So I did a little thing yesterday. On Monday I received a text message from Houston Methodist that said, “As a patient we are pleased to inform you that you can receive the COVID-19 vaccine now based on your age and health risk status.” I would like to think I’m fairly healthy, but I have seen a few doctors this past year. I can’t help but believe that my mother pulled a few strings from above. Within days I made my appointment.

I took my morning walk and then drove to the Houston Methodist administration building in the medical district. I felt very young in the crowd of people there. I waited ten minutes in a moving line. The shot was just a little pin prick, overall painless and quick. I was back home in close to an hour, and that included a fifteen-minute evaluation period for allergic reactions. With my booster follow-up scheduled in three weeks, I’m thankful to be able to return to the work force soon without fear and to take myself out of the unintentional spreader pool. Especially as Texas lifts the state-wide mask mandate next week on March 10. According to MSN.com, “Texas has recorded more than 2.3 million cases of COVID-19—with nearly 5000 new cases on Wednesday—and more than 43,500 fatalities since the start of the crisis…The state is averaging 297 deaths a day.”

I felt very young in the crowd of people there. The shot was just a little pin prick, overall painless and quick. With my booster follow-up scheduled in three weeks, I’m thankful to be able to return to the work force soon without fear and to take myself out of the unintentional spreader pool. Especially as Texas lifts the state-wide mask mandate next week on March 10. According to MSN.com, “Texas has recorded more than 2.3 million cases of COVID-19—with nearly 5000 new cases on Wednesday—and more than 43,500 fatalities since the start of the crisis…The state is averaging 297 deaths a day.”