In which we do a very happy dance and hope for more sore arms soon

It's been a rough week, but yesterday my phone rang with good news.

"We have vaccine appointments in Arlington tomorrow!!!"

My parents live about an hour north of Haiku Farm.  Whatcom County is, at the moment, a vaccine desert.  Friends there tell stories about getting online at 3 or 4 am to seek out vaccine appointments--and finding that all the slots are already full.

There are a few Good Samaritans out there who think that the current hoop-jumping is a problem, and they are spending their own time and energy to find vaccine appointments for seniors who need them.

Injection time + 15 minutes is written on the windshield of the car, to notify caregivers
that the people inside are good to go.

That's how my parents were able to get on the list:  a guy who is literally a friend-of-a-friend, somebody who sits in front of terminals all the time anyhow, decided to help out.  

This guy has a list of qualified people's phone numbers.  When he sees an appointment come open, he snags it on behalf of somebody on his list, and then calls them with the good news.

Not manifesting any superpowers just yet.

Mom reports that the actual process of getting the jab was very straightforward:  they pulled their car into a specially-marked lane at the Arlington airport.  

Two attendants approach the car (one on each side) and verify ID.   The shots are given, the time is written on the windshield, and after 15 minutes (to make sure there's no immediate adverse reaction), it's all done.

Monroe Fairgrounds vaccination site, photo from Stanwood-Camano News

 I didn't realize that I have, on some level, been holding my breath since the first cases of Covid-19 were identified locally almost a year ago.  

I think I won't actually breathe completely again until we are all jabbed, but this is a good step in the right direction.  

I'm hoping our teachers get bumped up on the list soon.  Both the Tulalip and Stillaguamish tribes (independent agencies, not bound by state rules) have already vaccinated their elders and this week they extended vaccine offers to local teachers, bless them.  

And after them...maybe me?

For now we wait.  And breathe.