Getting Rattled

I stopped in at the grocery store pharmacy to pick up a script that had been refilled electronically 2 days prior, but after waiting my turn in line, was told there was nothing ordered for us. I gave the details again to refill the script, and said I'd collect it after I'd done my grocery shopping. Before I walked away, I asked whether it was 'time' for the script to be filled. "Oh, yes," the clerk told me, " it was last filled in October."

After paying for my purchases, I secretly congratulated myself that I'd remembered to go back to the pharmacy area to pick up the script, as I stood in line again - not my favorite thing to do during COVID. At the counter (different clerk), I was told there was nothing filled for me. I provided the details again, explaining what had happened earlier. "On no," I was told this time, "the insurance won't pay for it because it's too early to renew. You can refill it in 3 more days."

"But that's what I asked about earlier, and was assured it was time."

"But did you ask if the insurance would pay for it? That's the difference."

Aaargh, no, of course I didn't use those exact words, BUT WHY THE HELL WOULD I BE ASKING IN THE FIRST PLACE? (unsaid). The implied meaning or reason for asking must surely have been obvious? Or wouldn't the App have picked this up right from the get-go?

Grrr. I was rattled and frustrated. I thought I'd covered all bases and been clear and polite, but I was still thwarted. It had been 3 weeks since I'd been to a store, and had carefully planned this trip to 'kill two birds with one stone.' Now I'd have to return separately to fetch the medication, which added to my exasperation.

On the way home, I thought it over in the car, and asked myself why I had felt so infuriated and frustrated. It was of no big consequence, and as I write about it now, I'm cringing over the pettiness of it. I think the act of being thwarted is what threw me - I was expecting success, and resolution without any obstacles. I thought I'd pre-empted all disasters, and assumed that it was fait accompli. I naively didn't reckon on a wrench in the works.

By the time I got home, I'd resolved my inner conflict, and decided that I wasn't going to allow a small, inconsequential incident rattle me and ruin the rest of my day.

I can't believe I'm still having to learn the benefits of this approach at this late stage of life!