Always the Last to Bed

So far, I’ve been trying to get to Walgreens for 8 days. How about you? What day of attempted prescription pick up are you on? Maybe you just received the first reminder call or text and you’re on day one. Or maybe you’re on day 4 and you’re hopeful and thinking “today’s the day I’ll pick the scrip up!”

As a working Mom, the daily reminder calls and texts about how my daughter’s prescription put me into a slight panic. I KNOW it’s there. I know it’s ready, thank you. But every day I can’t seem to get there before the pharmacy closes at 6. Too many meetings, never taking lunch, and the occasional Zumba class after work prevent me from the 5 min drive from my house to pick up the scrip.

This isn’t a complaint about Walgreens and their schedule. I am eternally thankful for the fantastic support pharmacies gave during Covid, they were our lifeline! And they deserve a break, pharmacies should not be open until 8 every day. I get it. This is about the crazy schedules we lead and how such a small activity can be so unattainable.

After maybe a week of reminder texts and the scrip sitting in the bucket at the pharmacy, I get the “Are you going to be able to pick this prescription up” robo phone call – press one for yes and two for no. Only thing is, this is a voice mail and I’m not able to press anything. So I call back while I’m on a conference call for work (necessary evil to get anyone on the phone since I’m on conference calls all day), and wait in the queue until the pharmacy picks up so I can tell them “yes, I’m still coming and yes I still need the medication.” And so it continues.

This medication isn’t something my daughter needs right away, obviously bc I would have gone the day it was first available. This is a monthly auto refill item. Sign up for auto refill, it will save you time! It’s supposed to be a convenience but ends up stressing me out.

I put everything on one digital calendar. I finally find a half hour I can block within pharmacy open hours. Today’s the day! The reminder goes off and I jump out of my seat, grab my purse and head out, feeling determined. No one booked a meeting over my block, no one called me 5 mins before I was planning to leave, and I wasn’t thrown a last minute deadline to address. I am really headed to the pharmacy!! It is happening!

Once I actually do get to Walgreens I’m hit with all the 50% off Halloween items, and Christmas! Hey, it’s suddenly Christmas!! I stop to look at stocking stuffers, packs of life savers lip gloss…how about this 50% off cat skeleton Halloween decoration??? I put it down. Focus!!

Finally I head to the pharmacy with my 50% off peanut butter pumpkins (just for my husband and I- see my previous Allergy Mom rant!), and I pick up the scrip. I PICKED IT UP! I leave with a huge smile on my face. It feels like a huge weight is lifted. In my head, confetti is going off, and there’s champagne to drink (always a reason for champs!) And of course I also had to pick up $53 worth of other items I didn’t know I needed including Minion band aids – how did my kids go through a box of band aids in one week??? And this is a separate story…