win. This time it was one for the good guys. But if it hadn’t been, then I’d find the good in what happened.

At the last minute Hannah and I chose not to go to California this winter. After inquiring about a refund for our two month rental, we waited for eleven days expecting the good. If that didn’t happen, then we’d find the good in what did happen.
In both cases, I spent no time fretting and coming up with worst case scenarios. Whatever the results, I enjoyed the time being upbeat by expecting the good.
Then on January 18, 2021 our valiant Governor Janet Mills decided that those over 70 would be placed in the 1b category for getting the Covid vaccine (1a was frontline health care workers and those in nursing homes).

As septuagenarians, Hannah and I began calling MaineHealth Services for an appointment again and again. We heard either, There are no more vaccines for today, try again tomorrow or the phone call was immediately disconnected on their end. News reports of limited Covid vaccines and none in the US stockpile made it uncertain when we would get a vaccine.
But…we expected the good, be that that good would come in January, February, March, or April.
After calling Tuesday, we got little encouragement and the same routine. Emailing our primary care physician about when they would let us know when vaccines would be available for us 70 year olds, I learned from the nurse it may be February at the earliest in York.
In the meantime, we made a deal with our friend Howie that if we heard anything about vaccine sign-ups, we would let him know, and he would do the same. Our friend Bob sent us another phone number to try. Our friend Corky told us to be persistent.
Come Wednesday, we phone early and heard for the first time, leave your number and we’ll return your call in the order it was received. Hmmm. That sounds good.

With our iPhones on loud, we went to the gym on that Inauguration Day to pedal and watch the inspiring Biden/Harris festivities. Twenty minutes in, Hannah gets a call, dismounts the elliptical, confirms her availability, and has a Covid vaccine appointment eight days hence. Just like that!
Handing me her phone, she says, they want to set up an appointment for you, too! Hallelujah. In short order I, too, am scheduled for a Covid vaccination next week.
Part II – Today (January 28, 2021) we head off to Goodall Hospital in Sanford, Maine for our Covid vaccination. Details of the experience and our reactions to the vaccination will be posted this Saturday.
